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Due to extremely cold conditions, the City is implementing special measures to keep people who are homeless safe. If you see someone who needs shelter, call (215) 232-1984.
In effect: 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16 until further notice

Department of Commerce

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

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 perfect home for your business, offering:

  • Reasonable office rents and cost of living.
  • A ready workforce.
  • A central location on the Northeast corridor.

We work to:

  • Attract and keep a diverse set of businesses.
  • Revitalize neighborhoods by building vibrant commercial districts.
  • Support small businesses and improve access to funding.
  • Develop a strong talent pipeline.
  • Increase contracting opportunities for minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.

Connect

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

Our programs

Two hands shaking.

Fair Chance Hiring Initiative

Reimbursing local employers who hire individuals returning from incarceration.
Man on a ladder installing a security camera.

Business Security Camera Program

Funding for businesses to get surveillance cameras.

Storefront Improvement Program

Helping business and property owners to upgrade their storefronts.
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Posts

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Events

  • Jan
    21
    Event
    Coffee & Commerce in Bridesburg
    10:00 am to 1:00 pm
    AIDS Fund, 2628 Orthodox St, Philadelphia, PA 19137, USA
    Event

    Coffee & Commerce in Bridesburg

    January 21, 2020
    10:00 am to 1:00 pm, 3 hours
    AIDS Fund, 2628 Orthodox St, Philadelphia, PA 19137, USA
    map

    Join Philadelphia's Department of Commerce for our monthly Coffee & Commerce in the Bridesburg area of Philadelphia. This event is being hosted in partnership with Little Susie's Coffee, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, Philadelphia Department of Revenue and State Representative Joe Hohenstein's office.

    Coffee & Commerce includes open office hours for small businesses to meet with a business services manager. We can help new businesses launch and existing businesses thrive in Philadelphia.

    Our staff can help you with:

    • Starting a business.
    • Taxes.
    • Funding.
    • Licenses.
    • City programs.
    • Technical assistance.

    RSVP for the FREE event.
  • Jan
    30
    Event
    January Temple Business Roundtable: Kickstart to Entrepreneurship
    6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
    1509 Cecil B. Moore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121, USA
    Event

    January Temple Business Roundtable: Kickstart to Entrepreneurship

    January 30, 2020
    6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, 2 hours
    1509 Cecil B. Moore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121, USA
    map
    Date: 1/30/2020
    Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM(EST)
    Registration Deadline: 1/30/2020 8:00 AM (EST)
    Fee: No Fee

    Point of Contact: Jamie Shanker-Passero (215) 204-2375
    Location: 1509 Cecil B Moore, Philadelphia PA 19121-3410

    Training Topics: Business Plan, Business Start-up/Preplanning
    Description:

    Considering starting a business but not sure where to start? This FREE event is for you. Network with fellow aspiring entrepreneurs and learn from our expert panel who will address challenges faced by small business owners. In addition to our Roundtable discussion on First Step of Starting Your Own Business, you'll also have access to some new curriculum to activate your business ideas, ENTREPRENEURSHIP 4 ALLSM – part of the Woodforest FoundrySM. This session teaches that you often already have access to the tools you need to be an entrepreneur. To be successful, it is important to look at the world from new perspectives. This is done by leveraging existing assets, such as local business leaders who can help unlock area resources, and knowledge and expertise of your peers to “cocreate” entrepreneur-based outcomes. Representatives from Woodforest National Bank® will also be joining us for this event. ENTREPRENEURSHIP 4 ALL Powered by Sustainable Startups. Woodforest Foundry is an entrepreneur activation program by Woodforest National Bank, Member FDIC.This event is co-sponsored by:North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative,Pan African Studies Community Education Center,Center for Community Partnerships,Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative,Office of Community RelationsInstructions: Event is located in Room 214 of 1509 Cecil B Moore.
  • Feb
    4
    Event
    BYO Lunch & Learn: Facebook Basics for Business
    12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
    1510 Cecil B. Moore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121, USA
    Event

    BYO Lunch & Learn: Facebook Basics for Business

    February 4, 2020
    12:00 pm to 1:30 pm, 2 hours
    1510 Cecil B. Moore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121, USA
    map
    With over 1 billion users and growing, Facebook is a crucial tool toward marketing your small business and- it is becoming more crucial by the day. Understanding how to create a presence and produce useful content is an important part of connecting with potential customers. This is a basic workshop for entrepreneurs with little to no Facebook experience. We will talk about those big questions - how and what to post. During the workshop, we'll focus on the following: - How to set up your account - How to engage with customers (frequency/content) - How to schedule posts - How to advertise on Facebook – ads vs boosts
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Press releases

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