Free reports and data on small business conditions in New York City. Current findings include a Manhattan storefront vacancy rate of 12.99% as of Q1 2026 (against a 12.79% pre-pandemic benchmark, with 8 of 12 community districts at or below it), non-resident visits down 2.1% year over year — the first decline in five years — an estimated $4.5bn in annual tariff costs absorbed by NYC small businesses and roughly $4,200 in added annual household costs, business formation at a five-year low, and an analysis of 211,000+ Department of Consumer and Worker Protection inspection records showing 62.3% of city business inspection cases end in default judgment, with summonses to unlicensed businesses up 171% in a year.
Why I recommend it: If you run or plan a business in New York, the inspection findings matter most: a default judgment means the business never showed up to contest the summons, and 62.3% is a warning about how easily a fine becomes final. Use the storefront tracker to argue about a specific neighborhood rather than the city average. One flag to keep in view — a chamber of commerce advocates for its members, so the tariff and enforcement figures are produced by an organization with a position on both.
#small business#new york city#economic data#tariffs#regulation#storefront vacancy#research#entrepreneurship#policy#business formation
LLC formation, taxes and bookkeeping in one place. Start a business, stay compliant, and get US banking and Stripe payments — even for non-US owners.
Why I recommend it: A streamlined way to form an LLC and handle ongoing business admin. Useful if you want a legal entity and US banking without juggling multiple services.
Entrepreneur White Paper: How to Set Up a US LLC From Anywhere
Step-by-step guide to forming a US LLC from any country: state selection, registered agent, EIN, banking, taxes, and ongoing compliance.
Why I recommend it: Pair this with the LLC/S-Corp formation guide already in the hub. Get the EIN and the bank account right the first time and everything downstream is easier.
Forming an LLC or S-Corp for Your Tech Business or Consulting Practice
A step-by-step guide to forming an LLC (name search, registered agent, state filing, operating agreement, free EIN, business banking) and electing S-corp tax status, with filing fees and direct portal links for NY, NJ, GA, and CA, plus a section on 1099 contractor and consulting taxes.
In plain terms: This guide explains how to set up an LLC or elect S-corp tax status for freelance and consulting work. You can use it to register your business, get a free tax ID, and understand your self-employment taxes.
Why I recommend it: Most consultants should start as a plain LLC and only add the S-corp election once net profit is consistently past roughly $50-80K. Get the free EIN yourself — never pay for it.
