Philadelphia Small​ ​Business​ ​Resource Network ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Supporting Philadelphia Entrepreneurs and Businesses with Resources to Plan, Launch and Grow their Businesses

This project is funded through an Alumni TIES small grant from the U.S. Department of State and Support from the Philadelphia Department of Commerce

Project Lead Herman Nyamunga - Professional Fellows Alumni

PLAN Registration, Licenses, Permits and Taxes Depending on the type of business you are in and where you plan to operate, your business will be required to have various state and /or municipal licenses. Check with the license office in the city or state where you plan to do business to know the correct licenses and permits your business needs..

City​ ​Business Requirements in Philadelphia Your business requires a set of licenses and permits to operate in the city of Philadelphia. The links below contain detailed information about licenses you need and the application process; - https://business.phila.gov/ - Department of Licenses and Inspection - Business Income and Receipts Tax Number - Financing and Incentives - Location and zoning information - Find license or permits requirements for your business - Understanding Philadelphia taxes - Learn more about licenses and permit requirements by business type

State ​Business Registration in Pennsylvania Besides registering your business with the city of Philadelphia, some businesses will require additional licenses from the state. The ​Pennsylvania Department of State website provides different services to help you operate your business.

- Guide to Business Registration (PDF) - Starting a business in Pennsylvania - Online Filing (PENN File) - Registration Forms - Business Name Search - Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) - Pennsylvania Tax Number and Registration - Workers Compensation and Insurance - Federal Employer Identification - Registration of Foreign Associations - General Rule and Exclusions - Geographical Listing of Legal Publications - Resources - General Information, Types of Filings and Registrations, Information Services, Laws and Regulations

Federal

- Apply for Employer Identification Number EIN - Register your Patents, TradeMarks and Intellectual Property

Business Planning and Technical Assistance Support Services

1 When launching a new business, there are many legal issues such as business incorporation and entity choice, tax structure, contracts, leases, employees, insurance, patents, and intellectual property filings. The following organizations provide free legal and minimally priced services to small businesses, check their websites to learn more..

Get Free Legal support - Philly VIP - Community Legal Services - Entrepreneurial Legal Clinic - Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic (ELC)​ a - Philadelphia Bar Association

Business Planning and Technical Assistance Support Organizations - Women Business Enterprise Center - Entrepreneur Works - The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians - Women Opportunity Resource Center - Arts + Business Council of Greater Philadelphia - Philadelphia Score - Temple SBDC - Widener University SBDC - Urban League of Philadelphia - Community College of Philadelphia - Power Up Your Business​: - LA 21 CDC - Free Library of Philadelphia - Operation of Hope and Fulton Bank - Small Business Administration Philadelphia Office - Social Enterprise Alliance - Small Business Network SBN

Improve Your Credit - Clarify​ - Build a solid credit and be bankable - Finanta​ - Supporting Philly small businesses with credit building loans - Women's Opportunity Resource Center (WORC)

Conduct Market Research - Business Resource and Innovation Center - Free Library - Census - Business and Economy - Other important business data - World bank open data - World import/export data

Start Non-Profit - Free Library Resources for starting and managing a nonprofit - Internal Revenue Service - A​ pplying for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status - Tax Issues for Nonprofits - Starting a Non-Profit in Pennsylvania

2 Idea-Stage

Get Inspiration, Education, and Product Validation/Development: This is where new ​ ​ entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.

Get Inspired - ​Philadelphia Startup Media:​ Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters, Startup Digest) - BizPhilly - Flying Kite - Philly Tech Guide - Startup Digest Philadelphia - Technical.ly Philly - Generosity Philly - Philadelphia Area New Media Association

Inspirational Events in Philadelphia: ​Open, inclusive, beginner startup events (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)

- Girl Develop It Philadelphia - Girls Who Code - Liberty Valley Initiative - N3rd Street - Philadelphia Entrepreneur Dinners - Philly EdTech Meetup - Philly Tech, Software, MedTech & HealthTech Meetup - Philly Tech Entrepreneurs - Philly Tech Week 2017 - Startup, Founders, and Entrepreneurs Book Discussion - Startup Weekend Philadelphia - TechGirlz - Technical.ly Philly Meetup - Women Who Code Philadelphia

