LaunchPath

Flagship channel-state reference guide

Start Instacart in New York: full reference guide

Use this page when you want the complete dense version: all sections, all appendices, and the full official source directory in one scrollable reference surface.

Last verified: April 26, 2026 Reference mode Dense appendix

Built from reviewed public pages for New York, IRS, FinCEN, New York City, Instacart. Use it as a first-pass guide, then verify the official links that match your setup.

How to use this page

Dense appendix modeFull source directory attachedLast verified April 26, 2026

This version favors completeness over pacing. Use it when you need the appendix, the dense source trail, or the full long-form reference in one place.

Best reading order

  1. Use the fast-answer and official-links sections first if you only need the main route and source trail.
  2. Open the entity, setup, tax, and local sections only where your exact launch path actually branches.
  3. Use the full source directory last as the appendix, not the starting point, unless you already know the exact agency task.
Fast answer appendix Official links first Full source directory
Back to the guided journey

Reference mode

Everything in one dense page

The guided journey is the easier starting point. This page keeps the full accordion guide and source appendix when you want the complete research-backed reference view.

Best when you need

  • The full section map in one scroll without the lighter journey framing.
  • The appendix and official-source directory preserved next to the answer sections.
  • A clearer audit trail before you print, compare, or cross-check another route.

Still better handled in the journey

  • First-pass reading when you want the shortest, safest beginner route.
  • Deciding what to do first before you need the full appendix.
  • Switching states or platforms quickly without reading the full dense version.
Reference map
Start here Fast answer If you want to start shopping with Instacart in New York, you usually need to do five things in order: Everyone 5 steps

If you want to start shopping with Instacart in New York, you usually need to do five things in order:

  1. Choose your setup: sole proprietorship vs single-member LLC.
  2. Get your banking, tax recordkeeping, and any New York registrations that actually apply in place before launch.
  3. Verify whether your local facts create a real New York City branch, including borough business-certificate, UBT, and grocery-app worker-law effects.
  4. Open and verify your Instacart shopper account.
  5. Launch only after your identity documents, payout setup, insurance check, and mileage or tax workflow are ready.

Practical first-launch recommendation

If you are testing part-time with one vehicle and no employees, sole proprietor is usually the cleanest beginner path.

If you intend to build a more formal operation, separate contracts and banking from day one, or hire later, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

Avoid these first-launch mistakes

  • Assuming a New York sales-tax registration is the first filing for an ordinary Instacart shopper
  • Ignoring the NYC grocery-app worker-law branch because the platform feels national
  • Treating shopper injury protection as a substitute for talking to your own auto insurer

New York-specific friction

This is not a storefront or resale pack.

  • This is not a storefront or resale pack.
  • The hardest New York question is not a state seller permit. It is whether your facts trigger NYC city-tax, borough filing, or grocery-app worker-law branches.
  • The answer changes significantly if your launch is in NYC.

Instacart-specific friction

Batch access is not purely first-come, first-served. Location, Cart Star, certifications, and payment-card status matter.

  • Batch access is not purely first-come, first-served. Location, Cart Star, certifications, and payment-card status matter.
  • Public shopper payout language spans direct deposit, instant cashout, and the Shopper Rewards Card, so you should re-check which options your account actually offers.
  • The public platform record preserves both the ordinary contractor-style shopper path and a separate in-store employee path.
  • Public Instacart materials say NYC law has already prompted major platform changes there.

Insurance reality

Instacart's public shopper-safety pages say shopper injury protection is available free of charge to all U.S. full-service shoppers.

  • Instacart's public shopper-safety pages say shopper injury protection is available free of charge to all U.S. full-service shoppers.
  • Those pages do not provide a complete public New York auto-insurance summary for grocery delivery by personal car.
  • Keep your own personal auto insurance current and re-check the live shopper help or app materials before launch.
Back to top Next: Quick-start checklist
Checklist Quick-start checklist Use the research-backed checklist groups before you spend, before your first sale, and before launch goes live. Everyone 3 groups

Do these before you spend money

  • Pick your entity.
  • Decide whether you are staying a solo shopper or building a more formal LLC shell.
  • Confirm that you meet Instacart's current public age, license, SSN, and background-check gates.
  • Decide whether your first lane will be ordinary full-service shopper work rather than alcohol, prescription, bulky-item, or heavy-item work.
  • Confirm that your insurer will discuss delivery use before you count on your current personal policy.
  • Decide whether you will avoid specialty certifications and the separate in-store employee path on day one.

