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Department of Commerce

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
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Programs

Events

  • Feb
    3
    First Steps: Mapping the Business Concept
    6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
    Online

    First Steps: Mapping the Business Concept

    February 3, 2025
    6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    Are you thinking about launching a small business? Not sure what is involved? Unsure if you have a viable business idea? Join this introductory presentation to break down the nuts and bolts of what is needed to start a business.

    Attendees will be able to:
    - Recognize steps to starting a business
    - Utilize a business concept analysis to understand the viability of their business concept
    - Understand differing legal structures
    - Learn how to decide if starting a business is right for you!

    Target Audience:
    - Start-up businesses
    - Individuals in the ideation and research stages
    - Individuals preparing to launch their business
    - Intermediate businesses looking for refreshers

    Do you feel comfortable talking about your business? Would you like to develop your "pitch"? Join this workshop to hone your idea and create your own Pitch Deck! This is a great first step to developing your business plan.

    Attendees will be able to:

    Describe their business idea and its market feasibility
    Refine their pitch and become comfortable promoting their business
    Practice their pitch and receive feedback from peers

    Target Audience:

    Preventure businesses
    Start-ups
    Existing businesses


    Erika Tapp Duran, a Temple SBDC advisor, will be presenting this webinar. Erika provides consulting services to pre-venture and start-up businesses as well as teaching the center’s business planning courses. Erika is also part of the faculty of the Social Enterprise Program at the Villanova School of Business working with teams of students providing pro bono consulting for social enterprises. She came to Temple with a decade of experience in community and economic development in Philadelphia. Erika earned her EMBA at Villanova University, her MA at the University of Pennsylvania, and BArch at Cornell University.

     

    Zoom link will be 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 

  • Feb
    4
    SCORE: Email Marketing Strategies to Boost Your Business Growth
    1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    Online

    SCORE: Email Marketing Strategies to Boost Your Business Growth

    February 4, 2025
    1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, 1 hour
    Online
    map

    Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for growing your business, but success requires more than just catchy subject lines. In order to create a successful email marketing strategy, you have to know how to craft content that drives engagement and how to amplify your results.

    In this exclusive webinar, Ron Cates, President of the SCORE Foundation, will share actionable strategies to elevate your email marketing. From growing your subscriber list and developing compelling content, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies to craft impactful email campaigns that deliver exceptional results.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Understand how to grow and maintain a highly engaged email subscriber list
    • Learn techniques for creating email content that drives engagement and conversions
    • Discover advanced targeting strategies to reach the right audience at the right time
    • Explore how to amplify email marketing efforts through social media integration
    • Gain actionable insights to develop a comprehensive email marketing strategy

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

    Register Here 

  • Feb
    6
    SCORE: Strategies and Tips for Outsourcing for Small Business Owners
    1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
    Online

    SCORE: Strategies and Tips for Outsourcing for Small Business Owners

    February 6, 2025
    1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, 1 hour
    Online
    map

    Running a business can be overwhelming, making it hard to focus on what truly drives success. Outsourcing can help. It allows you to hand off important tasks to skilled freelancers so you can concentrate on growing your business. 

    In this webinar, seasoned entrepreneur Brian Fried will guide you through the essentials of outsourcing success. Learn how to navigate platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Guru, identify top talent, and create an efficient workflow. Whether you need help with web design, marketing, or video production, this session will empower you to build a team, save time, and help you meet your business goals.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Recognize the benefits and challenges of outsourcing
    • Master popular freelancing platforms to locate top talent
    • Develop a vetting process to ensure you hire the right freelancers
    • Implement effective communication and project management strategies
    • Protect intellectual property while working with remote teams

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

    Register Here 


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