Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

RESOURCES - A List for Florida Small Businesses, with Links

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE, COUNSELING, WORKSHOPS

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
(850) 245-7105
www.floridajobs.org/business-growth-and-partnerships

Florida Small Business Development Center Network
(866) 737-7232 or (850) 473-7800
www.floridasbdc.org

U.S. Small Business Administration
(800) 827-5722
www.sba.gov

SCORE
Chapters Statewide
www.score.org

National Entrepreneur Center
(407) 420-4848
www.nationalec.com

Florida Women’s Business Center
(561) 265-3790
www.flwbc.org

Black Business Investment Corporations

Hispanic Business Initiative Fund (HBIF)
www.hbifflorida.org

  • Central Florida Office, Orlando
    (407) 428-5872
  • South Florida Office, Miami
    (305) 577-5468
  • Tampa Bay Office, Tampa
    (813) 980-2765

Small Business Resource Network
www.sbrn.org

LEGAL STRUCTURE

Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations
www.sunbiz.org

  • Corporations: (850) 245-6052
  • Limited Liability Companies/ Partnerships: (850) 245-6051

U.S. Internal Revenue Service Publications
(800) 829-3676
www.irs.gov/publications/index.html

  • Partnerships (Publication 541)
  • Limited Liability Companies
    (Publication 3402)
  • Corporations (Publication 542)

FORMS, PERMITS & LICENSES

Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations
(850) 245-6058
www.sunbiz.org

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Licensing
(850) 487-1395
www.myfloridalicense.com

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Licensing
(800) 435-7352 (Florida only)
(850) 410-3800
www.freshfromflorida.com

Florida New Hire Reporting Center
(888) 854-4791 or (850) 656-3343
www.fl-newhire.com

Florida Department of Revenue
(800) 352-3671
www.myflorida.com/dor

U.S. Internal Revenue Service
(800) 829-4933
www.irs.gov/businesses/small

U.S. Small Business Administration
(800) 827-5722
www.sba.gov

PATENTS, TRADEMARKS & COPYRIGHTS

U.S. Copyright Office
(202) 707-5959 or (877) 476-0778
www.copyright.gov

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
(800) 786-9199 or (571) 271-1000
www.uspto.gov

FINANCING

SBA Participating Lenders

The U.S. Small Business Administration does not make loans directly to small business owners; however, many local lenders can assist with the application process for an SBA-backed loan. For information, contact one of the SBA district offices in Florida.

Certified Development Companies
These nonprofit corporations work with the SBA and private-sector lenders to provide financing to small businesses.

  • Business Development
    Corporation of Northeast Florida
    (904) 724-7455
  • Coastal Area District
    Development Authority
    (912) 261-2500
    www.cadda.com
  • Essential Capital Inc.
    (904) 398-9411
    www.essentialcapital.net
  • Florida Business
    Development Corp.
    (561) 433-0233
    www.fbdc.net
  • Florida First Capital Finance Corp.
    (850) 681-3601 or (888) 320-5504
    www.ffcfc.com
  • Independent Development
    Services Corp. (IDS)
    (239) 652-5588
    www.idscorp.org
  • St. Petersburg Certified
    Development Corp. (dba Gulfcoast Business Finance Inc.)
    (727) 895-2504 or (800) 850-2504
    www.gulfcoastbiz.com
  • Tampa Bay Economic
    Development Corp. (TEDCO)
    (813) 831-8600
    www.tedcoloans.com

Industrial Revenue Bonds

Industrial Revenue Bonds, issued by the Florida Development Finance Corporation (FDFC), offer tax-exempt, low-interest bond financing to qualified, financially sound manufacturing and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Enterprise Florida Inc.
(407) 956-5607
www.eflorida.com

TAXES

FEDERAL

U.S. Internal Revenue Service
(800) 829-4933
www.irs.gov/businesses/small

Tax Forms and Publications
(800) 829-3676
www.irs.gov/publications

  • Tax Calendar for Small Business and Self-Employed (Publication 1518)
  • Tax Guide for Small Business (Publication 334)
  • Circular E, Employer’s Tax Guide (Publication 15)
  • Starting a Business and Keeping Records (Publication 583)
  • Small Business Federal Tax Responsibilities (Publication 4591)

STATE

Florida Department of Revenue
(800) 352-3671
www.myflorida.com/dor

EXPORTING ASSISTANCE

Enterprise Florida Inc.
International Trade & Business Development

www.eflorida.com

Field Offices:

  • Coral Gables/Headquarters (305) 808-3660
  • Jacksonville (904) 359-9350
  • Orlando (407) 956-5634
  • Pensacola (850) 469-8989
  • Tallahassee (850) 298-6632
  • Tampa (407) 956-5634
  • West Palm Beach (561) 832-8339

SBDC Office of International Programs
(850) 473-7800 or (866) 737-7232
www.floridasbdc.org/specialprograms/international

SELLING TO THE GOVERNMENT

MyFloridaMarketPlace.com
(866) 352-3776
www.dms.myflorida.com/myfloridamarketplace

SBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center Program (PTAC)
(850) 473-7806
www.fptac.org