Do these before your first batch

  • Form the business or file your business certificate or assumed name if needed.
  • Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
  • Open a dedicated business bank account or a dedicated business-only money workflow.
  • Decide whether your New York tax branch is just self-employment recordkeeping, or whether your facts create a real MCTMT, UBT, or employer-registration step.
  • Check NYC grocery-app worker-law and borough-certificate branches if those facts are real for your launch.
  • Create your Instacart account and complete verification.

Do these before launch goes live

  • Complete the platform setup branch.
  • Confirm your payout method and understand the difference between weekly direct deposit, instant cashout, and the Shopper Rewards Card.
  • Set up mileage tracking and a tax reserve.
  • Start with ordinary grocery batches before adding alcohol, prescription, bulky-item, or heavy-item work.
Back to top Next: Official links you will use first
Choose your setup Entity choice Compare the sole-proprietor and single-member LLC paths before banking, tax setup, and platform onboarding. Everyone 2 options

Sole proprietor

Best for: Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.

What it means

  • New York does not use a Department of State formation filing for an ordinary sole proprietor operating under the owner's own legal name.
  • If you use a public business name other than your full legal name, the filing is usually handled through the relevant county clerk. In New York City, that means the borough county clerk.
  • Business income generally runs through your personal tax return unless facts change the tax treatment.
  • You usually do not get a liability shield.

Why someone chooses it

  • Faster launch
  • Lower up-front filing costs
  • Fewer maintenance steps for a solo shopper

Main downside: Personal liability

single-member LLC

Best for: Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business shell around your shopping work.

What it means

  • File Articles of Organization (DOS-1336-f).
  • Adopt a written operating agreement before filing, at filing, or within 90 days after filing.
  • Complete the publication branch within 120 days and file Certificate of Publication (DOS-1708-f).
  • File a biennial statement every two years.

Why someone chooses it

  • Liability protection
  • Cleaner setup for banking, bookkeeping, and contracts
  • Better fit if you later hire workers, add another business line, or want a more formal shell

Main downside: Higher setup friction and cost than a sole proprietorship

Back to top Next: What to do in order
Main path What to do in order The full end-to-end setup path, kept in the same order as the researched guide. Everyone 14 steps

  1. Step 1: Choose a low-risk launch model

    Main guide step 1

    For a first launch, stay inside the safest lane:

    Why it matters: Practical rule: If you are not sure whether your setup is still ordinary solo Instacart shopping, slow down and re-check the New York self-employment, NYC, and higher-earning local-tax branches before you operate.

    • solo shopper work through the Instacart app
    • one personal vehicle used for ordinary grocery shopping and delivery
    • ordinary grocery batches before alcohol, prescriptions, bulky items, or very heavy deliveries
    • no off-app grocery store, no inventory-resale model, and no employees on day one

  2. Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach

    Main guide step 2

    You need to decide whether you are:

    Why it matters: Important:

    • operating under your own legal name
    • using a business certificate or assumed name
    • forming an LLC with its own legal name
    • or staying as a solo shopper without a separate public-facing brand
    • A standard solo shopper usually does not need a heavy brand-building path on day one.
    • If you are in NYC and want a public name, the borough county-clerk business-certificate branch is real for sole proprietors and general partnerships.
    • Do not treat the name on an Instacart account as a substitute for real-world filings.

  3. Step 3: Form the business

    Main guide step 3

    If you choose sole proprietor: New York does not require a Department of State entity-formation filing for an ordinary sole proprietor.

    • If you choose sole proprietor: New York does not require a Department of State entity-formation filing for an ordinary sole proprietor.
    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you want a public name, file the business-certificate or assumed-name record with the relevant county clerk.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Check name availability through Department of State records.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization (DOS-1336-f).
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Adopt the operating agreement no later than 90 days after formation.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Complete publication in two designated newspapers and file Certificate of Publication (DOS-1708-f) within 120 days.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Get the EIN and set up the bank account.

  4. Step 4: Get your EIN

    Main guide step 4

    Use the IRS EIN application if applicable. For many LLCs this is required. For many sole proprietors it is optional but still useful for banking, taxes, and cleaner recordkeeping.

  5. Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping

    Main guide step 5

    Do this right away:

    • open a business checking account or a clearly separated business-only money flow
    • use one account and one card for business only
    • save every payout statement, mileage log, parking bill, and supply receipt
    • keep a mileage log from day one
    • set aside tax reserves because Instacart's public materials describe the ordinary shopper lane as self-directed platform work, not regular wage employment

  6. Step 6: Register for New York tax, local-tax, or other branches that actually apply

    Main guide step 6

    Instacart is not a storefront or inventory-resale business by default, so do not start with a seller-permit or resale-certificate assumption.

