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Chicago BACP
@chicagobacp.bsky.social
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The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection ensures a fair and vibrant marketplace for businesses, workers and consumers in the City.

Follow BACP on social and subscribe to our newsletters: Chi.gov/BACPUpdates
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Chicago BACP @chicagobacp.bsky.social · Aug 20
We're here to help you start your business in Chicago today!

✶ Business Education Webinars: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars
✶ Entrepreneur Certficate: Chicago.gov/BACPCertificate
✶ Neighborhood Business Developments Centers: Chicago.gov/NBDC
✶ Small Business Center: Chicago.gov/SmallBusiness
Promotional graphic for the City of Chicago's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) featuring four services: free business education webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays, Entrepreneur Certificate program registration, Neighborhood Business Development Centers contact info, and Chicago Small Business Center's free consultations schedule. Each section has relevant icons and website links for more information.
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ALERT: BACP offices are closed to the public Friday, January 23, 2026, due to the National Weather Service issuing an Extreme Cold Warning.

Safety and preparedness tips, weather information, and alerts: Chicago.gov/OEMC.
Notice from BACP stating all offices are closed to the public on Friday, January 23 due to extreme cold, with contact information and links for further safety and emergency tips.
January 22, 2026 at 9:30 PM
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Art is Labor!

BACP and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events put together resources for creative workers and their employers. Learn about freelance protections, labor laws + more at Chicago.gov/CreativeWork
Collage promoting worker rights in Chicago, featuring diverse individuals working in various environments, and slogans like "Safe workplaces," "Fair pay," "Creative Worker Rights," and "New protections."
January 22, 2026 at 3:08 PM
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ICYMI: BACP launched a new Office of Labor Standards webpage featuring Reports and Investigations. The interactive dashboards enhance public transparency and promote accountability.

Learn more and view the dashboards at Chicago.gov/LaborStandards
Promotional image for the Chicago Office of Labor Standards. Features the office's logo at the top, and a laptop showing a graph and map related to labor complaints. Text highlights services including resources for employees, complaint statistics, and the website link, Chicago.gov/LaborStandards.
January 22, 2026 at 3:05 PM
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Today's free business education webinar starts at 3pm. Register: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars

This practical, owner-focused webinar delivers a clear roadmap for LLC tax planning and compliance under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Promotional graphic for a BACP Business Education Webinar titled "The Ins and Outs of Tax Strategies for Your LLC," happening Wednesday, January 21 at 3:00 PM, presented by Score Chicago. Includes details to register at Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars, set against a blue background with geometric patterns.
January 21, 2026 at 2:55 PM
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ICYMI: The 2026 #ChicagoSmallBizExpo dates have been announced!
⭐Thurs., March 12, 9am to 12:30pm, Online
⭐Sat., May 16, 8:30am to 1:30pm, Truman College
⭐Sat., August 29, 8:30am to 1:30pm, Malcolm X College

To learn more about the Expos visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo
Graphic for Chicago Small Business Expo 2026, featuring announcement of event dates, includes logos of sponsors like City Colleges and Western Union, and website link Chicago.gov/BizExpo.
January 20, 2026 at 2:50 PM
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This week is #NationalHealthyWeightWeek! The observance aims to reinforce healthy eating and improve healthy habits. What Chicago businesses do you visit for healthy food or other health-focused services? Shout them out! #TagLocalTuesday #ShopLocalChicago
Social media graphic titled #TagLocalTuesday, encouraging tagging a local Chicago small business that helps you stay healthy. Includes images of healthy items like fruits, a dumbbell, a running shoe, and a smartwatch monitoring a heart rate.
January 20, 2026 at 2:48 PM
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This week's free business education webinars:
Wed: The Ins and Outs of Tax Strategies and Compliance for Your LLC
Fri: From Vision to Action: Building Your Winning Business Plan

