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Author: Gene Marks

Main Street is doing better than the headlines suggest | Expert Opinion

Wars. Inflation. Tariffs. Labor shortages. High interest rates. Political uncertainty. If you only read the headlines, you’d think America’s small businesses are on life support. They’re not.

The sentiment I’ve been hearing and seeing from dozens of industry groups and clients about this year is “so far, so good.” This comes from businesses that do everything from distributing industrial equipment to installing commercial doors. With few exceptions, most have not only been holding their own in 2026, but they’ve been growing.

Anecdotal? Hardly. The data supports these claims.

Manufacturing in the U.S. has expanded for the past five months, reaching its highest level since 2022, according to the closely watched Purchasing Managers Index from the Institute for Supply Management. Service industry companies, according to a similar index, have seen expansion since 2024.

In June, small-business revenue increased in 11 of 12 sectors and in all eight U.S. regions, according to a small-business index published monthly and based on real-life data from hundreds of thousands of customers using Intuit QuickBooks. Payment processing firm Fiserv found that small-business sales showed steady short-term expansion in June, with both nominal sales and transaction volume increasing. Last quarter’s national GDP was just revised from 1.6% to 2.1%.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that new business applications continue to come in at all-time highs. Even LinkedIn said that there’s been a 69% year-over-year increase in the number of U.S. members adding founder to their profile.

Want more proof?

Despite lower levels of optimism, over half of Main Street owners rated the health of their business as “excellent or good,” the National Federation of Independent Business reported this month. A recent survey from financing firm OnDeck said 93% of small businesses expect growth in 2026, and marketing firm Vistaprint said this month that 84% of small-business owners report being happy operating their businesses, despite ongoing economic and operational challenges.

Bank of America’s June 2026 Small Business Checkpoint said the small-business sector remains “financially healthy and operationally resilient.” MetLife and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found strong confidence in business health, cash flow, and future growth prospects despite ongoing concerns about inflation, labor costs, and economic uncertainty.

Three out of four U.S. small-business owners expressed “high confidence” in their business’ future, according to new research from Capital One. TD Bank’s recent survey said that small-business owners also remained highly optimistic about future growth.

Economist Mark Zandi recently wrote that among the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the country with populations of more than 3 million, Philly enjoyed the strongest job growth last year. Payroll firm ADP reported that the private businesses in the U.S. added 122,000 jobs in May and 98,000 in June. HR giant Paychex said small-business hiring increased over the past four months.

Job openings among small businesses are rising, an indicator of demand for employees.

“Main Street job openings in New Jersey and nationwide are starting to pick up after a decline in May,” National Federation of Independent Business New Jersey state director Eileen Kean told ROI-NJ.

Center City, which represents 42% of all Philadelphia employment, has seen office leasing activity reach its highest level in six years, according to Center City District’s State of Center City 2026 report. The report also highlighted development projects topping $2 billion; projected Convention Center attendance exceeding 1 million in 2026; and retail, restaurants, and cultural institutions that “continue to rebound strongly.”

There are always news reports about how this business is “struggling” and that business is “barely holding on.” There’s no denying that this happens. How could it not? There are more than 34 million small businesses in the United States operating in hundreds of different industries and localities. Some are bound to be doing better than others.

But other things happening right now are underscoring small-business growth and optimism.

Tariffs (that aren’t being refunded) may have increased costs for some, but many manufacturers are reporting increased domestic demand as global firms move more operations here.

Inflation is sticky, but at less than 3% excluding energy, most business owners have found ways to pass these costs down to their customers or find other savings internally.

Labor shortages persist but most company owners are getting their work done regardless.

And consumer spending is strong, according to recent data from the National Retail Federation.

Oil prices are now back down to prewar levels.

Many owners are also benefiting from a lighter federal regulatory environment and friendlier tax policies. Capital is more expensive than in years past, but available for those who can measure return on investment. The stock market is up over 20% over the past year, providing more financial security. And for entrepreneurs and small-business owners, government aid and other resources, education, tools, and support proliferate like never before.

Small businesses employ half of the country’s workers and make up half of our GDP. Their success is critical for the U.S. economy.

They aren’t ignoring the challenges. They’re simply finding ways around them. And that’s why, despite all the doom and gloom, many are having a surprisingly good year.

July 7, 2026
Google Workspace can save small-biz owners time and money. Here’s how. | Expert opinion

When it comes to office software, people generally think first of Microsoft. But the reality is that Google Workspace is used by over 11 million paying organizations and boasts more than 3 billion monthly active users globally.

Many of my small-business clients use Google Workspace to send emails, create documents and spreadsheets, host meetings, and store files. And yet most are only scratching the surface. It’s often frustrating to witness so many businesses not taking advantage of all the capabilities of Google Workspace, even though they’re paying for it. That’s a waste of money.

If used the right way, Google Workspace can scale right along with the growth of your business, provide excellent collaboration features, and can be cost-effectively managed and secured without requiring expensive IT firms.

For starters, centralize everything.

If you’re going to use an office platform like Google Workspace, it’s best to lean into it fully. Mollie Plotkin, who runs a successful talent and speaker agency in Philadelphia, says Google Workspace is the “shared backbone” of her company. She uses Google Meet, Calendar, Chat, and Drive to “create an ecosystem” so that everything is in one place.

“Work is much more manageable when everyone had equal access to the same systems regardless of where they were working,” she said. “Instead of relying on multiple versions of files being e-mailed around, our teams work from one live document at a time, which dramatically reduces confusion and duplication.”

Plotkin also says that her internal team saves time on searching and improves efficiencies by consolidating all files and data in one place.

“Important information lives in shared spaces instead of individual inboxes, which makes collaboration faster and prevents bottlenecks,” she said. “We use shared templates, collaborative planning documents, and centralized project tracking so our team can move quickly without reinventing processes each time.”

Cheryl Friedenberg, a founder of High Key Impact, a digital marketing firm in Blue Bell, says that sharing calendars has significantly reduced “all the back and forth” for scheduling client calls and managing deadlines.

“Google Drive and Docs make sharing files simple, without endless email chains,” she said. “There’s no confusion about versions or missing attachments.”

Friedenberg always tells her clients to go the extra yard and make sure to also use Gmail within their own website domain and not as just a Gmail address.

“Using a generic @gmail.com address on proposals, invoices, or your website can make your business look less professional,” she said.

Automate everywhere

Once your team is using Google Workspace as a primary office management tool, it’s important to start automating tasks wherever possible.

Milan Baria, who runs Blueclone Networks, an IT services firm in Princeton, says that with Google Workspace you don’t need a developer to automate repetitive tasks. “We use simple scripts to bridge the gap between Google Sheets and Gmail to automate client follow-ups.”

Andy Williamson, one of the founders of Wilmington-based training firm ONLC, says that Google Workspace Studio, with Apps Script, lets a non-technical user describe a workflow in plain English and have it built.

“The new agents can read the email that came in, decide what kind of request it is, draft the reply, pull the right doc, and only come back to you when something actually needs a person,” he said.

Williamson says that it’s not difficult to create automation so that a company’s data power dashboards or other applications.

“Apps Script used to be just for programmers, but this has been changing recently,” he said. “Everyone in the business is becoming an agent builder, not just the developers.”

Leverage AI

Even if you’re not ready to automate with agents, Google Workspace comes with many AI features right out of the box.

Friedenberg says that by leveraging AI, a user can turn a simple prompt into a fully designed presentation in minutes.

“You’re starting with something polished instead of a blank page,” she said.

In addition, and instead of hiring a videographer, Friedenberg encourages her clients to use Google Workspace to make short professional-looking video.

“You can make a spokesperson-style video without being on camera,” she said. “The voice-overs sound natural enough that most viewers wouldn’t know they were AI-generated. Many small-business owners don’t realize it’s already included in a tool they’re probably already paying for.”

Joe Henderson, a Philadelphia-based expert with Google premier partner Promevo, says that another underused application is Google’s Notebook LM, a premium feature with many paid Google Workspace plans.

“Notebook LM is an AI research assistant that analyzes your documents, then generates summaries, answers questions, creates study guides, timelines, podcasts, and other content based solely on your uploaded sources,” he said. “Our clients use it to input raw documents, industry articles, vendor videos, and automatically turn that chaotic information into easy-to-understand explainer videos, short audio podcasts, quizzes, and custom study guides. It’s like a proactive operational brain sitting within Google Workspace.”

Finally, lean into Workspace’s IT management tools

Baria says that most owners don’t realize that they easily can restrict Workspace access based on the user’s location or device security status like any experienced IT professional.

“High-level security isn’t just for enterprises,” he said. “Small businesses can set up simple rules that prevent employees from accidentally emailing out sensitive information, and use Workspace’s license and user management tools to eliminate unnecessary applications and archive user accounts to save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year.”

Plotkin agrees.

“You don’t need a massive IT department or expensive infrastructure,” she said. “Workspace allowed us to add team members, improve collaboration, and manage more clients without drastically changing our operational structure.”

June 30, 2026
As health insurance prices climb, HRAs offer small businesses a flexible option | Expert Opinion

Finding and retaining employees remains a top concern among small-business owners, and offering affordable healthcare benefits continues to be a significant challenge. Because of this, health reimbursement arrangements, or HRAs, have become more popular.

Simply put, an HRA allows an employer (or an employee) to make tax-free (and tax-deductible to the employer) contributions to an individual’s HRA account.

The employee can use those funds to reimburse uncovered healthcare expenses or purchase their own health insurance, either from outside brokers or on the Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware healthcare marketplaces.

HRA options

A small business can consider a few different HRA options.

A general HRA is funded entirely by just the employer and often used alongside existing group insurance plans to help reimburse expenses not covered by their existing insurance. These expenses could include co-pays, over-the-counter medication, or even dental and vision care.

Alternatively, health savings accounts (HSAs) allow employees to contribute pretax dollars for the same purpose.

“An employer can buy a high-deductible group plan, then use HRA funds to cover part of that deductible,” said Robert Deninno, a founding principal of Precision Benefits Group in Philadelphia. “The appeal is that unused HRA money remains with the employer, unlike HSA funds, which belong to the employee.”

Deninno said employers can use HRA language to fill in specific gaps in a group plan, such as hospital costs, rather than paying a much higher premium for a richer underlying plan.

An individual coverage HRA (ICHRA) allows employers to reimburse employees for premiums on health insurance the employee independently purchases.

A qualified small-employer HRA (QSEHRA) is designed specifically for businesses with fewer than 50 employees that do not offer a group plan. It is more formalized and is similar to an ICHRA.

HRA popularity

These arrangements give employers wide discretion, said Ed MacConnell, owner of Total Benefits Solutions in Feasterville.

“Employers can determine reimbursement levels, caps, frequency, and categories,” MacConnell said. ”That matters because most employers are trying to balance two competing goals: doing right by employees while staying within budget.”

Many people assume employers just want the cheapest plan possible, MacConnell said, but in his experience the opposite is usually true.

“Most employers genuinely care about how their choices affect employees and their families,” he said. “HRAs can help by letting them target limited dollars more intentionally.”

All of these plans have their nuances and it’s best to speak with a health benefits consultant or your payroll company to determine what’s best for your business.

You won’t be alone. ICHRAs alone grew 52% among small employers from 2024 to 2025 with 83% of employers who previously didn’t offer health insurance options now offering either ICHRAs or QSEHRAs, according to a recent report from the HRA Council, an advocacy organization.

HRA benefits

That surge in popularity is because offering HRAs — in addition to or in lieu of group coverage — provides an employer with three significant benefits.

The first is cost control. The cost of group insurance is expected to rise as much as 10% in 2026, but with an HRA, an employer can contribute whatever amount they can afford, unbeholden to the insurance company’s premiums. With certain HRA plans, an employer no longer has to negotiate with a group insurance provider, and is less exposed to potential privacy violations of an employee’s health history.

“The employer can decide what to reimburse, how much to reimburse, and under what limits,” MacConnell said. “This flexibility makes HRAs attractive to smaller employers that want to start somewhere rather than do nothing.”

Another benefit: because an employee can use these funds to purchase their own insurance, they’re no longer limited to the options their employer offers and they may be able to buy more affordable or more suitable plans.

Finally, there’s the recruiting benefit. Offering an HRA plan allows small businesses to have a response when a prospective employee inevitably asks about health benefits. By contributing even a nominal amount — and allowing an employee to contribute their own pretax dollars — a small business has a healthcare benefit option and becomes more competitive when pursuing talent.

HRA challenges

There are challenges with these types of plans. For example, administration can be messy, especially as the company grows or employee situations become more diverse.

“If 10 employees buy 10 different plans, the employer and broker lose the efficiencies that come with one group carrier and one group policy,” said Deninno. “When employees are scattered across different individual plans, it becomes much harder to resolve claims problems or coverage issues.”

MacConnell emphasizes the need for a third-party administrator, particularly when a company exceeds 10 to 15 employees.

“Outsourcing becomes worthwhile when the alternative is tracking many different employees, many different plans, and constant premium changes,” he said.

For HRAs to work well, it’s also important to educate employees and make sure it fits the company culture. Experts recommend meeting frequently and providing employees with as much support as possible.

“A good broker or administrator will act as a coworker with your employees,” said MacConnell. “They should help both employers and their employees choose the right plans, answer questions, and act as an advocate.”

March 17, 2026
Workplace discrimination remains an important issue for employers. Here’s how to protect yourself | Expert Opinion

Workplace discrimination guidelines have been changing under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been rolling back Biden-era guidelines — particularly with regard to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies. But avoiding discriminatory practices remains a top concern among employers, both when hiring and terminating employees.

Taking several important steps can ensure that your business is not on the wrong side of a discrimination claim.

Write job descriptions thoughtfully

Avoiding claims of discrimination can be mostly accomplished by focusing on job descriptions, said Claude Schoenberg, a labor attorney based in Bala Cynwyd.

Schoenberg says that a good job description fully lays out what’s required of an employee to adequately perform their job. “It becomes your Bible and it takes a lot of the subjectivity out of the conversation,” he said.

It is clear about the physical nature of the work such as moving large boxes, lifting heavy items, operating equipment, or working outdoors in all kinds of weather. A good job description details every single required job function, so if any of these functions are not being completed, the employer has the right to take action.

“If you have employees for whom there is no job description, then develop one. It’s a critical document and it cannot be vague,” Schoenberg said. “If you don’t have that job description, then you are vulnerable to claims alleging things that you may not have said or done.”

Some jobs make this tricky, Schoenberg warns, such as roles that require wearing a specific type of clothing at work, or positions that are only open to one gender (such as a male attendant in a men’s locker room).

“You should always have an attorney review your job descriptions before using them,” he said. “And there should be a very detailed job description for every single employee at your company, from hourly workers to your top managers and executives.”

But job descriptions do not broadly protect employers from any kind of discrimination claim, said Christina M. Reger, a labor attorney at Loutel Law in Newtown.

“They’re helpful in things like disability accommodation disputes, but not as a catch-all defense against all age, gender, and race claims,” she said.

Update company policies and train managers

Anti-discrimination rules should be a “critical part of every company’s handbook,” Reger said, and must be communicated to employees regularly. She recommends ongoing training for managers so they can identify any potential issues.

“Policies should be living and broad without listing specific protected classes one-by-one, which would help avoid constant updates and prevent misunderstandings when language changes,” she said.

To help enforce these rules, Reger also recommends having a clear complaint procedure and an external source for complaints. This could include an outside attorney with a dedicated email or phone line for complaints, or a third-party human resources consultant.

“Many small employers get burned because the complaint path is not credible,” she said. “You want complaints going to an external source, not directly to the EEOC.”

How has EEOC guidance on discrimination changed?

The EEOC’s new policies are pushing back against corporate DEI practices that became mainstream in recent years. Instead, the EEOC is encouraging employers not to discriminate based on factors such as skin color, religion, and sexual orientation. The agency now says all employees should be treated equally regardless of these factors and hiring practices should reflect the same.

