Nine Free Resources That New York Business Owners Can Use To Accelerate Growth

Forbes New York Business Council have found the following to be particularly valuable:

Photos courtesy of the individual members.

Council members share their go-to business resources.

1. Small Business Networking Groups

When you own a small business, it can be hard to find the time to network, not to mention making time for the friends you already have. Small business networking groups like Townsquared and Toklas Society have proven to be wonderful resources to connect with entrepreneurs in my area and industry for advice, referrals or just someone to grab a glass of wine and talk shop with. - Leslie Feinberg, Prohibition Bakery

2. NYC Small Business Accelerator

This resource is mostly designed for brick-and-mortar businesses. Fifteen minutes of answering questions will generate a useful checklist that will help you navigate all the licenses and permits you may need to get your business started. The program will send inspectors to help you open quickly, and give you the confidence to deal with the health department. - Henry Glucroft, Henry's Wine & Spirit

3. Meetup.com

Meetup.com is a great platform to list events for free, and for users to search for events that are relevant to their interests. - Jason Saltzman, Alley

4. Small Business Development Center

We have been very fortunate to connect with the Small Business Development Center. It’s a subsidiary of the SBA, and it provides all sorts of free resources, including assistance with planning, funding, staffing and more. There are offices throughout NYC. - Chris Nolte, Propel Electric Bikes

After you start your business, it quickly becomes obvious how much support and information you need to grow. You need legal help to make sure you’re in line with local regulations, including licenses and permits. You need personal contacts with others in your industry, as well as the means to make connections with potential clients. And you need mentorship from people who have already overcome problems you're about to face.

While access to this kind of information can cost you, it doesn’t have to. There are a number of free resources for business owners and operators in the Greater New York City area if you know where to look. Members of the Forbes New York Business Council have found the following to be particularly valuable: