Also reams of paperwork, four to 12 weeks from start to finish, and as much as $3,785, to be paid by the applicant.
It is but one of many examples the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) cites to support the overarching message of its just-released report, Taking Care of Business; Improving Philadelphia's Small-Business Climate:
"Philadelphia is a tough place to do business."
The report, paid for with a $75,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation, is a compilation of findings and recommendations based on interviews with more than 100 owners of small businesses, defined as having 50 or fewer employees, and support groups.
In all, SBN found, Philadelphia has 93,000 small-business owners, with 54 percent of the city's jobs created by them.
"Owners reported that only the most committed entrepreneurs would be able to form thriving new businesses in Philadelphia, in part because of the obstacles that city government places in their path," according to the report, written by Karen Black of May 8 Consulting, a policy-analysis firm in Media.
SBN contends that the job-creation numbers bear that out. Philadelphia ranked 10th among the 11 largest U.S. counties in jobs it had to offer last year: 42 jobs per 100 people, compared with 147 for New York and 116 for Dallas.
The report outlines a number of city deficiencies cited by business owners, including onerous and antiquated policies and practices on licensing, permitting, and inspections; burdensome taxes; insufficient small-business financing; and poor communication between government and the small-business community.
It even slams the requirement for a cashier's check in a number of city departments where business owners must do business.
"It's 2011, and it's time for that to change," said Leanne Krueger-Braneky, executive director of SBN, an advocacy group with more than 500 member businesses.
