Resource Type: Legal Assistance
Excelsior Growth Fund
Excelsior Growth Fund (EGF) helps small businesses grow by providing streamlined access to business loans and advisory services. EGF’s signature product, the EGF SmartLoan™, provides up to $100,000 in fast, transparent, and affordable financing through a secure online platform. Larger loans up to $500,000 are also available.
EGF is a nonprofit organization and is certified by U.S. Department of Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
The Community Development Project (CDP) is a project of the Urban Justice Center. CDP provides legal, participatory research and policy support to strengthen the work of grassroots and community-based groups
in New York City to dismantle racial, economic and social oppression. Our capacity-building team offers legal advice and counseling to new and existing worker cooperatives and grassroots non-profits, as well as nonlitigation representation in commercial lease matters for small businesses.
Volunteers of Legal Service’s Microenterprise Project provides free legal services to small business owners seeking assistance on a variety of legal issues, including commercial leasing, governance, contracts, and intellectual property.
The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) provides free legal services to microentrepreneurs in New York City who are either starting or expanding a business. NELP provides assistance through presentations, legal clinics, and direct pro bono representation. They address a range of topics that are essential for microentrepreneurs to jump-start their businesses on sound legal footing.
The Legal Aid Society offers free legal services to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations, including assistance with the following: choosing a business structure, incorporation, commercial leasing, contracts, partnership agreements, employee issues, intellectual property and other small business legal issues except for litigation matters.
Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises that are improving the quality of life in NYC neighborhoods.
Clients include community loan funds, low-income federal credit unions, community development corporations, workforce development groups, business improvement districts and community revitalization organizations, nonprofits involved in for-profit business ventures, and other economic opportunity organizations.
Start Small Think Big
Start Small Think Big helps low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs build and sustain thriving businesses in order to increase their personal financial security and stimulate economic activity in underserved New York City communities. They provide legal services on topics such as corporate risk assessment, entity formation, taxes, commercial leases, etc. They provide financial assistance related to financial management, bookkeeping, financial statements, projections and planning, and financing options.
NYC Business Solutions Center
The NYC Business Solutions Bronx Center offers a set of no cost services on behalf of the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to help companies start, operate and expand in New York City. Services include business courses, legal assistance, financing assistance, recruitment, navigating government, M/WBE certification, training and incentives.