The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), with support from the City and the New York City Council, helps the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI) offer innovative ways for New Yorkers to overcome economic and social inequality. Worker cooperatives are businesses that are owned and controlled by their workers (worker-owners). Worker cooperatives give New Yorkers the opportunity to co-own a business, creating sustainable and dignified jobs while developing community wealth - particularly for people who lack access to traditional business ownership.
For general information about worker cooperatives or WCBDI, please fill out our interest form.
You may also contact a WCBDI organization directly for help with one or more of the following:
Transition an Existing Business To a Worker Cooperative
Our network of expert service providers have a proven track record of helping NYC business owners stabilize businesses, complete business sales to employees, and achieve growth. The Owner to Owners hotline provides the expertise to explore employee ownership and its many benefits at no cost to NYC business owners.
Starting a Worker CooperativeGet help with starting and managing a worker cooperative. We provide training on the basic skills to run a business, and can help you launch an operational worker cooperative.
Center for Family Life443 39th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11232
Green Worker Cooperatives1231 Lafayette Avenue, 2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10474
Urban Upbound4-25 Astoria Boulevard
Astoria, NY 11102
Worker's Justice Project365 Broadway
New York, NY 11211
One-On-One Support ServicesIf you're already in a worker cooperative, we can help you operate and grow your business. One-on-one support services are available in the following areas:
- business plan development
- marketing and market research
- governance and internal manuals assistance
- strategic planning
- translation services
- bookkeeping
- financial planning
- succession planning
Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative2431 Morris Avenue
Bronx, NY 10468
Business Outreach Center Network
85 S. Oxford Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
1720 Church Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11226
115 5th Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013
244 Fifth Avenue, Suite C230
New York, NY 10001
NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives495 Flatbush Avenue, Suite 2
Brooklyn, NY 11225
(Other services: trade association for worker co-ops)
Worker Cooperative Legal SupportFrom incorporating your business to creating a patent, we can help your worker cooperative with a variety of legal needs through tailored one-on-one legal consultations.
Community Economic Development Clinic (CUNY Law) 2 Court Square
Long Island City, NY 11101
TakeRoot Justice123 William Street, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Worker Cooperative Financing SupportWe offer specialized financing support for worker cooperatives.
The Working World116 Nassau Street, Suite 513
New York, NY 10038
(Other services: business creation, business conversion, one-on-one support)
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