LL144 Compliance for Startups: The Budget-Friendly Path
If your startup uses AI in hiring and hires (or could hire) in New York City, Local Law 144 applies — even at 20 employees. Enforcement went proactive in January 2026. The good news: compliance doesn't need a law-firm budget.
What it actually costs (2026 verified prices)
Path
Cost
What you get
Time
Self-assessment toolkit
$29–$299
Coverage determination, templates, penalty math
Same day
Automated statistical analysis
$299–$1,500
Selection rates, impact ratios, four-fifths from your data
72 hours
Full audit with sign-off
$1,500–$2,500+
Legally effective audit, public summary
1–2 weeks
Law-firm full service
$5,000+
Counsel + audit + ongoing advice
Weeks
The startup path (this week)
Confirm coverage — take the 30-second quiz: do you use an AI screener/ranker/scorer for NYC-eligible roles?
Export your data — Greenhouse/Lever/Workday CSV with candidate categories and outcomes (see our data guide).
Run the analysis — automated statistical analysis, 72 hours, from $299.
Post the public summary and set up candidate notice (10 business days) — templates included in the Readiness Toolkit.
Set the 12-month re-audit reminder — audits expire.
Why startups get caught off guard
LL144 applies to any size company — there's no small-employer exemption.
Remote roles open to NYC residents count, even if you have no NYC office.
Your ATS vendor's "AI-powered" feature may already qualify as an AEDT.
Penalties are per-day ($500–$1,500/day/tool) — a year of non-compliance is a six-figure exposure even for a small company.
The math
$299 now vs. $67,500–$270,000 exposure (180 days non-compliant, 1 tool). Even the full audit at $1,500 is insurance against a penalty that accrues daily.