Small Business & Entrepreneur Services

City Bar Justice Center’s Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) partners with the Brooklyn Public Library Business & Career Center and the Pace SBDC to offer virtual small business legal clinics. These clinics, conducted by NELP, are an opportunity for entrepreneurs to meet with a team of pro bono attorneys to discuss legal issues related to their small businesses, such as intellectual property rights, contracts/agreements, business structure and incorporation, commercial leasing and more. Click here for future clinic dates and programming. 

To contact the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project, call 212.382.6633 or email nelp@nycbar.org

In New York City, MWBE certification provides access to valuable resources, including government contracting opportunities, financial assistance programs, and networking events.

Join our MWBE clinics and learn about:

• Certification program overview
• Registering in the Payee Information Portal (PIP)
• Registering for product service (NIGP) codes
• Starting a MWBE certification application

Participants will also have the opportunity to work with someone one-on-one after the informational presentation to begin the application process or address specific questions.

• To register for an upcoming clinic at one of our local branches: https://bit.ly/MWBEatBPL
• To make an appointment to get one-one help at MWBE Office Hours, available on the SECOND Tuesday of the month in the Business & Career Center, email brooklyn-bsc@nycbusiness-solutions.com. Office hours start in December 2024 and end in June 2025.

Brought to you by the Business & Career Center in partnership with NYC Small Business Services (SBS), the Staten Island Business Outreach Center (SIBOC) and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

• Useful Subject Guides on the resources you need to be a successful entrepreneur, created by our business librarians. See the "Subject Guides" box to see our most up to date Subject Guides.
• Online databases with authoritative information about your industry, competitors, and target customers.
• Subscriptions to the leading trade magazines and business newspapers in print and online.

• Expert led events and classes on all aspects of starting, running, and growing your business.
• Librarian led events on how to utilize all of the library’s business resources and where to look for additional help.
• Go to our Events Calendar to see all of our upcoming business events and classes.
• Be sure to also check the NYC Business Solutions, Brooklyn Center on Eventbrite for free small business programs on starting, financing and marketing your business in Brooklyn!

• Annual business plan competition for Brooklyn entrepreneurs that awards finalists with seed capital and feedback from our qualified judges.
• Competition includes free workshops on:
  • Writing your business plan.
  • Implementing marketing strategies
  • Determining financial projections.
  • Researching your customers, competitors and market.
• Go to our PowerUP page for more information.