Business Owner's Manual

Choosing a Location

The following are some of the factors you need to think about in deciding where to locate your business. The relevance and importance of each will differ depending on the nature of your business, so it's a good idea to discuss your plans with a business counselor before making an investment.

• Access to transportation. What types of transportation will your employees, customers, or suppliers be using and how convenient is it?
  
  
• Pedestrian traffic. Do you need steady traffic to bring in customers?
  
  
• Parking and loading facilities. Will you need parking/loading for customers, deliveries, or shipments?
  
  
• Safety. Is the area safe and are the premises secure during and after regular business hours?
  
  
• Proximity of similar and/or competing businesses. Will competition help or hurt you?
  
  
• Availability of business-related services. Will you need printers, mail services, banks, etc. nearby?
  
  
• Tax advantages and other benefits. There are often some benefits available for locating in certain areas of the City.
  
  
• Appropriate Zoning. Does the existing zoning permit your type of business? (For example, under the City's Zoning Resolution, a manufacturing business cannot operate in a commercial zone; a daycare center cannot operate in a manufacturing zone.) Check the building's Certificate of Occupancy and for additional information, call the Real Estate and Land Use Unit at the Department of Business Service at 212-696-2442.