Educate - Best Practices:​ Beginner knowledge-sharing events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire, like 1 Million Cups, Startup Grind, Startup Founder 101, etc). - FinTech PHL - Lean Coffee Philly - Philly Bootstrappers Breakfast - Philly New Technology Meetup - Start.Stay.Grow. - Startup Founder 101 Philadelphia - Startup Grind Philadelphia - The ITEM - 1 Million Cups Philadelphia

Educate - Training & Feedback:​ Skill & Idea development. (Ex. bootcamps and 3 comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, code camps, etc)

- 3 Day Startup - Coded by U - Entrepreneur Works - Founder Institute - Founding Startups - Launch Academy - Lean Startup Machine - Philadelphia Startup Idea to IPO - PSL Startup Bootcamp - Venture for America - Fulphil - Local people, local impact

Validate - Team Formation: ​Resources for teaming up. (i.e. events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching) - Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs - CoFoundersLab - Ellevate - Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia - Entrepreneurs' Organization Philadelphia - Founder2be - FounderDating - Innovative Networking Professionals - Pennsylvania Entrepreneurs and Tech Meetup - Philadelphia Business Professionals - Philadelphia Entrepreneur Network - Philly Junto - Philly Startup Leaders - Social Venture Network - StartupBlink Philadelphia - WISE Philadelphia

Build First Product​: Hackathons & resources to build. (i.e. hackathons and other builder-focused events and resources)

- AT&T Temple Edutech Hackathon - Civic Engagement Launchpad - CODE4PA - evoHaX - LadyHacks Philadelphia - LegalHackersPA - machineQ Smart City Hackathon - PennApps XVI - Philadelphia Museum of Art Hackathon 2.0 - Philly Codefest - Philly Enterprise Hackathon - Nextfab Hardware Accelerator 4

LAUNCH This section shares ways to fund, find a space, and begin networking to grow your business.

Access Government and Other Resources:

The three levels of government from city/county, state and federal provide a variety of services aimed at helping entrepreneurs plan, launch and grow their businesses. Below is a list of services provided by each level:

City of Philadelphia Incentive Programs - A detailed guide to Starting a Business in Philadelphia - Different Types of Business in Philadelphia - List of Community Development Corporations - Business Camera Program​ - Free security camera grant - Store Improvement Program​ - Supporting retail development - InStore Forgivable Loan Program​ - Accelerate neighborhood economic development - City Planning Commission - Resources to help you manage your business

State Resources - Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development - Technology and Innovation Support - International Business Support - Keystone Innovation Zones - State Small Business Development Centers

Federal Resources - Small Business Administration - Customs and Border Protection - U. S. Department of Agriculture - Department of Treasury - Export-Import Bank of the U.S. - Department of Energy - National Science Foundation - U.S. Department of Labor - U.S. Department of Commerce - Department of Housing and Urban Development - The U.S.A. gov - U.S Commercial Service - The United States Patent and Trademark Office - America’s SBDCs

Local Universities ​(universities with prominent technical or business programs) - Community College of Philadelphia - Drexel University

5 - Holy Family University - La Salle University - Peirce College - Philadelphia University - Saint Joseph's University - Temple University - The Art Institute of Philadelphia - University of Pennsylvania - University of the Sciences - Villanova University - Eastern University

Find Space, Coaching, and Mentoring When launching a new business, it is important to avoid expensive and long leases and that is where incubators and accelerators become handy for they provide low cost spaces to launch and get the support your business will greatly need,

Incubators and Accelerators:

- Pennovation Center - Comcast Lift Labs - Dreamit Ventures - Cambridge Innovation Center - PSL Accelerators - EO Accelerator - Ben Franklin Fintech Accelerator - VIP-Xcelerate at Wharton - Healthcare Innovation Accelerator Program - https://healthcareinnovation.upenn.edu/innovation-accelerator-program - Idea Accelerator @ Vilanova - Nextfab Rapid Hardware Accelerator - Village Capital Pathways - Digital Health Accelerator - ic@3401 Software Incubator - IF Lab in Kensington by Shift Capital - 1776 - Nextfab - Sixers Innovation Lab - Project Liberty Digital Incubator - UPstart @Pennovation Center - Philadelphia Fashion Incubator - Veterans Residence Inn - Delaware Innovation Space - Temple SBDC Incubator - DTP@STAR Incubator at Delaware Technology Park - Baiada @ Drexel University - Amptech - Blueprint health - Startup PHL 6 - Uncommon Individual Foundation

Coworking Spaces:

Many startups do not have the capital to own their own spaces and these spaces provide a perfect opportunity to network, share ideas and learn from each other.