Learn more and register: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars
Promotional image for a BACP Business Education webinar titled "The Ins and Outs of Tax Strategies and Compliance for Your LLC," scheduled for Wednesday, January 21 at 3:00 PM, presented by Score Chicago. Features a link to register at Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars with a blue background and graphic elements including a star and compass rose. Promotional graphic for a BACP Business Education webinar titled 'From Vision to Action: Building Your Winning Business Plan,' scheduled for Friday, January 23 at 9:30 AM. Presented by Erika Gonzalez, with registration details available at Chicago.gov/BACPwebinars.
January 20, 2026 at 2:46 PM
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🐻⬇️
Five individuals in a room wearing Chicago Bears apparel, one holding a Bears logo, standing near an exit sign. Group of people wearing Chicago Bears apparel posing with signs inside a building lobby. Group of individuals in a room wearing Chicago Bears merchandise, posing with enthusiasm.
January 16, 2026 at 7:37 PM
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ICYMI: Read the latest bi-monthly BACP newsletter to learn about the 2026 #ChicagoSmallBizExpo dates, the BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program, the new Cut the Tape for Small Business initiative, and more!

Read it here: http://Chi.gov/BACPBuzz26Q1
Subscribe: http://Chi.gov/BACPUpdates
January 16, 2026 at 7:27 PM
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Small businesses are the backbone of Chicago’s neighborhoods and commercial corridors. ​"Cut The Tape for Small Business" is designed to streamline and simplify regulatory processes, enhance transparency, and increase access to education & resources. More: Chicago.gov/CutTheTape
Promotional poster titled "Cut the Tape for Small Business", features a clipboard graphic with text about "Licensing and Permitting Initiative #2/9" aimed to streamline and digitize licensing procedures to boost efficiency in Chicago. Includes a reference to the City of Chicago website.
January 16, 2026 at 4:31 PM
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The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will be closed Monday, January 19, 2026 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

BACP offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Announcement about the closure of the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection on January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, displaying the department's logo and website link at the bottom.
January 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM
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This morning's free business education webinar starts at 9:30am. Register: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars

Are you ready for 2026? Join Miller Cooper’s Client HR Services team for its popular webinar focused on for what you need to know about employees and new HR developments for 2026.
Promotional graphic for a BACP Business Education Webinar titled "HR Trends and Priorities for 2026", scheduled for Friday, January 16 at 9:30 AM. The image features a blue background with a stylized digital pattern and a red star icon.
January 16, 2026 at 2:44 PM
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👀
Graphic with text reading 'This is your sign to support small businesses,' featuring a red star logo with the word 'CHICAGO' below.
January 15, 2026 at 4:28 PM
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TODAY AT 2PM! This month’s #BACPEmpowerHour will feature Christy Sears, Owner of Pickleball Clubhouse. Located in Irving Park, Pickleball Clubhouse offers premier indoor pickleball courts for a high-quality, community-driven playing experience. Register: http://Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars
Promotional flyer for "Empower Hour" webinar hosted on Thursday, January 15th at 2 PM. Features a clock showing the time of the event, a list of discussion topics including business, marketing, community, and sports. Includes Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars URL for more information.
January 15, 2026 at 2:58 PM
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SIGN UP TODAY! CHIBIZ Alerts are targeted alerts for the business community through a partnership between BACP and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications.

To receive these text message alerts, text “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3
Promotional graphic for ChiBiz Alerts by the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department of Chicago. Features a text bubble design with the message "Stay Connected with Important Updates for the Business Community" and instructions to text "CHIBIZ" to 6-7-2-8-3 for targeted, important updates from BACP and Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
January 14, 2026 at 10:34 PM
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THURSDAY @ 2PM: This month’s #BACPEmpowerHour will feature Christy Sears, Owner of Pickleball Clubhouse. Located in Irving Park, Pickleball Clubhouse offers premier indoor pickleball courts for a high-quality, community-driven playing experience. Register: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars
Promotional graphic for Empower Hour with the owner of Picklebears Clubhouse on Thursday, Jan 15 at 2PM, discussing marketing strategies, customer experience, sports community, and more. Includes a Q&A session. Visit Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars for more info.
January 14, 2026 at 2:57 PM
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Today's free business education webinar starts at 3pm. Register: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars

Attendees will learn the fundamentals of GenAI and how the technology works, best practices for responsible use, & tips on adopting AI inside your organization. No prior experience required.
Promotional image for a webinar titled 'Getting Started with Generative AI: A Primer for Non-Technical Leaders,' presented by Matt Quinn of Be Kind AI, hosted by BACP Business Education. Scheduled for Wednesday, January 14 at 3:00 PM. Registration link: Chicago.gov/BACPwebinars. The graphic features blue tones with a red star and white text.
January 14, 2026 at 2:39 PM
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NEWS: The 2026 #ChicagoSmallBizExpo dates have been announced!
⭐Thurs., March 12, 9am to 12:30pm, Online
⭐Sat., May 16, 8:30am to 1:30pm, Truman College
⭐Sat., August 29, 8:30am to 1:30pm, Malcolm X College

