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Small Business Support
U.S. Small Business Administration
U.S. Small Business Administration
Florida has two regional Small Business Administration offices within the state, which can provide specific information on small business loans, grants, bonds, venture capital and other financial assistance. They also provide free counseling, advice, and information on starting, operating or expanding a small business.
If you have an idea for a new business and need help making it a reality, please visit the following websites:
SBA.gov: A step-by-step guide on how to start a new business.
StartupAmericaPartnership.org: Delivers strategic and substantive resources to help entrepreneurs start and scale companies.
Florida Small Business Development Centers: Provides free training and counseling on business management to entrepreneurs and small business managers.
Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR): Helps small businesses engage in federal research, allowing them to develop their technology for commercial markets.
SCORE: Educates entrepreneurs and helps small businesses start, grow and succeed nationwide.
Minority Business Development Agency: Encourages the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America.
SBA Office of Veterans Business Development: Supports veterans, reserve component members and their dependents or survivors in the business community.
Women's Business Centers: Provides business training, counseling and other resources to help women start and grow successful businesses.
The following links can help you expand your business into new markets abroad and increase your sales to foreign buyers.
Export.gov: Provides official export information and services to small and medium-sized U.S. companies.
U.S. Commercial Service: Offers trade counseling, market data, business matchmaking and commercial diplomacy in support of U.S. businesses.
Enterprise Florida: Provides export counseling and organizes trade missions and exhibitions abroad.
Trade Compliance Center: Supports American businesses facing a tariff or experiencing difficulties with a foreign customs office that will not clear their goods for importation.
Export-Import Bank of the United States: Assists in financing U.S. exports to international markets, offering capital guarantees, export credit insurance, loan guarantees and direct loans.
International Trade Administration: Promotes trade and investment, and ensures fair trade by enforcing our trade laws and agreements.
Office of Commercial and Business Affairs (CBA): Coordinates U.S. State Department advocacy on behalf of American businesses and provides assistance in opening markets, protecting intellectual property, and resolving trade and investment disputes. CBA also provides information on U.S. export controls for sensitive equipment and technologies, and business-related visas for employees, partners and clients of U.S. firms.
Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers: Provides financial assistance to eligible companies needing help responding to import competition.
Federal, state and local governments often require contracting opportunities to complete a task. By statute, federal agencies must award 23 percent of prime contracts to small businesses.
Federal Contracting: Find contracting opportunities with the federal government.
State Contracting: Find contracting opportunities with the state of Florida.
MBDA’s Phoenix-Opportunity Matching System: A free tool available to all registered minority firms and those seeking to do business with minority firms that gathers together opportunities from many databases in one easy-to-use interface.
SBA Office of Advocacy: Independent federal service to advance the views and concerns of the small business community.
Florida Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation: Obtain a license to provide a state-regulated service.
Small Business Environmental Compliance Assistance: Provides technical and regulatory assistance to small businesses regarding environmental protection issues.
IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center: The Internal Revenue Service is responsible for administering various tax provisions that affect American businesses.
Florida Department of Revenue: Oversees the compliance of state tax laws and advocates for the uniformity and fairness of local property taxes.
SBA.gov: Helps with every aspect of tax responsibilities, including strategies for tax record-keeping.