Before You Begin
- Contact SBDC
- See the resources the Small Business Administration has to offer
- Get a mentor through SCORE
- Visit Onondaga County Public Library
- Come up with a plan for getting family support
Legal Requirements
- Figure out if I need a business license
- Contact Onondaga County for DBA's, Health Permits, and Plumbing Permits
- Check out the New York State Business Portal
Business Plan
- Learn about business plans
- Contact SBDC about their business plan class
Business Finance
- Calculate your finances
- Create a financial plan with help from SBDC
- Learn about other resources, like loans and grants
Business Site Types
- Learn about zoning
- Investigate whether my site is zoned for my business
- Check out other businesses in the area
- Apply for eligible property tax exemptions
Hiring Employees
- Get clear on who is an employee in my business
- Get familiar with the I-9 and W-4 forms
- Contact the New York State Department of Labor for help
Marketing your Business
- Learn about marketing plans
- Learn about marketing platforms
Networking
- Check out meetup.com
- Check out CenterStateCEO
- Find out more about TNT
Zoning Check
- Understand the effect zoning can have on my plans
- Learn about limitations on historic properties and the historic review process
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
- Learn about BIDs
- Decide if opening my business in a BID would be a good idea
Signing a Lease
- Learn about what you and the landlord are each responsible for
- Get help from SBDC, the Volunteer Lawyers Project, or the NYS Bar Association
- You can also pay for help from a commercial real estate broker or real estate lawyer
Register your Business
- Decide on a business structure
- Learn about branding
- Register your business name
- File for your DBA, if required
- Apply for an FEIN if you need one
Business Licenses and Permits
- Figure out if I need a business permit from the City of Syracuse
- Note my permit renewal date
- Apply for a State seller's permit, if I need one
- Apply for other licenses like a New York State Liquor License as needed
- Display my licenses in a place where my customers can see them, as required
Plan Check
- Understand whether I need stamped plans
- Schedule a pre-development meeting if my project includes site work, building work, and right of way work
- Prepare an Onondaga County Stormwater Management Plan, if required
- Prepare a traffic study if my project will require it
- Get a curb cut permit, if I will be making changes to the sidewalk during my project
Building and Right-of-Way Permits
- Understand the differences between building permits and right-of-way permits
- Understand why the City requires inspections, and how the process works
Sign Permits
- Find out what you need to apply for a sign permit, including the fee
- Learn about the Worker's Compensation requirement for contractors
- Understand when you will need to have your sign inspected
Pay Business Taxes
- Learn about the different types of business taxes
- Find out about the types of expenses you can use to reduce your tax liability
Become a City Vendor
- Learn what it takes to become a city vendor
- Find out what it takes to qualify as a minority-owned business locally or with New York state
Find Resources
Review Your Plans
- Revisit the steps from the Open section to maximize your growth