    • Instacart is not a storefront or inventory-resale business by default, so do not start with a seller-permit or resale-certificate assumption.
    • As of April 26, 2026, this pack did not identify a default New York Certificate of Authority branch for a standard solo Instacart shopper who is only performing app-based shopping and delivery services.
    • The real state tax baseline here is self-employment reporting, estimated tax if required, and possible MCTMT if your net earnings attributable to MCTD Zone 1 or Zone 2 exceed the threshold.
    • If you operate in NYC, the UBT branch can also matter once your total gross income passes the city filing threshold.
    • If you hire employees, employer registration becomes a real mandatory branch.

  7. Step 7: Check local permits, borough rules, and NYC worker-law limits

    Main guide step 7

    New York does not use one statewide local-business form for every county or city.

    Why it matters: Do this before operating: As of April 26, 2026, NYC's grocery-delivery-worker rights pages say grocery-delivery apps such as Instacart must pay covered workers at least $22.13 per hour, excluding tips, for time spent preparing or making deliveries. Public Instacart materials also say NYC law has already changed how shoppers can go online and receive offers there. That means a New York guide that ignores NYC is incomplete.

    • check the county clerk if you need a local business certificate or assumed-name filing
    • treat New York City as its own branch, not just another city footnote
    • keep airport-property access outside the default beginner path unless your actual work pattern makes it real

  8. Step 8: If you hire employees, handle payroll registrations and insurance

    Main guide step 8

    If you do not hire anyone yet, skip this for now.

    Why it matters: If you hire:

    • register through New York Business Express or NYS-100
    • obtain workers' compensation coverage
    • obtain disability and Paid Family Leave coverage
    • keep that employer branch separate from your own Instacart onboarding

  9. Step 9: Create your Instacart shopper account

    Main guide step 9

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Platform registration flow: Instacart's public platform-integrity page reviewed on April 26, 2026 says prospective shoppers must be 18+, hold a valid driver's license and SSN, pass criminal and motor-vehicle background checks, and complete photo and identity verification.

    • government-issued ID
    • phone number
    • email address
    • bank account information
    • SSN
    • current driver's license
    • profile photo and any live identity-verification materials the app asks for
    • Start at the public Instacart shopper signup page.
    • Enter your personal information and choose your market.
    • Complete identity verification and the background-check branch.
    • Add payout details.
    • Finish any vehicle, transport, or activation steps and wait for approval.

  10. Step 10: Choose the right payout and earnings setup

    Main guide step 10

    Practical rule:

    Why it matters: Pick the simplest payout method that matches your cash-flow needs and re-check the exact fee and timing language in the app before relying on same-day transfer.

    • There is no public monthly seller plan to buy before you can shop.
    • Instacart public pay pages reviewed on April 26, 2026 describe batch pay, promotions, and tips.
    • Public payout pages reviewed on April 26, 2026 show three real branches:
    • weekly direct deposit
    • instant cashout
    • the Shopper Rewards Card, powered by Branch

  11. Step 11: Decide whether advanced batch branches belong in the initial launch

    Main guide step 11

    For a first launch:

    • Instacart can surface full service, shop-only, and deliver-only batches.
    • Some batches are only available to shoppers who complete certifications or opt-ins, including alcohol, prescriptions, bulky items, and certain heavy deliveries.
    • Some stores require an active physical payment card at checkout.
    • Shoppers with verified cooler bags are more likely to see batches containing frozen items.
    • start with ordinary grocery batches
    • avoid alcohol and prescriptions until you understand the certification branch
    • treat the physical payment card and cooler-bag advantages as later setup work rather than a day-one blocker

  12. Step 12: Complete the operations branch

    Main guide step 12

    Use the Instacart-specific version of this section:

    • Confirm the live shopper signup page.
    • Complete identity verification and background checks.
    • Confirm your payout method and understand timing.
    • Confirm your insurance branch with your carrier before you rely on the platform's shopper-protection language.
    • Start with ordinary single-store grocery batches.
    • Add a physical payment card, cooler-bag verification, and certifications only after the basic lane is stable.

  13. Step 13: Confirm batch eligibility before scaling

    Main guide step 13

    Instacart's public batch-access page reviewed on April 26, 2026 says batch access depends on your device, location, and account status.

