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Small Business Resources

 

ESSENTIAL CONTACTS

Business Assistance, Consulting, Workshops

Florida SBDC Network
The Florida SBDC serves as the statewide single point of contact for the development and growth of micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Florida. Please contact the region nearest you to find your local office.
850.898.3479
www.floridasbdc.org/locations

  • Florida A&M University
    Tallahassee
    850.599.3407
  • Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale
    954.762.5235
  • Florida Gulf Coast University
    Fort Myers
    239.745.3700
  • Florida International University
    Miami
    305.779.9230
  • Indian River State College
    Fort Pierce
    772.336.6285
  • University of Central Florida
    Orlando
    407.420.4850
  • University of North Florida
    Jacksonville
    904.620.2476
  • University of South Florida
    Tampa
    813.396.7200
  • University of West Florida
    Pensacola
    850.474.2528

Black Business Investment Corporations (BBIC)

Minority Businesses

  • Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council
    Miami (headquarters): 305.762.6151
    Orlando (regional office): 407.251.7021
    fsmsdc.org

National Entrepreneur Center
407.420.4848
nationalec.org

Prospera
prosperausa.org/central-florida

SCORE Florida
Contact the SCORE Florida chapter nearest you for free mentoring and workshops.
score.org

  • North Central
    Gainesville-Alachua: 352.251.3622
    Jacksonville: 904.443.1911
    Lakeland: 863.284.5607
    Nature Coast-Lecanto: 352.249.1236
    Orlando: 407.420.4844
    Space Coast/Melbourne: 321.254.2288
    The Villages: 352.399.0050
    Volusia-Flagler: 386.255.6889
  • Southeast
    Fort Lauderdale: 954.356.7263
    Treasure Coast/Fort Pierce: 772.489.0548
    Miami-Dade: 786.425.9119
    West Palm Beach: 561.981.5180
  • Southwest
    Clearwater: 727.437.0990
    Fort Myers: 239.533.3102
    Manatee-Sarasota: 941.955.1029
    Naples: 239.430.0081
    New Port Richey: 727.842.4638
    Port Charlotte: 941.743.6179
    Tampa: 813.448.2311

U.S. Small Business Administration
800.827.5722 | sba.gov

Women’s Business Centers

  • Jacksonville Women’s Business Center
    Jacksonville
    904.366.6633
    jaxwbc.com
  • The Florida Women’s Business Center
    Delray Beach
    561.265.3790
    flwbc.org
  • The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women
    Tampa
    813.251.8437
    thecentre.org
  • weVENTURE at Florida Institute of Technology
    Melbourne
    321.674.7007
    weventure.fit.edu

 

Business Incubators

FLORIDA BUSINESS INCUBATION ASSOCIATION
Florida-based facilities that provide first-stage business incubator services.
fbiaonline.org

East Central Florida

North Central Florida

Northeast Florida

Northwest Florida

Southeast Florida

Southwest Florida

Tampa Bay

 

Export/International Trade

Central Florida International Trade Office
407.420.4860
cfito.org

Florida's International Offices
selectflorida.org/for-international-companies/international-offices/

  • Jacksonville/Northeast
    305.240.9717
  • Miami-Dade/Southwest
    305.808.3670
  • Orlando/Central Florida
    305.240.9717
  • Pensacola/Northwest/Tallahassee
    407.956.5643
  • Tampa Bay
    407.318.6781
  • West Palm Beach/Southeast
    561.832.8339

Florida EXIM Bank
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Miami
786.607.0722
exim.gov/contact/regional-export-finance-centers

Florida Export Finance Corporation
786.845.0400
fefc.biz

Florida SBDC International Trade Services
850.898.3479
floridasbdc.org/services/international-trade

SBA Export Assistance Centers
U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) support American small businesses that want to compete globally by exporting. Enter your zip code to find a USEAC in your area.
sba.gov/local-assistance/export-trade-assistance/us-export-assistance-centers

  • Fort Lauderdale
    954.356.6640
  • Jacksonville
    904.232.1270
  • Miami
    305.526.7425
  • Orlando
    407.648.6170
  • Tallahassee
    850.942.9635
  • Clearwater
    727.893.3738

International Trade Administration
U.S. Commercial Service Centers offer trade expertise to assist with exporting and guidance on how to grow your export business successfully.
trade.gov

  • Clearwater
    727.893.3738
  • Fort Lauderdale
    954.224.5485
  • Jacksonville
    904.232.1270
  • Miami
    786.568.7130
  • Orlando
    407.275.5527

 

Finance

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

  • Florida Business Development Corp.
    813.348.0660
    fbdc.net
  • Florida First Capital Finance Corp.
    800.504.5626
    850.681.3601
    ffcfc.com
  • Sunshine State Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO)
    800.850.2504
    sedco504.com

Florida Commerce Office of Small Business Innovation
Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund, Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Program, Microfinance Guarantee Program, Black Business Loan Program, Small Business Credit Initiative
floridajobs.org/smallbusiness

Florida Finance Network
Nonprofit economic development lending organizations that connect Florida small businesses with state and federal financing programs.
floridafinance.org/

  • Florida Development Finance Corp.
    407.712.6356
    fdfcbonds.com
  • Florida Export Finance Corp.
    786.845.0400
    fefc.biz
  • Neighborhood Lending Partners
    813.879.4525
    nlp-inc.com

Florida’s Microfinance Guarantee Program
407.956.5624
floridajobs.org/business-growth-and-partnerships/Small-and-Minority-Business-Resources/Small-Business-Innovation/microfinance-guarantee-program

SBA Loans
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 a district office.

Venture Capital Firms
Florida Venture Forum
The Florida Venture Forum is a statewide member-based organization that helps entrepreneurs obtain funding through strategic partnering, education and effective networking.
flventure.org

 

Government Contracting

Florida Department of Management Services, Division of State Purchasing
850.488.8440
dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing

Florida APEX Accelerator
flapex.org

MyFloridaMarketPlace.com
866.352.3776
dms.myflorida.com/myfloridamarketplace

Office of Supplier Diversity, Florida Department of Management Services
dms.myflorida.com/OSD

 

Insurance

Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
888.685.1555
citizensfla.com

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
888.419.3456
floridahealthfinder.gov

Florida Department of Financial Services

Florida Market Assistance Plan
800.524.9023
fmap.org

Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association
941.378.7400
fwcjua.com

National Flood Insurance Program
Region IV Liaison
770.220.5407
fema.gov/about/ organization/region-4

 

Intellectual Property

U.S. Copyright Office
202.707.3000 or 877.476.0778
copyright.gov

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
800.786.9199 or 571.272.1000
uspto.gov

 

Labor & Employment

CareerSource Florida
850.692.6887
careersourceflorida.com

Employ Florida Marketplace
800.438.4128
employflorida.com

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
850.245.7105
floridajobs.org/smallbusiness

Florida Department of Financial Services, Workers’ Compensation
850.413.1609
myfloridacfo.com/division/wc

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Child Labor Program
850.488.3131
myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/child-labor

Florida New Hire Reporting Center
888.854.4791 or 850.656.3343
servicesforemployers.floridarevenue.com

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
866.487.9243
dol.gov/whd

  • 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. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
800.321.6742
osha.gov

  • Fort Lauderdale
    954.424.0242
  • Jacksonville
    904.232.2895
  • Orlando
    407.897.4740
  • Tampa
    813.626.1177

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
202.663.4900
eeoc.gov

  • District Office
    800.669.4000

U.S. Department of Justice, Americans with Disabilities Act
800.514.0301
ada.gov

USF SafetyFlorida
Florida’s official OSHA safety and health consultation program dedicated to serving small businesses; consultants statewide.
866.273.1105
usfsafetyflorida.com

Legal Structure

Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations
sunbiz.org

  • Corporations
    850.245.6052
  • Limited Liability Companies/Partnerships
    850.245.6052

U.S. Internal Revenue Service Publications
800.829.3676
irs.gov/publications

  • Partnerships
    Publication 541
  • Limited Liability Companies/Partnerships
    Publication 3402
  • Corporations
    Publication 542

 

Permits, Licenses

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
800.435.7352
freshfromflorida.com

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
850.487.1395
myfloridalicense.com

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
850.245.2118
floridadep.gov

Florida Department of Health
850.245.2444
floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation

Florida New Hire Reporting Center
888.854.4791 or 850.656.3343
servicesforemployers.floridarevenue.com

Florida Office of Financial Regulation
850.487.9687
flofr.com

 

 

Taxes

Florida Department of Revenue
800.488.6800
floridarevenue.com/taxes

U.S. Internal Revenue Service
800.892.4933
irs.gov/businesses

Tax Forms and Publications
800.829.3676
irs.gov/forms-pubs

  • Tax Calendar Options for
    Businesses and Self-Employed
    Publication 1518A
  • 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