NYC Small Business Services — Small Business Opportunity Fund
NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
Up to $25,000
NYC small business grants for equipment and growth
New York City's Small Business Services department offers the Small Business Opportunity Fund, providing grants of up to $25,000 to NYC-based small businesses for equipment, inventory, marketing, and working capital. Administered through NYC SBS and its network of Business Development Centers (BDCs), the program targets businesses with annual revenues under $2M. Applications are accepted through the online NYC Business portal.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Amount range
- $5,000 – $25,000
- Realistic amount
- Most awards fall in the $10,000–$20,000 range depending on documented need and project scope.
- Deadline
- Rolling — SBS opens periodic funding cohorts; check nyc.gov/sbs for current intake status
- Status
- active
- States
- NY
- Payment model
- lump sum
Who qualifies
- Business must be physically located in one of New York City's 5 boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island)
- Annual gross revenues must be under $2 million at time of application
- Business must have been operating for at least 1 year
- Must be a for-profit business entity (LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership)
- Business owner must be 18 years or older
- Business must not have outstanding NYC tax liens or judgments
- Business must be registered with NYC Department of Finance and compliant with local licensing requirements
Hard requirements
- Location restriction: true
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Equipment purchases (machinery, technology, point-of-sale systems)
- Inventory
- Marketing and advertising costs
- Working capital
- Leasehold improvements (in some cycles)
- Professional services directly tied to business growth
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses or owner compensation
- Debt repayment
- Real estate purchases
- Political contributions or lobbying
- Businesses outside New York City
How to apply
-
1
Register on the NYC Business portal
Create an account at business.nyc.gov and complete your business profile, including business address, industry, EIN, and revenue figures. This profile is used for all NYC SBS programs.
~1 hrs
-
2
Connect with your nearest NYC Business Development Center
SBS operates a network of BDCs across all 5 boroughs. Schedule a free consultation with your local BDC — advisors help applicants identify the right program, prepare financials, and strengthen applications before formal submission.
~2 hrs
-
3
Prepare financial documents
Gather most recent 2 years of business tax returns, current P&L statement, bank statements (last 3 months), and a brief description of how funds will be used.
~3 hrs
-
4
Submit formal grant application
Complete the online application on the NYC Business portal during an open intake window. Attach financial documents and project narrative describing planned use of funds.
~2 hrs
-
5
Review and award
SBS reviews applications for eligibility and completeness. Approved applicants receive an award letter and must sign a grant agreement before disbursement. Funds are typically disbursed within 30–60 days of award.
~0.5 hrs
Walk in to your local NYC Business Development Center before applying online — BDC advisors flag eligibility issues and strengthen applications, materially improving approval odds. The BDC network is free and underutilized.
Deadline & timing
NYC SBS administers funding in cohort windows tied to city budget allocations. Programs open and close based on available appropriations. The Business Development Center network also runs its own micro-grant cycles. Subscribe to NYC SBS email newsletter or check business.nyc.gov for current open rounds.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.