To learn more about the Expos visit Chicago.gov/BizExpo
Advertisement for the Chicago Small Biz Expo 2026, including sponsorship logos from Mayor Brandon Johnson, City Colleges, Western Union, BACP, and CTO. The announcement includes a URL for more details: Chicago.gov/BizExpo.
January 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM
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Another Chicago Bears game this Sunday! What local restaurant or bar will you be watching the game at? #TagLocalTuesday #ShopLocalChicago
Social media post encouraging users to tag a local Chicago small business, asking which local bar or restaurant they are watching the Chicago Bears game at this Sunday. Features the Chicago Bears logo.
January 13, 2026 at 3:36 PM
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This week's free business education webinars:
Wed: Getting Started with Generative AI: A Primer for Non-Technical Business Leaders
Thurs: #BACPEmpowerHour with Pickleball Clubhouse
Fri: HR Trends and Priorities for 2026

Learn more and register: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars
Promotional graphic for a BACP Business Education webinar titled 'Getting Started with Generative AI: A Primer for Non-Technical', presented by Matt Quinn, Founder of Be Kind AI. Scheduled for Wednesday, January 14 at 3:00 PM. Includes a link to register at Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars. The graphic has a blue background with a large acronym "WEBINAR" at the top and a red star on the top left. Promotional graphic for "Empower Hour," an event hosted on Thursday, January 15 at 2 PM. It features a discussion on marketing strategies, customer experience, and community involvement in sports. The Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) logo is visible, along with a URL for more information: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars. Promotional graphic for BACP Business Education Webinar titled 'HR Trends and Priorities for 2026' scheduled for Friday, January 16 at 9:30 AM. Register at Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars
January 13, 2026 at 3:29 PM
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Let’s go, Bears! 🐻💙🧡
A group of seven adults wearing Chicago Bears jerseys stands smiling in a room with posters of Chicago cityscapes on the walls.
January 9, 2026 at 10:23 PM
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Small businesses are the backbone of Chicago’s neighborhoods and commercial corridors. ​"Cut The Tape for Small Business" is designed to streamline and simplify regulatory processes, enhance transparency, and increase access to small business education and resources.
Promotional poster titled "Cut the Red Tape for Small Business," featuring a large binder clip and text advocating for standardized pre-licensing inspection guidance to help small business owners understand compliance requirements for city inspections in Chicago. Includes the City of Chicago seal and a link to Chicago.gov/CutTheTape.
January 9, 2026 at 4:07 PM
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Want to start a new business in 2026? For the final day of our week-long campaign for 2026 New Years Resolutions, we're sharing government resources for new and existing business owners.

From federal gov't to local City gov't, there are many avenues for assistance! #BACP2026
Four icons representing different levels of government resources for business, from top left to bottom right: Federal - U.S. Small Business Administration logo with website URL SBA.gov/Start, State - Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity logo with website URL DCEO.Illinois.gov, County - Cook County Small Business Source with symbol of urban buildings, City - City of Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection with star symbol and website URL Chicago.gov/BACP.
January 9, 2026 at 3:53 PM
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This morning's free business education webinar starts at 9:30. Register: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars

Join us to learn more about the various business resources that BACP offers to existing or future entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their own businesses.
Promotional flyer for a BACP Business Education Webinar titled "Get In The Know: Resources for Your Small Business," scheduled for Friday, January 9 at 9:30 AM. Presented by the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection. Registration link provided: Chicago.gov/BACPWebinars. The flyer features a graphic design with blue tones and a red star.
January 9, 2026 at 3:04 PM
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Looking back on BACP's 2025:
⭐ Our Better Business Team consulted & advised 4,460 local businesses.
⭐ Our Neighborhood Business Development Centers provided 5,857 one on one business consultations to local businesses, totaling 10,495 hrs.
⭐ + our #BACPAtAGlance yearly wrap-up!
January 8, 2026 at 8:05 PM