5 Ways Philly Businesses Can Reduce Risk—Without Slowing Growth

When your business is thriving, risk is usually the last thing you want to think about. But in a year like 2026, with America 250, the World Cup, and the rapid rise of AI tools, Philadelphia companies are stepping into a moment of real visibility and opportunity.

That exposure also brings new vulnerabilities.

“As the city attracts more global attention, local organizations may become targets in ways they weren’t before,” says R. Charles Waring, partner, EisnerAmper.

Waring works with growing businesses navigating that exact tension: how to scale quickly without creating gaps that could slow them down later. Here are five practical ways Philly companies can reduce risk while staying agile.

Start With an Honest Assessment

Before investing in new tools or initiatives, step back and assess what’s working and where employees may be facing challenges.

“What’s happening at the C-suite level isn’t always what’s happening across the whole organization,” says Waring.

When teams are stretched thin or adjusting to growth, new risks can quietly emerge through technology adoption, operational changes, or external pressures. Open communication across departments helps leaders understand what employees need to do their jobs effectively and spot issues before they become bigger problems.

An annual review is a good starting point, but it’s just as important to reassess after periods of rapid expansion or significant change.

Get Ahead of AI–Even If You Think You’re Not Using It

Even if you and your employees aren’t bookmarking Claude or ChatGPT for work, artificial intelligence is embedded in a lot of workplace tools you use without thinking about it.

“Even if leadership says, ‘We’re not using AI,’ their employees probably are,” Waring says.

He notes that browser-based tools like Gemini and built-in platforms like Microsoft Copilot are quietly becoming part of everyday workflows. And, the risk isn’t necessarily the technology itself; it’s the lack of visibility and guardrails around how it’s being used.

Instead of shutting it down, Waring recommends setting clear policies for responsible use, especially regarding sensitive data. With the right structure, AI can support productivity rather than introduce unnecessary risk.

Scale Your Culture

Strong risk management doesn’t come from a single policy; it comes from how your team communicates with each other every day.

“Whenever there’s been an incident or a breakdown, nine times out of 10, it goes back to internal culture,” says Waring.

That means encouraging open communication across teams, making it easier for employees to flag potential issues, and ensuring leadership considers risk as part of everyday decision-making, not just after something goes wrong.

As your business grows, your culture should scale with it.

Revisit Compliance Regularly

Staying compliant doesn’t have to be complicated. Even as regulations continue to evolve, keeping up can be manageable with the right approach.

“It doesn’t have to be ‘boil the ocean,’” says Waring. “But there has to be a structure that forces the right people to ask: has anything changed?”

That structure can be as simple as a quarterly check-in or an annual review, with additional conversations during periods of change. The goal is to ensure someone regularly checks in on how your business operates, what tools you’re using, and whether anything new could introduce risk.

Be Proactive

With major events on the horizon for 2026, all eyes are on Philadelphia. That gives businesses in the area more attention and added risk.

“There’s a lot happening in Philadelphia this year, and it’s creating a new level of global visibility for the city,” says Waring. “That kind of attention didn’t exist a year or two ago, and now we’re seeing more conversation around cybersecurity as a result.”

The goal isn’t to pull back. It’s to be prepared. Proactive steps like strengthening your cybersecurity, reviewing the vendors you use, and monitoring your brand’s presence will ensure your increased exposure doesn’t turn into unnecessary vulnerability.

Growing businesses can’t avoid risk. It comes with the territory. But with the right approach, it doesn’t have to slow you down.

“Managing risk shouldn’t mean stopping growth,” Waring says. “It’s about understanding where you are and making informed decisions from there.”

EisnerAmper is one of the nation’s leading professional services firms, helping clients achieve their business goals through advisory, tax, accounting, and risk management services. Learn more at EisnerAmper.com.

This is a paid partnership between EisnerAmper and Philadelphia Magazine