The change in policy can be confusing, but Schoenberg reminds his clients that when it comes to discrimination in the workplace, the EEOC only sets guidelines. Depending on the political environment, the EEOC has been known to flip-flop. But court rulings are binding.

“The EEOC’s own regulations do not have the force of law,” he said. “Employers should focus on actual statutes and court interpretation — not the administration’s latest guidance.”

Before terminating an employee, Reger suggests the employer do a “retaliation/discrimination risk check.” This involves running through a checklist of documentation — recent complaints, leave, accommodation requests, protected status signals — and documenting the legitimate reason for termination.

Employers should “also strongly consider severance pay if it can help reduce the risk of a lawsuit,” she said.

Schoenberg advises companies to get Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) as a “backstop.” Most general liability policies don’t cover employment practices, he said, and employers should not assume that they’re covered if a discrimination lawsuit is filed against them.

All of this points toward treating employment as a life cycle from hiring to termination.

“The more you document that life cycle, the better off the employer is,” said Schoenberg.

March 3, 2026
Small businesses, don’t expect tariff relief anytime soon | Expert Opinion

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to President Donald Trump’s tariff plan last week. But if you’re a small-business owner who’s been affected by tariffs, don’t get too excited.

This fight is far from over. And so is the uncertainty. Even when courts push back, presidents retain enormous tariff authority — and small businesses should assume continued volatility.

The president had imposed tariffs on a number of countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which authorizes him to “declare a national emergency and regulate or block commercial and financial transactions with foreign nations deemed an unusual, extraordinary threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy, or the economy.”

The Supreme Court upheld previous lower court rulings that said he exceeded his authority to do so. But President Trump has vowed to continue the fight. He’s far from finished.

For starters, he’s able to raise tariffs under the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Act. This law allows the U.S. to impose tariffs (up to 50%) on imports from countries that “discriminate” against U.S. goods through unfair duties, taxes, or regulations. It requires an investigation and a time-limit but it pretty much leaves the entire decision up to the president.

The problem for President Trump is that imposing tariffs under Smoot-Hawley requires Congressional approval which is far from guaranteed, even though his party holds slim majorities in both the House and Senate, given the pushback he’s received from other Republicans on his past tariff actions.

The president can also take advantage of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This legislation gives “balance-of-payments” authority to the executive office and allows him to impose a 15% tariff on countries as he chooses. He used this authority last week to raise the global tariff the U.S. charges to other countries from 10% to the maximum 15%. Unfortunately for him, there’s a 150-day limit to this tariff, unless Congress approves an extension which is, as mentioned previously, far from assured.

Finally, the president can invoke Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, along with Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Both allow the president to impose tariffs on selected sectors and industries. These laws were behind the tariff increases enacted by the Biden Administration in 2024 on steel, aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, critical minerals, and solar cells. To play this card, investigations are required along with public comment, but once those rules are satisfied the executive office has a lot of flexibility.

All of these are strategies that the president could use. And — as he’s proven — he’ll fight anyone in court who challenges him, a process that could easily extend beyond his current administration.

It’s why Secretary Treasury Scott Bessent told CNBC in December that the Trump administration would be able to replicate tariffs even if it loses at the Supreme Court. As recently as Friday, Bessent said, “The overall tariffs, at the end of the day, will be unchanged.”

So what do to? The smartest small businesses aren’t waiting for Washington. They’re restructuring supply chains now. You can do the same.

Investigate bonded warehouses and free trade zones where you can bring your goods tariff-free and defer their impact until you ship product out of the warehouse, hopefully at a future time when rates are lower or there’s more clarity.

Use organizations like the World Trade Center Association and tools like the Make Onshoring Great Again portal to find alternate suppliers and products, both domestic and foreign.

Selectively pass down price increases based on individual customer profitability analysis, rather than broadly.

Lean into technology in an effort to increase the productivity of your workers in order to better control or even reduce overheads.

Try to do more assembly and manufacturing here in the U.S. All of these moves are what my smartest clients are doing in order to mitigate the uncertainty.

Can you expect a refund? Don’t hold your breath. Refunds need to come from the importer/exporter of record, which is generally the company that handled the transaction at the port. Most of these companies I know are not structured to apply for refunds on such a scale, even if there was a process in place (which there isn’t).

The Supreme Court has “remanded this back down to the lower courts to decide if refunds will be issued and without knowing for certain, many believe that the refunds will not be issued retroactively,” Lori Mullins of Rogers & Brown, a customs brokerage firm in Charleston, told CNBC on Friday. “For importers hoping for refunds the answer is yes, we have a ruling but we do not have a ruling on if any refunds will be granted. That will be handled by a lower court at a future date/time.”

The Trump administration is wiping their hands clean of orchestrating a tariff refund, saying, effectively that it’s not up to them, it’s up to the lower court. In his dissent, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted the ruling lacked any refund guidance, and he stated that the refund process may be a “mess.”

Lawsuits already filed by larger corporations will take years to sort out. Smaller companies — lacking resources — will have a much bigger hill to climb, if that hill even exists. If you’re expecting a retroactive refund, you’re planning on a hope strategy — not a business strategy.

Whether you agree with the president’s tariff strategy or not is beside the point. What matters is this: Tariff policy has become a tool of both trade and politics.

That means volatility is now structural, not temporary. Which means the impact of tariffs on your small business isn’t going to change anytime soon.

Uncertainty? That much is certain.

