New Nassau County bill would slash ‘shakedown’ fees for business licenses

Small businesses in Nassau County could catch a break from the avalanche of local fees tied to dozens of required permits and licenses.

Democratic county legislator Seth Koslow, who is running against County Executive Bruce Blakeman for his seat in November, proposed legislation last week to cut up to 85 percent of local licensing fees for businesses.

“If you want to groom dogs, hang a sign, or fix locks in Nassau, you’re looking at hundreds of dollars in yearly fees — it reads less like a licensing schedule and more like a shakedown list,” Koslow told The Post.

“Small businesses are getting squeezed.”

The proposed legislation would slash fees for more than 30 types of business licenses — including those involving dry cleaners, locksmiths, dog groomers, health clubs and home-service providers — which currently cost Nassau business owners anywhere from $650 to $1,300 a year.

That’s more than triple what businesses in neighboring Suffolk County pay for the same licenses, which typically range from just $100 to $200 annually — making Nassau’s fees 225% to 550% higher depending on the license.

Koslow told The Post that Suffolk’s model was essentially the blueprint for his bill.

“Why should a young entrepreneur in Nassau pay triple what someone pays across the county line,” Koslow said. “That’s not competition, that’s punishment. These fees hit hardest for women, minority, and veteran-owned startups. This bill is how we level the playing field.”

David Adeoya, a Nassau County-based financial adviser who works with small businesses in the area, told The Post that the proposed legislation could provide much-needed breathing room for entrepreneurs struggling to stay afloat in a tough economy while making Nassau a more competitive place to do business.

“Many small businesses are facing rising costs and higher import prices, so lowering these fees can offer meaningful relief,” Adeoya said.

“Lower licensing fees mean business owners have more room in their budgets for necessities like inventory, staffing and equipment while also having the potential flexibility to add more tax efficient assets — things that directly support their businesses growth and stability.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said he would be on board with the legislation.

But he also noted licensing fees bring in so much money for Nassau that lowering them by nearly 80% could significantly impact the county budget.

“I am happy to cut the fees, provided Democrats come up with matching cuts to spending,” Blakeman told The Post.