Small businesses have repeatedly voiced their concerns about the overwhelming maze of government requirements and processes they navigate in order to open, operate and scale. Challenges such as manual workflows, siloed information, and one-off solutions can make the complex system even more time consuming and cumbersome for small business to operate, despite the value these businesses provide to communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted some cities to reexamine their regulatory requirements for small businesses, especially those in the service and hospitality sectors.
In this guide, we examine some of these interventions in greater depth and identify key considerations for policymakers, agency partners, and community-based organizations