- Cambridge Innovation Center - 2424 Studios - BOK - Citycoho - Cultureworks - Industrious office - Innovation in Philadelphia - Indy Hall - Joynture - Kismetcowork - MakeOffices - Philadelphia - Oldcitycollective - Pipelineworkspaces - The exchange PHL - The Fireworks - TheYard - Thrivephilly - Walnutstlabs - Wework - Mt. Airy Nexus - PhillyIhub - Waterfront Lab and Coworking Space - Science Center - HeadRoom - Brick at the Free Library of Philadelphia - Quorum at the Science Center - Bond Collective Center City - Globe Dye Works

Network, Pitch & Demo

Investor Networking: ​Connect professional investors with founders. (i.e. events or groups that facilitate connections with professional investors vs. angels)

- Angel Kings - Angel Venture Fair - Broad Street Angels - FundingPost - Investors' Circle - Keiretsu Forum - Mid-Atlantic Angel Group - Minority Angel Investor Network - Pennsylvania Angel Network 7 - Private Investors Forum - Startup Angels - The Entrepreneurs Network - TiE Philadelphia - Women in Investing Network of Philadelphia - Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs - Ellevate - Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia - Philly Startup Leaders - Social Venture Network - The Quorum at Science Center - Venture Cafe Philadelphia - Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technology PACT - Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network

Pitch & Demo:​ Show local startups for investment (i.e. demo days for companies seeking seed investment)

- 1st Pitch PA - 2017 PSL Accelerator Demo Day - Camden Catalyst - Tech Startup Pitch Competitio​n - Dreamit Health Demo Day - Drexel University's StartupFest - PCI Ventures 5th Annual Showcase + DevelUPmed Demo Day - Philadelphia TechBreakfast - Phorum Philly - PNC StartUp Day - Startupalooza Philadelphia: Angel Pitching for Entrepreneurs - TiE Startup Pitch Eve​nt

Grow

Philadelphia is among the top cities with the highest concentration of small business financial institutions in the country. Therefore any business that has built a sustainable foundation should not have difficulty accessing capital. Please check each institution individually to learn about their financial products and terms.

Get Funding - Micro Lenders, Credit Unions and Banks: - Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation - Entrepreneur Works - FINANTA - The Enterprise Center - Neighborhood Progress Fund - West Philadelphia Financial Services - Women’s Opportunities Resource Center - American Heritage Federal Credit Union - The Merchants Fund - BB&T Bank - Asian Bank 8 - Beech Business Bank - Citizens Bank - Community First Fund - Cooperative Business Assistance Corporation - Credibility Capital - Customers Bank - DNB First Bank - First State Community Loan Fund - Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union - Free Loan Association of Germantown - Fulton Bank - Harvest Small Business Finance - Hebrew Free Loan Society - Honeycomb Credit​ - Community Crowdfunding Platform - Impact Services Corporation - Interface Financial Group - Kiva​ - Crowdfunding - Liquid Capital - M&T Bank - Noah Bank - North Philadelphia Financial Partnership - Parke Bank - Port Richmond Savings - Prudent Lenders - Reinvestment Fund - Republic Bank - Santander Bank - Tompkins VIST Bank - United Bank of Philadelphia - Univest Bank and Trust Co. - Uplift Solutions - Urban Seeds - Wells Fargo Bank

Get Funding - Seed Capital:

- AmpTech - Ben Franklin Technology Partners - Blueprint Health - Bunker Labs - Drexel University Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship - EvoXLabs - Goodcompany Ventures - NextFab Incubator - Novotorium - Pennovation Center - Project Liberty Digital Incubator - Seed Philly - Startup Next Philadelphia

9 - Temple Small Business Development Center - The Sixers Innovation Lab - UPstart - Walnut Street Labs

Get Funding - Angels / Micro-VCs: Seed-stage investors:

