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Small Business Resources

Helping Kansas City’s Small Businesses Get Match Ready

Local businesses are a central part of Kansas City’s World Cup experience. The City is offering tools, guidance, and programs to support outdoor dining, storefront activation, permitting, compliance, and customer engagement.

Open for Business
Temporary Permits & Licensing

KC Event Hub is your one-stop coordination tool for planning events in Kansas City. Built with event organizers in mind, our platform simplifies the permitting process by helping you identify exactly what you need— and streamlining the steps to get it done.

Business Marketplace at Union Station's Grand Exhibition Hall

Kansas City, in partnership with the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC), is launching a five-week City of Entrepreneurs marketplace at Union Station’s Grand Exhibition Hall during the summer of 2026 as the city hosts FIFA World Cup™ matches.

Open Thursday through Sunday from June 11 through July 12, the free marketplace will feature a curated mix of Kansas City–based small businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, and cultural performers. The activation transforms Union Station into a dynamic retail and cultural destination, connecting local businesses to unprecedented global foot traffic while showcasing the city’s creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Local businesses and brand sponsors interested in participating can apply at www.repurs.com/unionstation.

Open Doors! ($1.6M Investment)

Open Doors! is a collaborative initiative transforming vacant storefronts into active places of business and community. The program brings together local businesses, property owners, and creatives to convert underutilized spaces into pop-ups that drive commerce and improve the downtown experience for residents and visitors.

Short Term Rental Permitting

Kansas City is now accepting applications for Major Event Short-Term Rental Registration, allowing residents to operate short-term rentals during the World Cup period at a reduced cost.

Eligible hosts may apply for a limited-term permit for $50 (compared to the standard $200 annual fee). This special registration authorizes short-term rental operations from May 3 through July 31, 2026, the maximum 90-day period allowed under city regulations during the declared Major Event timeframe.

Applications must be submitted through CompassKC. To get started, download the Short-Term Rental Checklist.

Outdoor Dining Trail

The Kansas City Outdoor Dining Enhancement Grant Program is offering eligible restaurants an opportunity to apply for grants to enhance their outdoor dining spaces.

This program aligns with the City's broader goals of fostering a thriving local economy, supporting small businesses, and creating vibrant, community-oriented neighborhoods. This initiative, sponsored by Mayor Quinton Lucas and Second District Councilman Wes Rogers, will grant funds to local restaurants to enhance their dining spaces.

KC2026 Game Plan

KC2026 has launched the KC Game Plan to help small businesses prepare for the FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City. Start preparing today with the readiness assessment, business interest form for procurement opportunities and training calendar. Additional resources and the KC Game Plan toolkit will be available later this fall.

The Game Plan provides:

  • Step-by-step guidance on licensing, permitting, registration, and compliance
  • Tools, programs, and partnerships to support business growth
  • Local contacts, resources, and best practices for starting or expanding businesses in Kansas City

KC BizCare’s mission is to make doing business in Kansas City easier, more equitable, and more transparent. This Playbook helps entrepreneurs spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time building their businesses.