    • Instacart's public batch-access page reviewed on April 26, 2026 says batch access depends on your device, location, and account status.
    • The same page says shoppers closer to a store are more likely to see that store's batches first.
    • The same page says new shoppers receive the highest Cart Star priority access for their first 10 batches.
    • The same page says you are never penalized for not accepting a batch.
    • The same page also says some batches require an active physical payment card, certifications, or opt-ins, and that verified cooler bags can improve access to some frozen-item batches.
    • In NYC, the public record also says local law can change how access and pay features work, so do not assume the national batch-experience description is the full city answer.

  14. Step 14: Launch with a compliance-first operating routine

    Main guide step 14

    Once live, keep these habits:

    • reconcile payouts, fees, tips, and expenses
    • maintain mileage and supply records
    • keep tax reserves separate
    • review insurance documents before renewal dates
    • keep your identity-verification and background-check profile current
    • treat Instacart as a platform, not as your tax or legal department

Best practical order for the LLC launch path

  1. Choose the service lane first.
  2. Choose the entity name.
  3. File the formation document.
  4. Get the EIN.
  5. Open the bank account.
  6. Finish the operating-agreement and publication branch.
  7. Re-check whether MCTMT, UBT, or borough business-certificate branches actually apply to your facts.
  8. Build the Instacart shopper account.
  9. Finish the payout and operations branch.
  10. Track the biennial statement and any city-tax or employer filings on the compliance calendar.
Back to top Next: New York tax stack
State filing and tax New York tax stack Keep the New York registration, tax, and maintenance rules together while you launch. Everyone 7 checks

1. EIN

A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.

  • A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.
  • A sole proprietor often needs one if hiring employees and may still want one for operations even when not strictly required.

2. New York sales tax, seller permit, or equivalent registration

This pack did not identify a default Certificate of Authority branch for an ordinary Instacart shopper who is only providing shopping and delivery services through the app.

  • This pack did not identify a default Certificate of Authority branch for an ordinary Instacart shopper who is only providing shopping and delivery services through the app.
  • If you add a direct retail line, your own inventory, or another sales-taxable business, re-open the state sales-tax registration analysis through New York Business Express.

3. Marketplace or platform tax rule

Instacart is not a marketplace-seller tax branch in this pack.

  • Instacart is not a marketplace-seller tax branch in this pack.
  • The relevant New York distinction is narrower: ordinary app-based shopping and delivery work versus a more formal business setup that triggers state tax or employer registration.
  • Instacart onboarding should not be treated as a substitute for state or city registration when those registrations are actually required.

4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing

Resale certificates and seller-permit logic are not part of this Instacart baseline.

  • Resale certificates and seller-permit logic are not part of this Instacart baseline.
  • This pack did not identify a resale-certificate branch that a normal shopper needs before beginning ordinary batches.

5. Entity tax treatment

New York personal income tax follows the federal classification of LLCs.

  • New York personal income tax follows the federal classification of LLCs.
  • A single-member LLC treated as disregarded for federal income-tax purposes is also disregarded for New York income-tax purposes.
  • For city-level tax treatment, the state and city pages still need to be read separately.

6. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule

This pack did not identify a separate statewide annual IT-204-LL filing-fee branch as the default answer for the ordinary single-member LLC shopper path in the way it applies to multi-member LLCs or partnerships.

  • This pack did not identify a separate statewide annual IT-204-LL filing-fee branch as the default answer for the ordinary single-member LLC shopper path in the way it applies to multi-member LLCs or partnerships.
  • The recurring New York entity-maintenance items identified here are the publication branch and the biennial statement.

7. If the founder changes entity type later

Do not assume your bank account, EIN, Instacart tax profile, or any local registration will carry over cleanly.

  • Do not assume your bank account, EIN, Instacart tax profile, or any local registration will carry over cleanly.
  • Re-check entity documents and payout records if you move from sole proprietor to LLC.
Back to top Next: Instacart account and operations
Platform setup Instacart account and operations Use this section for the Instacart-specific account, plan, eligibility, and operations work. Everyone 5 steps

  1. Step 9: Create your Instacart shopper account

    Platform step 1

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Platform registration flow: Instacart's public platform-integrity page reviewed on April 26, 2026 says prospective shoppers must be 18+, hold a valid driver's license and SSN, pass criminal and motor-vehicle background checks, and complete photo and identity verification.

    • government-issued ID
    • phone number
    • email address
    • bank account information
    • SSN
    • current driver's license
    • profile photo and any live identity-verification materials the app asks for
    • Start at the public Instacart shopper signup page.
    • Enter your personal information and choose your market.
    • Complete identity verification and the background-check branch.
    • Add payout details.
    • Finish any vehicle, transport, or activation steps and wait for approval.

