Breaking Barriers: Know Your Rights - Commercial Lease

The Minnesota Avenue Main Street (MAMS) is an initiative to promote, revitalize, and develop the Minnesota Avenue corridor, one of the largest historic commercial districts located east of the Anacostia River. They offer grant opportunities for Black-owned businesses in Washington, D.C. Wards 7 and 8, 1:1 Business Consultations, Workshops & Events, Business Marketing, and Real Estate Support.

1-on-1 coaching in areas including financing, business law, marketing, real estate, etc. for all stages of business development. Learn how to write a successful business plan, understanding what bankers look for, determining the best way to manage business operations including your taxes, accounting, employee insurance, payroll and marketing.

The DCRA Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) staff provides one-on-one assistance with navigating through the process of starting a business. Sessions are held via phone or video conference. You will gain in-depth knoweldge of the regulatory process, registering with corporations (i.e. Limited Liability Company, Corporations, Non-Profit, etc.) and the basic steps of obtaining a business license. Additionally, you will receive assistance with the zoning application process (i.e. Certificate of Occupancy and/or Home Occupancy Permit).

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center provides legal assistance to community based nonprofit organizations and small business entrepreneurs serving low–income communities or who are economically disadvantaged.

Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic. The District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Center provides brief legal information to small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs who operate in economically disadvantaged areas or who have limited financial resources. The clinics provide current and aspiring business owners with an opportunity to speak with an attorney one-on-one. Volunteer attorneys help review legal documents and answer questions about starting a business, taxation, real estate leases, employment law, and other legal issues common to small business owners.

The Economic Justice team runs the Legal Services for Entrepreneurs (LSE). Which provides free legal services to low-income individuals who want to start or develop businesses; businesses committed to investing in economically distressed communities, including hiring people with arrest and conviction records; and mom and pop shops located in areas where gentrification is a force for displacement.

Need business law advice? We can help!

We serve Bay Area clients that are:

Low-income individuals
Located in low-income communities; and/or

Community Economic Justice Clinic Services
EBCLC’s Community Economic Justice Clinic (CEJ) is focused on advancing people-oriented economic development and empowering low-income communities of color to build long-term solutions to poverty in the East Bay. CEJ attorneys and advocates can provide the following types of assistance:

- Starting a business, cooperative, or non-profit
- Tax exemption applications
- Compliance with nonprofit, employment, and tax laws
- Drafting and reviewing of contracts, agreements, and loan documents

Provides specifically Commercial Lease assistance for small businesses (lease review, renewal, negotiation). Does NOT cover litigation. This is a public program by City of NY and only covers NYC businesses. The service is through NYC SBS and lawyers may be from BKA, VOLS, or other orgs but most likely BKA.

Help with Legal Lease negotiations