February 24, 2026
Philly business owners could save thousands with this little-known resource

If you own a business in Philadelphia and you’re looking for financing, one little known resource is the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. or PIDC. Don’t be put off by the word industrial. The public-private organization was formed as a nonprofit by the City of Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce to provide financing to all sorts of businesses to create jobs and revitalize neighborhoods.

For example, Milk Jawn, an ice cream shop in East Passyunk used PIDC financing to help with its expansion.

“PIDC was our first type of institutional financing,” said Amy Wilson, Milk Jawn’s founder. “Our early growth was friends and family and some crowdfunding. PIDC then helped fund our build out and kitchen construction.”

The organization says it’s focused on helping companies expand, and many different types of businesses would qualify for financing.

“PIDC is Philadelphia’s partner for business growth,” said Kevin Lessard, a senior vice president at the organization. “We help businesses, nonprofits, and developers overcome barriers to expansion by providing financing and real estate solutions that make starting, staying, and scaling in the city possible.”

To qualify for a loan through PIDC, your business must be located within the city, have operated for at least two years, and earn at least $100,000 in annual revenues. Special considerations may be made based on what the funds will be used for (i.e. building in a low-income area) or whether you’re a “disadvantaged” business owner. Personal guarantees and collateral are also normally required.

Loans can be used for equipment and property as well as working capital needs and “soft” costs like legal, accounting, permits, and appraisals. One of the more popular uses of the loans is for commercial real estate financing, where financing can be used to acquire and renovate property or to fund new construction.

Philly success stories

For Alexander Sherack, a co-owner of Korea Taqueria, an eatery with several locations in Philadelphia, PIDC financing fit the kind of deal he was looking for.

“We needed a property that was zoned commercial and mixed-use plus working capital so it wasn’t a typical path for a traditional bank loan,” he said. “We went with PIDC because it helped us replace rent with ownership — and our property turned out to be a hidden gem.”

Businesses can apply online and will then go through an underwriting and due diligence process which usually includes submitting financial reports, bank statements, and tax returns, along with a business plan and forecast. Corporate documents such as bylaws and articles of incorporation are also required. Once the loan is received, there’s ongoing reporting and other compliance requirements, which include regular submission of financial information and updating any major changes in the business.

Kia Jones owns Past Your Bedtime childcare in West Philadelphia and used PIDC financing for both working capital and renovations.

“The staff there made it very easy,” she said. “Any questions that I had, they were right on it.”

Pros of PIDC loans

PIDC funding can be a great bridge to a traditional bank loan. Some applicants who may find themselves turned down for a bank loan may still be able to receive funding from the PIDC.

PIDC takes more of a holistic, mission-driven approach. If a traditional bank turns you down, PIDC may still structure a deal — particularly if your project creates jobs or revitalizes neighborhoods. Getting PIDC involved may also encourage traditional banks to offer additional funding both now and in the future.

PIDC loans generally have much lower interest rates than a traditional bank loan. Milk Jawn’s Wilson, for example, accessed a special 0% interest program in early 2022 through PIDC, a major cost savings in a time of rising interest rates. (This was part of a one-time pandemic relief program.)

Finally, the PIDC provides education, support, and networking programs to help their community of borrowers manage and grow their businesses. And the connections can pay off.

“We were able to meet partners of the PIDC,” Jones said. “One partner program called Boost Your Business got us a $50,000 forgivable loan. The organization is also very familiar with city grants and other local funding options.”

Real talk

As helpful as the organization can be, business owners shouldn’t expect to get immediate funding.

Sherack recommends starting early and “building a transaction timeline” into any agreement where property is being purchased.

“Don’t assume quick money,” he said. “Submit your documents fast and press for clarity on timing so you don’t lose the deal.”

Wilson agrees and said she had to get a loan from a family member while she waited for the application process to complete.

“We’re a mission-driven lender using public and public-private capital, so every deal requires careful underwriting and a clear path to economic impact,” Lessard said. “Unlike conventional lenders, we tailor each financing package to the business.”

February 17, 2026
Expecting a big tax refund? One missing detail could freeze your money for weeks

Thanks to new changes in the tax law caused by 2025’s One Big Beautiful Bill — specifically with regard to new deductions for tipped and overtime income — the U.S. Treasury Department expects many taxpayers to receive refunds this year.

“The bill was passed in July [and many] working Americans didn’t change their withholding, so they’re going to be getting very large refunds in the first quarter,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a December interview broadcast on NBC10. “So I think we’re going to see $100 [billion]-$150 billion of refunds, which could be between $1,000 to $2,000 per household.”

Sounds great. But be careful. If you’re in line to get your tax refund, you better make sure you’re prepared to share your bank account information with the Internal Revenue Service. Otherwise you could experience significant delays.

A new IRS rule that affects 2025 tax returns is now requiring taxpayers to provide their bank account and routing numbers to receive refunds timely via direct deposit.

The IRS will still process individual income tax returns (Form 1040 series) filed without bank account information. However, the agency will temporarily freeze the refund until the taxpayer provides direct-deposit information or requests a paper check. More importantly, if incorrect bank account information is submitted, the IRS will freeze those direct deposits until the issue is resolved.

“Many taxpayers haven’t fully grasped that shift yet,” said Mitchell Gerstein, a senior tax adviser at Isdaner & Company in Bala Cynwyd. “If you are hesitant to share bank information with the IRS, we explain that electronic payments are now the default.”

Some may not feel comfortable sharing their bank information with the government, and ultimately providing this information is voluntary. But, according to Philadelphia CPA Jacob Cohen, not doing so will create headaches and delays.