  2. Step 10: Choose the right payout and earnings setup

    Platform step 2

    Practical rule:

    Why it matters: Pick the simplest payout method that matches your cash-flow needs and re-check the exact fee and timing language in the app before relying on same-day transfer.

    • There is no public monthly seller plan to buy before you can shop.
    • Instacart public pay pages reviewed on April 26, 2026 describe batch pay, promotions, and tips.
    • Public payout pages reviewed on April 26, 2026 show three real branches:
    • weekly direct deposit
    • instant cashout
    • the Shopper Rewards Card, powered by Branch

  3. Step 11: Decide whether advanced batch branches belong in the initial launch

    Platform step 3

    For a first launch:

    • Instacart can surface full service, shop-only, and deliver-only batches.
    • Some batches are only available to shoppers who complete certifications or opt-ins, including alcohol, prescriptions, bulky items, and certain heavy deliveries.
    • Some stores require an active physical payment card at checkout.
    • Shoppers with verified cooler bags are more likely to see batches containing frozen items.
    • start with ordinary grocery batches
    • avoid alcohol and prescriptions until you understand the certification branch
    • treat the physical payment card and cooler-bag advantages as later setup work rather than a day-one blocker

  4. Step 12: Complete the operations branch

    Platform step 4

    Use the Instacart-specific version of this section:

    • Confirm the live shopper signup page.
    • Complete identity verification and background checks.
    • Confirm your payout method and understand timing.
    • Confirm your insurance branch with your carrier before you rely on the platform's shopper-protection language.
    • Start with ordinary single-store grocery batches.
    • Add a physical payment card, cooler-bag verification, and certifications only after the basic lane is stable.

  5. Step 13: Confirm batch eligibility before scaling

    Platform step 5

    Instacart's public batch-access page reviewed on April 26, 2026 says batch access depends on your device, location, and account status.

    • Instacart's public batch-access page reviewed on April 26, 2026 says batch access depends on your device, location, and account status.
    • The same page says shoppers closer to a store are more likely to see that store's batches first.
    • The same page says new shoppers receive the highest Cart Star priority access for their first 10 batches.
    • The same page says you are never penalized for not accepting a batch.
    • The same page also says some batches require an active physical payment card, certifications, or opt-ins, and that verified cooler bags can improve access to some frozen-item batches.
    • In NYC, the public record also says local law can change how access and pay features work, so do not assume the national batch-experience description is the full city answer.
Back to top Next: Local permits and New York City branch
Local branch Local permits and New York City branch These local and city checks can still change the answer even after the state and platform path is clear. Location-specific 2 branches

Local permits and location checks

New York pushes some business-permit questions down to counties and municipalities.

  • New York pushes some business-permit questions down to counties and municipalities.
  • For any place where the business will operate:
  • check New York Business Express
  • contact the county clerk
  • contact the city office
  • ask zoning or building offices if the business will operate from home
  • Typical local risk areas:
  • business certificates
  • home occupation restrictions
  • city taxes
  • unusual vehicle traffic
  • airport-property access

New York City Appendix

If the business operates in New York City, add one more review layer.

  • If the business operates in New York City, add one more review layer.
  • NYC grocery-app worker law is real and directly covers Instacart.
  • The public city pages say covered grocery-app workers must be paid at least $22.13 per hour, excluding tips, as of April 1, 2026.
  • Public Instacart materials say NYC law has also already changed shopper online-access and batch-offer behavior there.
  • Borough business-certificate fees vary by county clerk, and UBT can become real once total gross income exceeds the filing threshold.
Back to top Next: Employees and insurance
Optional branch Employees and insurance Use this branch if you plan to hire or need the insurance follow-up that comes with scaling. Only if hiring or scaling 5 branches

1. Employer registration

Register through New York Business Express or by using NYS-100.

  • Register through New York Business Express or by using NYS-100.

2. Workers' compensation

Virtually all employers in New York State must provide workers' compensation coverage for employees.

  • Virtually all employers in New York State must provide workers' compensation coverage for employees.
  • obtain workers' compensation coverage

3. Disability, paid leave, or similar coverage

Virtually all employers in New York State must provide disability and Paid Family Leave benefits coverage for employees.

  • Virtually all employers in New York State must provide disability and Paid Family Leave benefits coverage for employees.
  • obtain disability and Paid Family Leave coverage

4. Exemption certificate if applicable

CE-200 is only for a government license, permit, or contract situation where the applicant is not required to carry workers' compensation and or disability and Paid Family Leave coverage.

