N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 172

§ 172. License required. No person shall open, keep, maintain, own,\noperate or carry on any employment agency unless such person shall have\nfirst procured a license therefor as provided in this article. Such\nlicense shall be issued by the commissioner of labor, except that if the\nemployment agency is to be conducted in the city of New York such\nlicense shall be issued by the commissioner of consumer affairs of such\ncity. Such license shall be posted in a conspicuous place in said\nagency.\n