“If a taxpayer does not want to share the information, their refund will take longer to process and the IRS will still attempt to collect banking information before they issue a refund check,” he said. “The refund could be delayed several weeks at a minimum, but likely longer.”

Not everyone will be affected by this rule. The IRS says international taxpayers, minors, prisoners, taxpayers with religious exceptions, and decedent taxpayers will receive paper check refunds as in the past.

And the IRS will still be making payments by check for now for those who request it. But they do plan on phasing out that ability in the coming years.

“If you do not have an account, we’d recommend setting up a basic no-fee checking account in person at a reputable bank, or even online with certain banks like Ally Bank or Discover Bank,” Cohen said. The IRS offers the ability to split your refund into up to three accounts for retirement, savings, and checking.

What if you don’t have a bank account and don’t want to open one?

There are other options for those without bank accounts.

Treasury does offer alternative options such as prepaid debit cards, credit cards, or approved digital wallets such as PayPal, says Gerstein. Many reloadable prepaid cards like Netspend and Bluebird provide a routing and account number that you can use for direct deposit.

Make sure to check with your mobile app provider or financial institution to confirm which numbers to use.

The IRS also recommends visiting the FDIC website or using the National Credit Union Administration‘s Credit Union Locator Tool to find a bank or credit union and how to choose the right account for you. If you are a veteran, you can use the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP) for access to financial services at participating banks

If you decide to go fully digital, Philadelphia CPA David Lopez recommends setting up your online account and also creating an account on ID.me. This program is used by several government and non-government agencies and allows you to track the status of your tax refund.

“For the IRS, you can use the ID.me platform to review your tax documents for the past seven years, run reports on your income and wages, and obtain tax documents that you may have displaced,” he said. Users can see “if you owe, if you have a refund, and [can] even make payments in installments if needed.”

Typical refunds are processed within 21 days for an e-filed return and six weeks or more if sent by mail, according to the IRS. Refunds will take even longer if corrections are needed or bank information isn’t included. Where’s My Refund will have the latest information on your return.

Why is the IRS pushing so hard for electronic payments?

Gerstein says the real benefit for both individuals and businesses is faster, more secure refunds and fewer lost checks with an immediate payment confirmation. Most accounting experts say that the IRS does process refunds via direct deposit faster than by check and that it’s the quickest way to do business with the agency.

“Our advice is simple,” he said. “Set up an IRS online account, double-check your bank routing and account numbers, and don’t ignore IRS letters.

February 10, 2026
Philly-area marketing experts on how to succeed on LinkedIn| Expert Opinion

LinkedIn now has more than 1.3 billion members by its own count. That includes millions in senior roles and C-level executives, according to a recent report from Search Engine Journal, “making it a hot spot for those aiming to connect with folks who have the power to hire your company, stock your product, or partner with your brand.”

I’ve personally used LinkedIn for years and have built up a large number of followers. The platform has helped me grow my business, find prospects, connect with potential employees, and create new relationships.

But, like many small-business owners, I could be doing more to increase my engagement and meet more people. Here are a few thoughts from local experts on how to maximize LinkedIn’s potential.

Engage thoughtfully

As with most social media sites, succeeding on LinkedIn is all about engagement. Just using the platform as a billboard for your product or services isn’t going to cut it. A LinkedIn relationship will grow when information is shared and conversation is open.

Kevin Homer, president of Navitas Marketing in Trooper, recommends taking the time to interact with other LinkedIn users’ content and leaving thoughtful comments.

“When you create real dialogue, LinkedIn expands your reach and strengthens your relationships,” he said.

“Fostering conversations is the most important thing,” said Courtney Thomas, who specializes in social media at locally based communications agency Aloysius Butler & Clark.

“If you’re regularly commenting — whether on your own posts or on other people’s or company pages’ posts — you’ll see your engagement rise,” Thomas said. “LinkedIn rewards people who participate, not just those who publish.”

Be authentic

Sometimes people treat LinkedIn like a vehicle to trumpet their personal and professional accomplishments. Experts warn that treating the platform in this manner can hurt your credibility and create the risk of public ridicule, which is not a good strategy for professional growth.

It’s important to treat this platform for what it’s meant to be — a business networking site. Be professional. Be real. Be humble, and don’t be a fake.

Nick Quirk, chief operating offer at digital marketing agency SEO Locale in Montgomeryville, says LinkedIn users should not “just broadcast information” but instead invite discussion.

“Engagement is a two-way street, and growth happens when you stop trying to sell and start trying to connect,” he said. “People don’t come to LinkedIn to be pitched — they come to learn and relate.”

If you’re not posting content people actually want to engage with, your engagement will tank, Thomas said.

“People can tell immediately when something is too salesy or reads as fake,” she said. “LinkedIn isn’t the place for constant promotion; it’s where you establish credibility, demonstrate expertise, and build relationships.”

Be consistent

What you get out of LinkedIn will depend on what you put into it. You can’t just post something once in a while or appear and then disappear for significant lengths of time. This is a community, and you’re expected to be involved.

“Both the algorithm and your audience reward consistency,” Quirk said, so you can’t build a following by just posting once a month.

Homer suggests posting at least once a week, which “creates more opportunities for engagement.”

“Helpful content that shows up regularly trains your audience to expect value from you, and engagement on those posts leads to even more visibility,” Homer said.