  • CE-200 is only for a government license, permit, or contract situation where the applicant is not required to carry workers' compensation and or disability and Paid Family Leave coverage.

Insurance reality

Instacart's public shopper-safety pages say shopper injury protection is available free of charge to all U.S. full-service shoppers.

  • Instacart's public shopper-safety pages say shopper injury protection is available free of charge to all U.S. full-service shoppers.
  • Those pages do not provide a complete public New York auto-insurance summary for grocery delivery by personal car.
  • Keep your own personal auto insurance current and re-check the live shopper help or app materials before launch.
Back to top Next: Ongoing compliance calendar
Stay compliant Ongoing compliance calendar Keep the recurring compliance checks and live-operating routine visible after launch. Everyone 4 groups

Before first batch

  • Finish entity or business-certificate setup if needed.
  • Finish Instacart verification and payout setup.
  • Set up mileage tracking and tax reserves.
  • Re-check the NYC branch if your city, pay-law, or borough facts are real.

Monthly

  • Reconcile payouts, fees, tips, and expenses.
  • Review tax reserves.
  • Re-check whether your insurer or local-law branch needs an update because your shopping activity changed.

Quarterly

  • Review whether estimated federal and New York tax payments make sense for your profit level.
  • If you are in the MCTD, re-check whether your net earnings are pushing you toward the MCTMT threshold.
  • If you become an employer, review payroll and workers' compensation calendars separately.

Annual or periodic

  • Renew or update any local business-certificate or assumed-name filing if the local clerk requires it.
  • If you formed an LLC, keep the biennial statement, operating-agreement, and publication record clean.
  • Re-check live public Instacart payout, batch-access, insurance, and tax-help pages before relying on older screenshots or blog posts.
Back to top Next: Common mistakes
Avoid these Common mistakes These are the repeated beginner errors called out in the research pack. Everyone 6 mistakes

Common Mistakes New Operators Make

  • Assuming a New York sales-tax registration is the first filing for an ordinary Instacart shopper
  • Ignoring the NYC grocery-app worker-law branch because the platform feels national
  • Treating shopper injury protection as a substitute for talking to your own auto insurer
  • Mixing personal and business money because payouts feel automatic
  • Taking alcohol, prescription, or very heavy batches before understanding the extra requirements
  • Forgetting that some stores need an active physical payment card

Practical first-launch recommendation

If you are testing part-time with one vehicle and no employees, sole proprietor is usually the cleanest beginner path.

If you intend to build a more formal operation, separate contracts and banking from day one, or hire later, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

Back to top Next: Full official source directory
Full appendix Full official source directory Every official source row from the research pack, kept in its full table structure. Everyone 40 rows

Source group

Statewide Start

State of New York

State start-here page

Form / portal Startup guide
Fee None for the page
Timing First planning step
Who needs it Everyone

State overview page covering entity formation, EIN, insurance, and local-government reminders.

Open official link

New York Business Express

State business portal

Form / portal NY.gov Business account / Business Express
Fee Varies by filing
Timing Before registrations
Who needs it Most founders

Use for local licenses, employer registration, and conditional sales-tax registration workflow.

Open official link

Empire State Development

State small business support hub

Form / portal Small Business Hub
Fee None for the page
Timing Optional
Who needs it Founders needing support

Official small-business support hub with state assistance and guide links.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Choice and Formation

New York Department of State

Compare business types

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing First decision
Who needs it Everyone

Official summary of sole proprietorships, LLCs, partnerships, and corporations.

Open official link

New York Department of State

Formation hub

Form / portal Online filing links and entity pages
Fee Varies
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Filing entities

Main Department of State hub for new entities and business records.

Open official link

New York Department of State

Default entity formation filing

Form / portal Articles of Organization (DOS-1336-f)
Fee $200
Timing At formation
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Online filing is available.

Open official link

New York Department of State

Immediate post-filing requirement

Form / portal Operating agreement requirement
Fee None for the agreement itself
Timing Before filing, at filing, or within 90 days after filing
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Operating agreement is required but kept internally, not filed with the Department of State.

Open official link

New York Department of State

Publication requirement

Form / portal Certificate of Publication (DOS-1708-f)
Fee $50 Department of State filing fee, plus newspaper charges
Timing Within 120 days after the Articles of Organization take effect
Who needs it Most single-member LLC founders

Requires two county-clerk-designated newspapers and publication affidavits.

Open official link

New York Department of State

LLC assumed-name filing

Form / portal Certificate of Assumed Name (DOS-1338-f)
Fee $25
Timing When using a DBA
Who needs it LLCs operating under a different name

State-level DBA filing for LLCs.

