Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/16/2015

Gas prices continue to rise in Florida

Gas prices are continuing their upward march. Prices are up 7 cents nationwide. And in Florida, prices have increased 25 cents since Feb. 1, according to the car group AAA. More at the Miami Herald and the Gainesville Sun.

New drone rules could make your life better

Less road construction, better cell phone signals, and even tastier food could all be coming your way soon, thanks to drones. The Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] proposed major new rules for how businesses can and cannot use drones. More at WTSP.

CEO Roundtable: What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?

Out of the Box
Specializing in cleaning up crime scenes

Crime scene cleanup companies aren’t hard to come by these days. While only a handful existed about 20 years ago, they’ve popped up all over the country, and now there’s hardly enough work to go around in some areas.

» Read more from TBO.com

South Florida CEO’s were asked: What is the best business advice you ever received? Fabiola Fleuranvil, CEO of Blueprint Creative, says, "Don’t run away from failure; embrace it, learn from it and use it as leverage." Read more about her and see more business advice at the Miami Herald.

Four in 10 Hispanics favor ending U.S. trade embargo against Cuba

More than four in 10 Hispanic Americans favor lifting the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba and more than seven in 10 support re-establishing diplomatic relations, according to a new poll from the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Small Business Advice
Franchising works, as long you understand the risks

With both name recognition and consistency, franchises have a much higher rate of success than non-franchise operations. Because they offer a lower failure rate but higher returns, I highly recommend franchise arrangements to so many prospective entrepreneurs. More from Jerry Osteryoung.

Around the State
Orlando aviation company is flying into the sunset

Founded in 1945, family-owned Showalter Flying Service recently found itself caught in a consolidation trend. It couldn’t compete with the bigger competitors. So the fixed-base operator decided to sell. “I’ve been at it 41 years, and the climate is changing,” said Bob Showalter of Showalter Flying Service.