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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
See all Services

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
Facebook
Twitter
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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.
See all Programs

Posts

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Events

  • Apr
    30
    Event
    SBDC - Mastering Budgeting Basics
    2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
    Online
    Event

    SBDC - Mastering Budgeting Basics

    April 30, 2024
    2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, 2 hours
    Online
    map

    Join SBDC! Budgeting is the art of managing your payables and your receivables to maximize the best financial outcome, whether it is for your personal needs or business. This workshop is designed to provide more understanding on how to utilize budgets as a tool to create financial responsibility, growth, and sustainability.

    In this workshop, participants will explore the importance of creating and maintaining a budget for personal and business expenditures. This workshop will also allow the participants to examine the differences between wants and needs along with setting goals for spending, saving, and debt repayment. For new business owners effective budgeting skill is a necessity to create a sustainable operating model at workplace.

     

    *The information contained in this workshop is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice.


     

    Target Audience: preventure and new small business owners with no budget in place for their business

     

    This workshop is presented by Jennifer O’Hara of M&T Bank. Jennifer O’Hara is a graduate of West Chester University with a B.A. in History. She has been working in the banking industry since 2012, and is passionate about educating people on how to bank smarter, both in their personal lives and for their businesses. She joined M&T in 2023 and is committed to their goal of investing in the growth and sustainability of the businesses and communities we serve.

     Register Here 

  • May
    15
    Event
    OEO Doing Business in the City - Doing Business with SEPTA
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    Event

    OEO Doing Business in the City - Doing Business with SEPTA

    May 15, 2024
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 2 hours

    The City is providing businesses with the resources, education, and knowledge needed to thrive now and throughout the year. Did you hear the good news? We are expanding capacity-building efforts for businesses with a series of monthly, educational workshops. 

    The goal of each workshop is to share pathways toward generational wealth for minority-, women-, disabled-owned businesses. Join us this year to:

    • Learn about available resources.
    • Explore opportunities to grow with City contracts.
    • Develop a strategy to pursue business proposals.
    • Network with like-minded businesses.

    Register for this workshop.

    Topic: Doing Business with SEPTA

    Presenters: Muschi Jean-Baptiste, Director, DBE Program Office, Karen Cyphers, Contract Administrator, and Tiffany L. King, Manager, DBE Program Office

    This virtual series is from the Department of Commerce, Office of Economic Opportunity. For additional information, please contact Jennifer Wise at Jennifer.Wise@phila.gov

  • May
    22
    Event
    OEO Business Development Series - How to do Business with Rivers Casino
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
    Event

    OEO Business Development Series - How to do Business with Rivers Casino

    May 22, 2024
    1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 2 hours

    The City is providing businesses with the resources, education, and knowledge needed to thrive now and throughout the year. Did you hear the good news? We are expanding capacity-building efforts for businesses with a series of monthly, educational workshops. 

    The goal of each workshop is to share pathways toward generational wealth for minority-, women-, disabled-owned businesses. Join us this year to:

    • Learn about available resources.
    • Explore opportunities to grow with City contracts.
    • Develop a strategy to pursue business proposals.
    • Network with like-minded businesses.

    Register for this workshop.

    Topic: How to do Business with Rivers Casino Philadelphia

    Presenter: Meredith DePietro, Procurement Manager

    This virtual series is from the Department of Commerce, Office of Economic Opportunity. For additional information, please contact Jennifer Wise at Jennifer.Wise@phila.gov

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Press Releases

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