Open official link

New York Department of State

Ongoing entity maintenance

Form / portal Biennial statement e-filing
Fee $9
Timing Every two years, in the calendar month of original filing
Who needs it LLCs and corporations

Separate from taxes and separate from publication.

Open official link

Source group

Sole Proprietor and Local Name Filings

New York Department of State

Sole proprietor baseline

Form / portal No Department of State formation filing when using legal name
Fee None at the state-formation level
Timing First setup step
Who needs it Sole proprietors

New York routes trade-name filings locally instead of through one statewide sole-proprietor formation filing.

Open official link

NYC311

Borough business-certificate fees

Form / portal Business Certificate / assumed-name filing with borough county clerk
Fee Bronx $100, Brooklyn $120, Manhattan $100, Queens $100, Staten Island $120, plus $10 per certified copy
Timing Before using a trade name in NYC
Who needs it Sole proprietors and general partnerships using a DBA

Strongest current public city fee row for NYC business certificates.

Open official link

Source group

Federal and State Tax Setup

IRS

EIN overview and online application

Form / portal EIN application
Fee Free
Timing Early in setup
Who needs it LLCs, employers, founders who want an EIN

IRS says you can get an EIN directly from the IRS for free.

Open official link

IRS

EIN paper form

Form / portal Form SS-4
Fee Free
Timing If not applying online
Who needs it Founders using mail or fax

IRS reference page for the current SS-4 form and instructions.

Open official link

New York Department of Taxation and Finance

Self-employment baseline

Form / portal Self-employment guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing Ongoing tax baseline
Who needs it Gig workers

Official state page says people who generate income using an app as gig workers are self-employed.

Open official link

New York Department of Taxation and Finance

Estimated-tax baseline

Form / portal IT-2105 guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing When no or not enough tax is withheld
Who needs it Self-employed filers

Includes estimated-tax due-date guidance.

Open official link

New York Department of Taxation and Finance

MCTMT threshold

Form / portal Personal-return reporting for MCTMT
Fee Tax only, no filing fee stated
Timing Ongoing if business is carried on in the MCTD
Who needs it Self-employed individuals in the MCTD

Threshold is $50,000 for tax years 2025 and prior, and $150,000 for tax years 2026 and after.

Open official link

NYC Department of Finance

UBT filing trigger

Form / portal NYC-202; NYC-5UBTI
Fee Tax only, no filing fee stated
Timing NYC-202 due April 15 for calendar-year filers; NYC-5UBTI if estimated UBT exceeds $3,400
Who needs it Unincorporated businesses carrying on business wholly or partly in NYC

Any individual or unincorporated entity with total gross income over $95,000 must file UBT.

Open official link

New York Department of Taxation and Finance

Conditional only - sales tax vendor row

Form / portal Certificate of Authority; DTF-17.1 questionnaire
Fee None stated on page
Timing Before beginning a taxable retail business if one exists
Who needs it Founders adding direct retail or taxable sales lines

Keep as a conditional follow-up row only, not the default ordinary Instacart shopper startup row.

Open official link

Not part of this baseline

Resale or exemption certificate

Form / portal Not applicable
Fee Not applicable
Timing Not applicable
Who needs it Ordinary Instacart shoppers

Storefront, seller-permit, and resale-certificate logic are outside this platform-work pack.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Tax Maintenance

New York Department of Taxation and Finance

Entity tax treatment

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing During planning and annually
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

New York follows federal classification rules for LLCs.

Open official link

New York Department of State

Recurring entity filing or fee

Form / portal Biennial statement e-filing
Fee $9
Timing Every two years in the month of formation
Who needs it LLCs and corporations

Separate from the Department of State publication branch.

Open official link

Source group

Federal Reporting

FinCEN

BOI reporting status

Form / portal BOI overview and system
Fee None
Timing Check before filing
Who needs it Everyone forming an entity

As of April 26, 2026, domestic U.S.-created entities are exempt under FinCEN's current interim rule.

Open official link

Source group

Employees, Payroll, and Insurance

New York Department of Labor

Employer registration

Form / portal NYS-100 / Business Express
Fee No fee stated on reviewed pages
Timing When first becoming an employer
Who needs it Businesses hiring employees

Combined employer registration route for unemployment, withholding, and wage reporting.

Open official link

New York Workers' Compensation Board

Workers' compensation

Form / portal Coverage through carrier, NYSIF, or self-insurance
Fee Premium-based or varies
Timing Before or at hiring
Who needs it Most employers with one or more employees

WCB says virtually all employers in New York must provide workers' compensation coverage.

