I'm curious how the process is for opening a business in St. Louis. Looking for feedback from business owners or knowledgeable parties -
How hard is it to open a business?
Did you use the business assistance center?
Could the city have done anything to make it simpler?
What was the biggest roadblock?
What would be the easiest thing you would do differently?
Does the city meet the needs of its citizens in starting a business?
I can only go off my own experiences in opening a business, but this is my take on your questions, in a nutshell.
Opening a business in the most simple of terms is not all that hard in the City of STL, although it has been two and a half years now, so I'm probably less angry and frustrated than I was back then about the experience. I wish I would have known about the business assistance center when I first started, all I had was some checklist I got from McMillan's website and on the very last step I had to go to some office, who said, oh, go to the business assistance center. Had I known it existed, that would have made the whole thing much much easier. So, number one, the city should promote the existence of such a center.
Otherwise, the experience then is sort of like the continued experience now while operating a business. Every time I go to city hall it is at least 5 different offices, once I counted 11 different stops in one trip, to get anything accomplished. Streamlining the organization of City Hall would help immensely. "Take this form, get it signed here, then go here, then come back here for another form, then pay here then go there..." you get the idea...
The thing that was the worst, in my case at least, was the occupancy permit. That whole department is a nightmare. Anyone on here who owns rental property understands.
Again, I think if the city actively made people aware of the B.A.C., it would make things much easier. Maybe I'm just dumb and didn't know it existed, lol...
What kind of business are you talking about? That would greatly affect the level of interaction you have with the city. I started a real estate development business last year and doing so was extremely simple. However, that experience was markedly different than, say, opening a restaurant.
ttricamo wrote:What kind of business are you talking about? That would greatly affect the level of interaction you have with the city. I started a real estate development business last year and doing so was extremely simple. However, that experience was markedly different than, say, opening a restaurant.
More interested in one with some kind of space for offices or customers that may come in. I understand that creating a business like yours should be simple - there's just not that many permits and such that you should need.
Thanks for the feedback, kustramo.
I'm putting together a report to give off to city hall with feedback from business owners. Not getting paid for this, or anything like that, but I've heard enough negative feedback that I want to help the city. Just hoping they action what I give them - or at least read it.
Yes, seems like a report that should be public, if possible. Maybe change some names or something. I know SPACEarchitects seem to have enjoyed their move to the city. I haven't heard complaints from them about renovating a building, dealing with brownfield credits.... I think they received a forgivable loan from the city as well...
It'll be public. I'm doing this on my own time, as an endeavor to help the city. I've not been asked to do it nor will I be compensated for it. I just love St. Louis.
I'll post it here when done, with anonymous comments, unless someone specifically wants to be known.
Getting an occupancy permit and anything that deals with a fire inspection is a nightmare....give yourself a LOT of extra time to get this done. The City Hall fire drill is also a waste of time...I had to get a permit and go to three different offices at City Hall then drive out to the Streets Dept on Hampton Ave then back to City Hall....I agree consolidation would make things better.
ladedade wrote:Getting an occupancy permit and anything that deals with a fire inspection is a nightmare....give yourself a LOT of extra time to get this done. The City Hall fire drill is also a waste of time...I had to get a permit and go to three different offices at City Hall then drive out to the Streets Dept on Hampton Ave then back to City Hall....I agree consolidation would make things better.
I had issues with the fire inspection too, but the best (read worst) was the plumbing inspection(s). All 5 inspectors came, and were each in and out in 5 minutes a piece tops. Then two days later I get a letter saying the plumbing inspector was never able to gain entry and needed to reschedule. Oddly enough, I had remember specifically talking to the plumbing inspector and he said since the restrooms were in a common area, his job was easy and that he saw no problems. Well you can only call the inspectors office between 7:30 and 8:30 daily and they don't have a receptionist or any uniform system of appointments, so if you don't reach them in the office, you don't get an appointment. Needless to say, it was 5 weeks before he finally got down here and then of course, there was something wrong, even though the previous inspector found nothing wrong. It was a $5 part, but since it was the city, I had to pull a permit and use a licensed contractor, so became a $250 repair.
On another note, I would love to give input on the occupancy department more directly for your report, you can contact me through PM.
I would think that the alderman of the ward in which you want to establish your business could probably be a helpful resource as well, and if you're looking downtown, the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis would probably be worth talking to.
[quote="jmstokes...I'm putting together a report to give off to city hall with feedback from business owners. Not getting paid for this, or anything like that, but I've heard enough negative feedback that I want to help the city. Just hoping they action what I give them - or at least read it.[/quote]
I'm not sure how pursuasive is random stories from anonymous posters on a web site.
Did someone from the city ask for this report? It just seems--odd.
I bought an existing City business about five years ago. It was very easy, with the help of an accountant. I'm sure opening a new one from scratch would be more of a hassle.
Having moved my business a couple of times, I can echo what others have said about the occupancy permit and fire inspection; the city makes this much more difficult than necessary. They seem to love making you sweat until the very last minute.
GelatinousEndive wrote:I'm not sure how pursuasive is random stories from anonymous posters on a web site. Did someone from the city ask for this report? It just seems--odd.
No, they didn't. They can take it or leave it, once it's done. I've already lined up times to talk with half a dozen business owners, and will find more.
I'm sorry you find it odd. I don't see, why you care, however, since I'm not using any of your time to do it.
Inspections in the city are a joke. I had a guy come in for occupancy, sit down in the kitchen, and have me go down into the basement to test the fire alarm. I could easily have been cooking meth in my basement and no one would have caught it.
I love how people will share their stories about hastles with City Hall yet defend it when I say there are effciencies to be gained and fat to be cut from our Civic. Leadership.
That said, the city isn't nearly as bad with inspections as some municipalities.
