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Philly.com

Penn and Community College of Philadelphia launch an academy for West Philadelphia businesses

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) A new, free educational program for West Philly small businesses is launching this fall, giving them access to…

Gene MarksSeptember 29, 2026

Philly.com

Check fraud is rising. Here’s how businesses can protect themselves.

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) A client of mine had a check they mailed stolen before it reached their supplier. The check was altered…

Gene MarksJune 9, 2026

Philly.com

Philly business owners could save thousands with this little-known resource

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) If you own a business in Philadelphia and you’re looking for financing, one little known resource is the Philadelphia Industrial…

Gene MarksFebruary 17, 2026

Philly.com

How Philadelphia merchants can get help paying for improvements, equipment, and security

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) Running a retail or restaurant business in Philadelphia isn’t easy. But some local programs can provide much-needed cash for…

Gene MarksJanuary 27, 2026

Philly.com

Philadelphia is a top place to launch a start-up — but success requires more than passion

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) It seems that Philadelphia’s reputation as a good place to start a business got a boost this past year.…

Gene MarksJanuary 13, 2026

Philly.com

Business owners should consider these strategies to reduce their future taxes

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) Thanks to the tax and spending bill enacted in July, many small-business owners I know are moving forward…

Gene MarksDecember 16, 2025

Philly.com

What local small-business owners should know before terminating an employee

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) Over the past few weeks, many large companies, including UPS, Amazon, Ford, and Microsoft, have been laying off employees. Some are blaming a…

Gene MarksNovember 4, 2025

Philly.com

Six months in, how are Philly-area businesses handling Trump’s tariffs?

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) It’s been six months since President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on U.S. imports. For local small-business owners, the impact so…

Gene MarksOctober 21, 2025

Philly.com

No tax on tips: What businesses and workers should know

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) The tax and spending bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the president on July 4 contained…

Gene MarksSeptember 16, 2025

Philly.com

Are local small business owners too optimistic? | Opinion

(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer) Across the U.S., small business owners seem to have an upbeat outlook. Several recent surveys showed high levels of…

Gene MarksSeptember 10, 2025