Doing business in Florida sounds like a good idea, right? Not only is South Florida a warm and sunny place to live, but it’s also actually an excellent location to start a business. Whether you are starting a company, opening a new location, or moving your headquarters, the Sunshine State has some great advantages to enjoy. 

With business increasingly being conducted remotely, some companies also no longer feel the need to be physically located in traditional business hubs like New York City, Silicon Valley or Los Angeles and are seeking other locations that offer a high quality of life for their employees as well as more favorable tax structures and lower cost of living. Florida represents the right mix of conditions that are attractive to business leaders looking to make a move.

Financial Freedom and Taxes

Florida is one of only seven states in the country that doesn’t have a personal income tax making it a very attractive location for corporate legal entities, such as LLCs. The state’s sales tax for rented or purchased goods sits at 6% and corporations must file a corporate income tax return at a low top rate of 5.5%. This means you’ll be able to keep more of your money exactly where it belongs — in your bank account. If you’re looking for a prosperous place to start a business, South Florida may well go to the top of your list. 

Recognizing that businesses need certainty, predictability, and efficiency, Florida’s regulatory agencies and local governments have in recent years made efforts to provide quicker, less costly and more predictable permitting processes for significant economic development projects. Ready assistance and access to enterprise bonds, micro-loans, and a growing venture capital sector further contribute to Florida’s reputation as a great place to do business.

Tourism 

Of course, South Florida is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The relatively mild year-round weather and stream of events make for a favorable climate for steady sales and welcoming new opportunities without some of the more profound seasonal shifts found in other parts of the country. In fact, South Florida’s tourism today supports many businesses throughout the year.

Entrepreneurial Scene and Location 

South Florida has a dynamic and active entrepreneurial environment with annual small business startup activity growth hovering around 3.7% and SBA loan approvals increased by more than 56% between 2012 and 2015. That’s great news as having a thriving entrepreneurial community helps create a business atmosphere with the ongoing demand for various types of resources and support. 

Growth Economy

Florida is also a strategic and economic center of the Americas. A prime geographic location offering relative economic and political stability has put Florida at the center of trade and finance throughout much of the Western Hemisphere.

Florida is also home to a growing body of investment capital from venture capitalists and angel investors, making it an increasingly attractive place to start or growing a business. 

“The idea that you have to be in huge metropolitan areas like New York or Silicon Valley for access to capital is overblown,” said Andy Latimer, founder, and CEO of Bluewater Media. “The stable business environment in Florida makes business here ripe for investment.  Also, the walls of access to large markets have been broken down by technology.”

Today, Florida is home to several economic hubs considered to be incubators of innovation and startups. 

Diverse Communities 

Florida’s workforce is also one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse in the nation. More than 3.2 million Florida residents were born outside the U.S., and 4.4 million are speakers of languages other than English. Best represented are speakers of Spanish (3.2 million), Indo-European languages (875,000), and Asia and Pacific Islander languages (218,000).

With more than 150 banks across the state, South Florida has a great sense of community and supporting local businesses. Banesco USA offers a wide variety of services and loans to support many different businesses looking to grow in South Florida. With four business centers in South Florida – Coral Gables, Hialeah, Brickell, and Aventura, we are here to help you grow and succeed. 

If you are looking to starting a business in South Florida, you can reach one of our experienced personal bankers by calling +1 (888) 228-1597, or by visiting one of our convenient branch locations.