The Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform (GORR) has launched an on-line database to give business a "one-stop" resource for addressing questions on state-required business permits.
The new database, which is at www.nys-permits.org, is the largest, most comprehensive permit database on the Internet, Governor Pataki said.
Business Council President Daniel B. Walsh hailed the new database.
"Business owners prefer getting permit information on-line to getting it by waiting in line," Walsh said. "We commend Governor Pataki and GORR for yet another important step to make it easier to do business in New York."
The Governor said, "By using technology and the Internet, we can instantly place important information into the hands of entrepreneurs and business owners to help them succeed, grow and provide more jobs for New Yorkers."
GORR receives more than 75,000 phone calls each year regarding business permits issued by New York State. Now, information about these permits is available on-line.
The new website gives users access to information on more than 1,000 permit types, and it allows them to develop their own customized permit packages.
It includes specific information on 167 different business types, ranging from accounting firms to video stores, including such diverse enterprises as bagel shops, bed-and-breakfasts, residential general contractors, lawn and garden services, lottery sales agents, pet-sitting services, pharmacies, pizzerias, process servers, stamp shows, telemarketers, underwater logging, used book stores, and dozens more.
The site also addresses common questions about when a permit is required, how a business name can be registered, obtaining professional licenses, and tax obligations of permit holders.