- Brett Topche - Brock Weatherup - Dave Kurtz - David Bell - David Bookspan - David Horowitz - Ellen Weber - Elliot Menschik - Gabriel Weinberg - Howard L. Morgan - Jamey Sperans - Jim Hausman - Karen Griffith Gryga - Kartik Hosanagar - Kevin Kruse - Michael B. Aronson - Michael Levinson - Pardon Makumbe - Percy Nikora - Peter Hotz - Raymond Walheim - Robin Hood Ventures - Sashi Reddi - Saul Richter - Stephen Gill - Wayne Kimmel

Get Funding - Venture Capital

- 1315 Capital - Ben Franklin Technology Partners - BioAdvance - Boathouse Capital - Comcast Ventures - Cross Valley Capital - Domain Associates - Dorm Room Fund - Dreamit Ventures - Fairmount Partners - First Round Capital - Gabriel Investments - Genacast Ventures

10 - LLR Partners - MentorTech Ventures - Mid-Atlantic Diamond Ventures - NewSpring Capital - NextStage Capital - Osage Partners - Red & Blue Ventures - Renovus Capital - Rittenhouse Ventures - Rough Draft Ventures - Safeguard Scientifics - SeventySix Capital - Sustain VC - TL Ventures - Trestle Ventures - Versa Capital Management - Mission OG

Explore International Markets:​ ​95% of the Global Customers Reside Outside the U.S.A. So we must open foreign markets to American goods and services so we can create jobs at home.

Import/Export

- Explore your export readiness - Go International with STEP Funds - Federal resources to expand in global markets - Pennsylvania export assistance - World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia - Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia - Global Philadelphia - Philadelphia Commerce Department International Support - International Trade Center - World Trade Center Associations - Export - Import Bank of the United States - EXIM - GlobalEDGE Your source for global business knowledge - USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - UPS International shipping resources - USA Free Trade Agreements Around the World - Customs and Border Protection - United States Africa Foundation - Prosper Africa - U.S Government Trade and Investment Initiative - Export Credit Insurance​: - Working Capital Loan Guarantees:

World Trade Blocks - APEC - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation - Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)

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Get Minority/Women/DSBE Certification: ​If you are planning to sell your products or services to the three levels of government (Federal, State and City/County) then check if you belong to any of these categories - minority/women and Disabled Business Enterprises - since they have a special certification that accords them preferential treatment. Check these certification agencies to learn more - The Enterprise Center - Women’s Business Enterprise Center - Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council - MWBE Enterprise - National Minority Supplier Development Council

Join a Chamber of Commerce: ​Chambers provide networking, B2B marketing opportunities and advocacy support to members for a fee. Suitable for established businesses and startups.

- African American Chamber of Commerce - Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia - Global Philadelphia Association - Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce - Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Independence Business Alliance - Philadelphia's LGBT Chamber of Commerce - The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia - African & Caribean Business Council - French American Chamber of Commerce Philadelphia - The Philadelphia Israel Chamber of Commerce - The Chilean and American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia (CACCGP) - ​www.bsmphilly.com

Magnify Your Reach: ​Reach customers and amplify your impact by engaging with mainstream and local press. (i.e. major local or regional publications that frequently champion local businesses)

Community Newspapers - Chestnut Hill Local - Montgomery News - South Philly Review - University City Review - Daily Local News - Korean Times Philadelphia - Northeast Times Star - Southwest Globe Times - Westside Weekly

Citywide Newspapers and Magazines - Black Professional News - Al Día Newspaper 12 - El Hispano Newspaper - Jewish Exponent - Philadelphia Business Journal - Philadelphia Daily News: Newsroom - Philadelphia Inquirer: Newsroom - Philadelphia Sunday Sun - Philadelphia Weekly - Associated Press: Pennsylvania Office - El Sol Latino Newspaper - Generosity Philly - Metro News - Philadelphia Gay News - Philadelphia Public Record - Philadelphia Tribune - Fun Times Magazine - Technically Philly

Citywide Radio Stations - WURD 900 AM - WHYY Radio and Podcast - List of all Philadelphia Metro Radio Stations

Major Media: - ABC 6 News - CBS Philly - Crain's Philadelphia - FOX 29 News - NBC 10 Philadelphia - Philadelphia Business Journal - Philadelphia Daily News - Philadelphia Magazine - The Daily Pennsylvanian - The Philadelphia Citizen - The Philadelphia Inquirer - The Philadelphia Tribune

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