Use LinkedIn tools, but don’t go overboard

LinkedIn provides many tools for its users to accumulate more followers and spread awareness. These include video images, articles, and labels to optimize your profile, enormous amounts of online content for skill development, as well as functionality to help you create automatic replies and messaging, referrals, recommendations, and endorsements that will get you noticed and help to bolster your credibility.

The platform is a popular place to recruit talent and, with its Sales Navigator add-in, find and then nurture leads.

“Take advantage of everything LinkedIn lets you do,” Thomas said. ”Long-form articles, PDFs, videos, polls — there are so many features people ignore. The platform prioritizes content that keeps users engaged on LinkedIn instead of sending them elsewhere.”

Adding images and video to posts significantly enhances them and helps boost visibility, Homer noted.

“Think about keywords and hashtags the same way you would SEO on your website,” he said. “LinkedIn search works similarly.”

These capabilities are helpful, but it’s important not to be robotic. For example, Quirk’s biggest pet peeve is when someone sends a connection request and then follow it with an instant, multi-paragraph sales message.

“It’s spammy, disrespectful of time, and burns bridges,” he said. “Always personalize connection requests. Once they accept, you’ve earned a follower, not a lead.”

Homer says it is a “major mistake” to ignore replies and rely on automatic LinkedIn messages.

“Nothing turns people off faster than connecting and immediately receiving a generic sales pitch,” he said. “Real relationships require real conversations.”

LinkedIn is a great place to start and build relationships that could lead to new business or profitable partnerships. In my experience, people who use it every day to both get and share knowledge, without doing a hard sell, are the most successful.

“The businesses that get the most value out of LinkedIn understand that it’s a long game,” Thomas said. ”When you focus on contributing meaningfully instead of selling aggressively, you build an audience that actually wants to hear from you, and that’s far more valuable.”

February 3, 2026
How Philadelphia merchants can get help paying for improvements, equipment, and security| Expert Opinion

Running a retail or restaurant business in Philadelphia isn’t easy.

But some local programs can provide much-needed cash for specific purposes like equipment purchases, store improvements, and security.

Here are four to consider.

The Storefront Development Program

Operated by the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, the Storefront Development Program provides as much as $15,000 in matching funds to upgrade and beautify your storefront, including masonry and brick pointing, exterior painting, new windows or doors, facade lighting, signage and awnings, see-through security grills, cornices, and similar enhancements. Only businesses in certain commercial corridors are eligible and projects must be planned and approved in advance.

Justin Coleman, owner of Bake’n Bacon in South Philadelphia, used the program to replace deteriorating windows, update doors, and repaint his storefront’s exterior.

“The program helped us cover half the expenses for our 11-foot windows, which was a tremendous assistance,” he said. ”The new paint made a significant difference, and the upgrades to the exterior of my business improved visibility and curb appeal.”

InStore Forgivable Loan Program

Also administered by the city’s Department of Commerce, the InStore Forgivable Loan Program offers forgivable loans of up to $100,000, which are interest-free for the first five years. They can be used for interior build-outs, equipment purchases, and other improvements.

Forgiveness is given if the business is open and operating at the same location for the full five-year term. Like the Storefront Development Program, only businesses located in certain areas of the city are eligible.

Business Security Camera Program

The city’s Department of Commerce also provides up to $3,000 in matching funds for businesses and property owners that install exterior security cameras through the Business Security Camera Program.

Companies that participate must register their cameras with the Philadelphia Police Department’s SafeCam system, so police can request access to footage when needed. Participants must either own the property or have permission from the landlord and can only use contractors approved by the city. The application process also requires photos and cost estimates.

“I wanted to have as many exterior security cameras around my storefront, as there can be a lot going on out there,” said James Singleton, owner of men’s clothing store Smooth Like That in Olney. “These cameras are good for the commercial area, making everyone feel safer.”

Stabilization grants

The Merchants Fund was founded in 1854 in Philadelphia to initially support retired merchants with pensions. But today the fund aids active small businesses with financial needs.

The fund offers stabilization grants, which are intended to help stabilize a business when it can identify a specific issue or challenge that it doesn’t have the financial means to address, said Jill Fink, the fund’s executive director.

“Often these are capital expenses — equipment, repairs, or improvements — that have a real shelf life, and small businesses simply don’t have the thousands of dollars needed to replace them,” she said. “Our goal is to make an investment that actually fixes something so that the business can keep operating, serve its neighborhood, and in some cases create a new revenue stream.”

The fund provides one-time grants of up to $10,000 to eligible Philadelphia-based small businesses. They must be independently owned; have a physical storefront, food truck, or kiosk; have been in business for at least two years; and demonstrate financial need, with annual revenue between $50,000 and $750,000. Professional services firms, nonprofits, and real estate, childcare, and eldercare businesses are not eligible.

At the Link Studios in Old City, which sells hair and beauty products and services, the fund helped owner Carla Clarkson turn an unused space into something functional. She used the grant to buy shelving, storage, air purifiers, heating and air, and paint. She was also able to access coaching and mentorship from other business owners.

“The networking alone was incredibly valuable,” Clarkson said. “I met other entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders, and that directly led to new opportunities for my business.”

Fink, a former business owner, stresses the additional resources that her fund provides beyond just grants.

“We work to try and find ways to connect businesses with each other because being a small-business owner can be a very lonely place,” she said. “There’s lots of times in their business they might have friends or family that don’t necessarily understand the stress and pressure that a small business is under.”

When machines at the NV Optical store in West Philadelphia went down, owner Tiffany Easley said, the business couldn’t afford the necessary repairs, and the Merchants Fund was an enormous help.

