City of Philadelphia

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Department of Commerce

Making Philadelphia a business-friendly city where companies choose to start, stay, and grow.

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Department of Commerce

Services

Meet your area’s business services manager
Find loans through the Philadelphia Business Lending Network
Do business with the City
Register as a minority, woman, or disabled-owned business
Find location and zoning information
Pay your business taxes
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What we do

The Department of Commerce helps businesses—large and small—thrive in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is the ideal home for your business, offering:

  • A central location along the Northeast corridor.
  • A ready and talented workforce.
  • Competitive office rents and commercial real estate costs.
  • Vibrant commercial districts and growing innovation industries.
  • World-class dining, history, and cultural attractions.

We work to:

  • Attract and grow a diverse set of businesses.
  • Revitalize neighborhood commercial districts throughout the city.
  • Support small businesses and improve their access to funding.
  • Build a strong talent pipeline.
  • Increase economic opportunities for historically underserved business owners.

Connect

Address
1515 Arch St.
12th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email business@phila.gov
Phone: (215) 683-2100
Social
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Business Resource Finder

Looking for guidance or support?

Connect with organizations that can help you start, run, and grow your business.

Go to the finder

Programs

Storefront Improvement Program

Helping business and property owners to upgrade their storefronts.
Man on a ladder installing a security camera.

Business Security Camera Program

Funding for businesses to get surveillance cameras.

Fair Chance Hiring Initiative

Reimbursing local employers who hire individuals returning from incarceration.

PHL Taking Care of Business Clean Corridors Program

Creating employment opportunities for residents while keeping Philadelphia’s neighborhood commercial corridors clean.
A woman working at her small business.

Quality Jobs Program

Investing in businesses that create new jobs with living wages and health insurance benefits for Philadelphia residents.
An open hand holding a key

Commercial Real Estate Acquisition Loan (CREAL) Program

Funding small businesses to purchase commercial property or real estate.
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Posts

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Events

  • Feb
    25
    Event
    Energy Code Compliance Webinar
    11:00 am to 12:30 pm
    Online
    Event

    Energy Code Compliance Webinar

    February 25, 2025
    11:00 am to 12:30 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map
    L&I will be offering a 90-minute webinar on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. to provide an overview on energy code compliance. This session will include a review of the energy code application requirements, documents to be submitted with permit applications, commissioning expectations, inspection requirements, and energy documentation required for closeout of permits upon the completion of construction. **Attendees can receive 1.5 hours of continuing education credits for this course.**

     Please register here if you are interested in attending this webinar.
  • Feb
    25
    Event
    SCORE: Mastering Small Business Taxes - A Startup Guide to Taxes
    1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    Online
    Event

    SCORE: Mastering Small Business Taxes - A Startup Guide to Taxes

    February 25, 2025
    1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, 1 hour
    Online
    map

    Don't miss out on the opportunity to enhance your tax literacy. Join our upcoming webinar to learn how to optimize your small business tax strategy.

    In this webinar, our expert presenter, Barbara Weltman, will guide you through the key aspects of small business taxes to help you enhance your tax literacy and empower your business for financial success.

    After this webinar, you will walk away with a better understanding of taxes, including:

    • How your choice of entity affects your tax bill
    • Why and how taxes influence business decisions
    • How to find answers to tax questions when running your business
    • When and how to work with tax professionals
    • Strategies to lower your tax bill

    Live attendees will receive the slide deck and a link to this webinar recording.

    Register Here

  • Feb
    26
    Event
    SBDC: Introduction to AI for your Small Business
    12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
    Online
    Event

    SBDC: Introduction to AI for your Small Business

    February 26, 2025
    12:00 pm to 1:30 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    Everyone is talking about generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. With 92% of Fortune 500 companies and 60% of small businesses using these tools, you can’t afford to miss out. Whether you’ve been curious but intimidated, or whether you’ve played around with some of the technology but aren’t sure how it can help you in your business, this is the session for you

    Our SBDC’s AI specialist will offer a non-technical introduction to generative AI technology, tips for implementing AI effectively in your business, some great advice about managing the risks and ethical concerns involved, and will lead you a hands-on exercise using a generative AI tool.

    No matter what your level of technical know-how is, you’ll leave this session informed, confident and aware of both the risks and the benefits of this emerging technology.

    Presenter: Isabel Krome

    Isabel Krome, a Start-Up Consultant at Temple SBDC, will be presenting this webinar. She brings over eight years of small business development experience. Her work has been wide ranging, including business model planning, market research, business formalization, accessing capital, strategic planning, diversity certifications and more. When she isn’t working with entrepreneurs, Isabel enjoys drinking coffee, rock climbing, and watching her daughter boss around her cats.

     

    Zoom link sent upon registration. Please confirm that your email address is correct and check your spam if you do not receive registration confirmation with 24 hours.

    Register Here 

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Press Releases

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