Frequently Asked Questions
NYS government policies and privacy laws protect your personal information from any unauthorized collection, disclosure, or access. Your information will only be shared with the NYS agencies that issue the licenses you have applied for.
There are several ways you can use the NY Business Express to help you start your business.
Find What You Need.
Use the Business Wizard Custom Checklist to learn more about licenses, permits, certifications, taxes, and regulations.
The Business Wizard can help you identify:
-licenses, permits, and certifications you may be required to obtain;
-taxes you may be required to collect and remit to NYS;
-regulations and laws you must follow when setting up and operating your business; and
-other necessary steps to help you get your business started.
Your custom checklist will show a summary page with a list of required forms and transactions, estimated timeframes, total costs, and other helpful information.
Use the Business Index A-Z to browse the directory of NYS licenses, permits, and certifications.
Apply Online.
Certain applications for licenses, permits, and certifications can be completed and submitted online and will have direct links to the online service from the related description page. For some online processing you will need to register for an NY.Gov account. Visit NY.Gov for how-to obtain an NY.Gov account.
You can also use your NY.Gov account to check the status of applications you have submitted through the NYBE portal.
Get Incentives.
Use the Support and Incentives Wizard to learn more about financial incentives and support services offered by NYS.
Once you have created a business profile for your business or organization, it will be associated to your NY.GOV login and only you will be able to submit applications for your business or organization. Others using NYBE who try to start an application with your business identifiers, such as the Legal Name or federal EIN, will be prevented from completing the application. If your business or organization is large we suggest identifying one individual to submit applications using NYBE.
If you are having trouble accessing the NY.GOV account you created your business profile under, click here to request your username or click here to reset your password.
If you are trying to complete an application for your business or organization and are prevented from completing the application because a business profile already exists, consult with those within your business or organization to check if they have started a profile using NYBE. If you have a third-party representative or accountant, you may want to check with them as well.
If you do not have access to the NY.GOV account with your business profile or do not know who within your organization created the business profile, you can request to have your business profile linked to a different NY.GOV account. If you are an owner or principal of the business or organization you can make the request by calling the NYBE Contact Center at (518)-485-5000, Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, with the exception of state observed holidays. Once you have made a request, a representative from a New York State agency will contact you to verify your association to the business. Please note, a third-party representative or accountant cannot make a request to have a business profile linked to another NY.GOV account. This type of request must be made by an owner or principal of the business or organization.