“It was less than 30 days from application to repair. The timing lined up perfectly and made a huge difference for our business,” she said. “They don’t just give you money. They understand small business struggles and connect you to resources that are vital to long-term growth.”

The Merchant Fund’s next enrollment period opens March 15.

Whether you’re pursuing a City of Philadelphia program or a stabilization grant from the Merchants Fund, your business is expected to be licensed, registered, and have all necessary permits from the city and state. And it must be current on both federal and local taxes or enrolled in an approved payment program.

January 27, 2026
Philadelphia is a top place to launch a start-up — but success requires more than passion | Expert Opinion

It seems that Philadelphia’s reputation as a good place to start a business got a boost this past year.

The city ranked 13th among 350 “start-up ecosystems” worldwide in Startup Genome‘s 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, which considers educational resources, labor, taxes, and funding opportunities.

The region attracted over $900 million in equity funding and acquisitions in 2024-25, according to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; expanded biotech and robotics facilities; and launched AI education initiatives — all supported by public-private partnerships and university-led R&D.

Chamber CEO Chellie Cameron said the Startup Genome ranking “affirms our region’s emergence as a global destination for innovation, business, and opportunity.”

From 2019 to 2024, the U.S. saw more than 21 million new business applications, marking the largest-ever spike.

Software giant Intuit recently reported that and “33% of U.S. adults plan to start a business or side hustle next year — a 94% year-over-year increase.” LinkedIn says the number of “founders” listed on the platform grew 69% last year.

Are you thinking of starting a business this year? Before you quit your job, here’s some practical advice.

Get your finances in order

When I started my business, I did so while having a full-time job. I worked a lot of hours. But that’s because I needed to build up an income stream to support me for when I eventually left the corporate world.

Smart entrepreneurs know their finances. They’re good at math or have advisers that help them. They recognize the importance of accounting.

Gabriella Daltoso, a founder and CEO of Philadelphia-based medical device start-up Sonura, recognized the importance of understanding her numbers and embarked on a program to learn the basics of accounting. A trained scientist, she sought out help from people with business expertise at the University of Pennsylvania, where she spun out the business.

“I got a freshman finance textbook, learned the terms, and then learned from other founders’ experiences,” Daltoso said. “I found mentors and professors who would help me at Penn. People can be incredibly helpful when you reach out.”

Sonura founders Gabriella Daltoso (left) and Sophie Ishiwari at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in November.

Start-ups need capital, and for financing, it’s important to have a solid business plan with realistic projections of revenues and expenses. You need to establish relationships with banks, investors, family members, friends, venture capitalists, or anyone else that could be a source of financing. You should have enough money in the bank to support yourself and your family for at least two years because it will likely take that long to get your business cash positive.

James Massaquoi, a board member at the Seybert Foundation and former analyst at Philadelphia venture capital firm Osage Partners, emphasizes planning capital needs early, ideally before launching. Massaquoi urges founders to deeply understand their cost structure and assumptions before getting in too deep.

“Talk to bankers and other sources of capital before you really start the business, so it’s a conversation — not another checklist,” he said. “Spend more time modeling out costs than forecasting profits because costs fluctuate dramatically, especially in the first two years.”

Make sure your family is on board

Think you’re busy now? Wait until you start a business.

You will spend much more time launching, running, and growing your enterprise than you expect. You will work nights, weekends, and crazy hours. People will be happy for you and supportive, but in the end, it’s all on your shoulders.

This kind of stress could put a strain on your personal life. You will not succeed unless your family members understand this and are ready to support you.

“Work-life balance is really about how much work you need to do for this to be successful — and how much pressure you feel to make it succeed,” Massaquoi said.

Be realistic

Passion for your business venture is important, but profits are just as important. Your model needs to be satisfying a market need if it’s going to have a legitimate chance.

The typical life span of a start-up is two to five years, with 70% going out of business before reaching their fifth year. The odds are against you.

The ones that do survive fix problems and do so better than their competitors. They watch their pennies and are open to change based on what their customers need.

Take your business seriously

Talk to a tax and legal adviser and form a company — maybe a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company. Use these advisers to help you register your business with the state and the federal government.

Create a professional website. Establish a commercial mailing address (not your home) and a toll-free phone number.

Pay in your estimated taxes, and file your tax returns on time.

As you hire employees, create policies and procedures and try to offer the types of benefits that established businesses provide like health insurance, retirement plans, and flexible time off.

If you are truly running a business (and not just a hobby), you need to act like a business.

Lean on local resources

As a start-up founder in Philadelphia, you’re not alone. The area has a number of great resources to help your small business get funding and grow.

Introduce yourself to the Small Business Development Center at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Reach out to SCORE, which is part of the Small Business Administration. Get involved with nonprofits that provide education, financing help, and mentorship to start-ups, such as: the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies, Venture Lab (University of Pennsylvania), Broad Street Angels, Startup Leaders, Entrepreneur Works, and Urban League Entrepreneurship Center.

Take advantage of the free space and other resources offered by the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Also, surround yourself with as many experts as you can afford. Have a good accountant, lawyer, coach, and advisers on hand to help you make decisions. Build these costs into your business plan and projections because these people are critical for your business success.

“Your expertise isn’t having all the answers; it’s learning from anyone who’s willing to share,” Daltoso said. “It’s really important to hear everyone, synthesize what’s useful, and move forward with confidence.”

January 13, 2026