Office of Supplier Diversity
www.osd.dms.state.fl.us
(850) 487-0915

Central North Florida Minority Supplier Development Council
(407) 404-6700
www.fmsdc.org

INSURANCE

Florida Department of Financial Services
Insurance Publications
www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/understandingcoverage
Click on links to “insurance library” and “consumer guides” for answers to specific insurance questions and access to:

  • Small-Business Owner’s Insurance: A Guide for Consumers
  • Health Insurance: A Guide for Consumers
  • Natural Disasters: Your Guide to Insurance and Financial Preparation in the Event of a Natural Disaster

SBDC Business Continuity and Risk Management (BCRM)Program
(850) 473-7820
www.floridasbdc.org/specialprograms/bcrm

National Flood Insurance Program
Region IV Contact:
(770) 220-5200
www.fema.gov/business/nfip

Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
(888) 685-1555
www.citizensfla.com

Florida Market Assistance Plan (FMAP)
(800) 524-9023
www.fmap.org

Florida Department of Financial Services, Workers’ Compensation
(850) 413-1609
www.myfloridacfo.com/wc

Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Inc.
(941) 378-7400
www.fwcjua.com

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
(888) 419-3456
www.floridahealthfinder.gov

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAWS

Florida New Hire Reporting Center
(888) 854-4791 or (850) 656-3343
www.fl-newhire.com

Florida Department of Financial Services, Workers’ Compensation
(850) 413-1609
www.myfloridacfo.com/wc

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
(850) 245-7105
www.floridajobs.org/business-growth-and-partnerships

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Child Labor Program
(850) 487-1395
www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/reg/childlabor

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
(866) 487-9243
www.dol.gov/whd

Local Offices:

  • Fort Lauderdale (954) 356-6896
  • Jacksonville (904) 359-9292
  • Miami (305) 598-6607
  • Orlando (407) 648-6471
  • Tallahassee (850) 942-8341
  • Tampa (813) 288-1242
  • West Palm Beach (561) 640-0474

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
www.eeoc.gov

  • EEOC Headquarters
    Washington, D.C. (202) 663-4900
  • Miami District Office
    (800) 669-4000
  • Tampa Field Office
    (800) 669-4000
  • Small Business Liaison, Florida
    (813) 202-7924

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(800) 321-6742
www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness

Area Offices:

  • Fort Lauderdale (954) 424-0242
  • Jacksonville (904) 232-2895
  • Tampa (813) 626-1177

USF SafetyFlorida
Florida’s official OSHA safety and health consultation program dedicated to serving small businesses; consultants statewide.
(866) 273-1105
www.usfsafetyflorida.com

U.S. Department of Justice, Americans with Disabilities Act
(800) 514-0301
www.ada.gov

State Resources

ENTERPRISE FLORIDA
www.eflorida.com
(877) YES-FLORIDA

Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI) is the public-private partnership representing the state’s government and business leaders that serves as Florida’s lead economic development organization. EFI’s mission is to facilitate job growth for Florida’s businesses and citizens leading to a vibrant statewide economy. To that end, EFI works collaboratively with a statewide network of regional and local economic development organizations to improve what is widely recognized as one of the nation’s best business climates and to create a more promising future for small business owners, entrepreneurs and their employees.

EFI, and particularly its Minority and Small Business, Entrepreneurship & Capital (MaSBEC) division, is committed to providing the tools and support to help these businesses have long-term growth and success in the Sunshine State. Some of the services EFI provides for small businesses include:

eflorida» Export counseling

» Export-related programs

» Mentoring and technical assistance

» Facilitating access to investors

» Easing barriers to capital

» Services for high-tech startups

 

WORKFORCE FLORIDA
www.WorkforceFlorida.comwww.EmployFlorida.com
(850) 921-1119 • (866) FLA-2345

Workforce Florida Inc. is the statewide board of business and government leaders charged with setting policy for Florida’s workforce system, which includes the Department of Economic Opportunity, 24 Regional Workforce Boards and nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers.

Workforce Florida works strategically with business, workforce, education and economic development partners to identify and address the state’s most pressing workforce issues and advance Governor Rick Scott’s vision of Florida as a leading global destination for business. Regional Workforce Boards and the One-Stop Career Centers they direct are primarily responsible for providing employment and training services for job seekers and employers.

Learn more about available business and human resource assistance and training grant programs by contacting a regional workforce representative in your area or visit www.employflorida.com

» Industry and Talent-Pool Intelligence

eflorida» Recruitment and hiring

» Training and education

» Tax credit assistance

» Layoff aversion and assistance

 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
www.floridajobs.org
(850) 245-7105

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) was established in 2011 to promote economic prosperity for all development strategies. DEO is the state’s hub for community and economic development, fostering business and job growth throughout Florida. Its mission is: (1) to increase Florida’s global competitiveness as a destination for business, capital, talent, innovation and entrepreneurship; (2) to promote Florida as the world destination choice for business and industry; and (3) to facilitate business development through delivery of world-class service.

Visit www.floridajobs.org to learn more about:

» Business Growth and Partnerships

» Community Planning and Development

» Job Search Resources

» Labor Market Statistics

» Reemployment assistance

» Workforce Board Resources