City Hall Offers Streamlined Process For Business Startups

CHICAGO (CBS) -- So long, small business red tape.

After years of complaints, Chicago City Hall is now making it easier to start a small business.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.

First-time business owner Attila Gyulai proudly shows off his new West Loop restaurant, Embeya. It opened half a year ago after Gyulai spent months jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

He says he lost three months' worth of business through all the delays.

The restaurant owner was so frustrated by the process -- not the people -- that he wrote the city a letter urging officials to streamline the process.

On Thursday, Gyulai helped introduce Chicago's small business center, an eighth-floor City Hall office that matches budding entrepreneurs with a consultant to help them cut through the crud.

"That business consultant will not only help them with their licensing, but will walk them through and help them with permitting, driveways, public-way use," says Rosemary Krimbel, commissioner of the Office of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.

The Ansari brothers are already taking full advantage as they launch a cupcake truck.

They say the difference between opening the family convenience store in 2006 with their City Hall experience now can't be compared.

There is also a new restaurant start-up program in the city but one owner tells CBS 2 it needs some streamlining.

Mayor Emanuel says the goal of all the programs is to help owners and not stymie them. Progress perhaps.