Starting a Business

How to Start a Business in Philadelphia:

  1. Decide what type of business — sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or otherwise.
  2. Register for an EIN with the IRS.
  3. File the state’s Fictitious Name form with the Pa. Dept. of State Corporation Bureau, and wait for your number.
  4. Complete online the PA 100 form from the Pa. Dept. of Revenue.
  5. File the Philadelphia Business Privilege tax form.

(Technically Philly.com)

Economic Inclusion
Services for Minority, Woman and Disables-owned Businesses

The Office of Economic Opportunity:
Strives to ensure the inclusion of minority, woman and disabled-owned businesses in City contracts and throughout the region

Registry of Certified Firms

As of March 2010, the City of Philadelphia no longer offers an M/W/DSBE Certification Program. Minority, women, and disabled owned businesses that wish to participate in the City’s program must be certified by another certifying agency.
The City's registration program promotes and fosters the growth of the City's minority, women, and disabled owned businesses (M/W/DSBEs). Companies that register with OEO can benefit from the City's economic inclusion efforts.

Simple Registration Process

Download and complete the registration application and instructions.
Photocopy your certification from one of the recognized certifying agencies.
Mail — it's that easy!

Online Directory

To better promote the City's certified vendors and to make it easy for bidders/contractors to find them, OEO maintains an Online Directory of Registered Businesses. Through the directory, certified vendors can market their business to potential partners who may not be familiar with their company.

Searching for a certified vendor is simple. The directory is organized to search vendors by Company Name, Commodity Category, Vendor Type, Commodity and NAICS Codes, and by Supplier Diversity.

Business Resources and Contracting Opportunities

The City of Philadelphia offers businesses a network of resources and the opportunity to bid and respond to upcoming contracts. These opportunities offer a great way for businesses to continue to grow. Many of the city contracts have participation goals aimed at increasing opportunity for minority, women, and disabled owned businesses. The participation goals set in most contracts offer many benefits for large companies to partner with small firms to create a long term business relationship.