Open official link

New York Workers' Compensation Board

Disability and Paid Family Leave

Form / portal Disability and PFL coverage
Fee Premium-based or varies
Timing Review before hiring
Who needs it Employers with covered employees

Paid Family Leave is typically a rider on the disability policy.

Open official link

New York Workers' Compensation Board

Exemption certificate if applicable

Form / portal CE-200
Fee None stated
Timing Only when requested for a government license, permit, or contract
Who needs it Eligible exempt entities

Public WCB guidance limits the certificate to entities with no employees or certain out-of-state entities doing all work outside New York.

Open official link

Source group

Platform Setup

Instacart

Signup / onboarding

Form / portal Shopper signup flow
Fee No public signup fee identified
Timing Before launch
Who needs it All new shoppers

Public overview for the ordinary shopper flow.

Open official link

Instacart

Eligibility / integrity

Form / portal Shopper integrity / onboarding controls
Fee None
Timing During onboarding and ongoing
Who needs it New shoppers

Says shoppers must be 18+, have a valid driver's license and SSN, and pass background checks.

Open official link

Instacart

Earnings / payout

Form / portal Shopper earnings page
Fee Instant cashout $0.50
Timing Weekly direct deposits for prior Monday-Sunday; typically Wednesday-Friday
Who needs it Active shoppers

Also says some regions like New York City have local laws that affect shopper pay.

Open official link

Instacart

Rewards card / Branch

Form / portal Shopper Rewards Card
Fee No application fee stated; first 8 ATM withdrawals per month free, then $3.50 each
Timing Optional after activation
Who needs it Approved shoppers comparing payout methods

Account is powered by Branch with banking services through Lead Bank.

Open official link

Instacart

Access batches

Form / portal Batch-access rules
Fee None
Timing Ongoing
Who needs it Active shoppers

Use for proximity, Cart Star, and certification rules; peak earning times is unavailable in New York City.

Open official link

Instacart

NYC law changes / platform operations

Form / portal NYC law update page
Fee None
Timing Changes effective April 1, 2026
Who needs it NYC shoppers

Instacart says city law forced structural changes, including constraints on when shoppers can go online and one-at-a-time batch offers.

Open official link

Source group

Fulfillment, Logistics, or Store Operations

Instacart

Shopper support / role framing

Form / portal Public shopper commitments page
Fee None
Timing Before launch and ongoing
Who needs it Prospective shoppers

Good public source for how Instacart shopping differs from rideshare or restaurant-only delivery work.

Open official link

Source group

Insurance Checkpoint

Instacart

Safety / injury-protection resource row

Form / portal In-app Safety Hub press release
Fee None
Timing Before first batch and ongoing
Who needs it Active shoppers

Public page says shoppers can access emergency assistance, incident reporting, and resources about shopper injury protection.

Open official link

Instacart / investor materials

Personal auto-insurance caution

Form / portal Investor filings hub
Fee None for the page
Timing Before first delivery by car and at each renewal
Who needs it Car-based shoppers

Use as the public reminder that shoppers are expected to carry their own insurance; public shopper pages do not close the full New York auto-policy answer.

Open official link

Source group

New York City Branch

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection

Grocery-app worker rights

Form / portal Delivery-worker rights page
Fee None for the page
Timing Ongoing
Who needs it NYC grocery-app workers

As of April 26, 2026, apps such as Instacart must pay at least $22.13 per hour excluding tips for time spent preparing and or making deliveries.

Open official link

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection

Grocery-app notice of rights

Form / portal Grocery-app rights notice
Fee None for the page
Timing Updated January 12, 2026; additional pay rules may increase pay starting July 1, 2026
Who needs it NYC grocery-app workers

Says the app must pay all tips, pay at least weekly, offer a no-fee payment option, provide route details before acceptance, and provide a free insulated bag after 6 food deliveries.

Open official link

NYC Department of Finance

UBT subject activity

Form / portal NYC-202 and related forms
Fee Tax only, no filing fee stated
Timing Ongoing if in scope
Who needs it Unincorporated businesses in NYC

Use together with the NYC-202 instructions for the filing threshold.

Open official link

NYC311

Borough business-certificate fees

Form / portal Business Certificate / assumed-name filing
Fee Bronx $100, Brooklyn $120, Manhattan $100, Queens $100, Staten Island $120
Timing Before using a trade name in NYC
Who needs it Sole proprietors and general partnerships using a DBA

Official city fee row for county-clerk business certificates.

Open official link
Back to top