September 26, 2022 | Last Updated on: August 29, 2024
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There are pros and cons to starting a business in any location. However, for entrepreneurs interested in setting up a shop in Florida, there are some enticing benefits that may outweigh any cons. According to a recent publication by Boostsuite:
One of the most attractive qualities for business owners in the sunshine state is the financial assistance designed to attract new businesses to Florida’s most populated cities, like Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami. In fact, Miami, Florida is ranked second in the nation on Biz2Credit’s list of Top 25 Small Business Cities in America. Those financial assistance programs, exclusive to Florida entrepreneurs, include grants, loans, and other financial services, all of which we’ll dive deeper into throughout this article.
Another advantage to owning a small business in Florida is the structure of the state’s tax laws. Florida was ranked number four on Business News Daily’s list of the ten best states for small business taxes. The ranking was determined based on the corporate, individual, sales, property, and unemployment tax rates. Small business owners that choose a sole proprietorship or limited liability company (LLC) benefit from overall reduced income tax expenses because individuals are not required to file state income tax returns in Florida.
While traditional financing options through lenders and federal programs are available to small business owners in every state, there are some unique Florida small business loan options. The following financing options are organized by state-sponsored loan programs and federal business resources.
Florida-based business owners may be eligible to have their funding guaranteed by the Microfinance Guarantee Program through Enterprise Florida, Inc. The eligibility requirements of the loan guarantees require that the business has fewer than 25 employees and less than an average annual revenue of $1.5 million. Florida Enterprise, Inc. does not issue any loan funds but provides a guarantee of up to 50% for qualified business owners working with a participating lender. The agency will back small business loans up to $250,000 with repayment term lengths of three years or less. The guarantee of repayment by Florida Enterprise, Inc. allows entrepreneurs to access more funding options at lower interest rates even if they have not established a positive business credit history or lack the means to provide a large down payment, collateral, or personal guarantee.
The Small Business Loan Support Program (SSBCI) is a program that was initiated and authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2010 to provide federal funding assistance to small business owners in participating U.S. states. On March 11, 2021, the program was reauthorized and $10 billion was allocated to the program. Florida is one of the states that has been approved for federal funds to participate in the SSBCI Loan Participation Programs. The Florida SSBCI program offers loans to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Florida department lenders that have been approved to participate in the program. SSBCI loans can be issued for up to $5 million and allow repayment terms of up to five years. To be eligible for the SSBCI program in Florida, the business must employ fewer than 750 people.
The Black Business Loan Program is an excellent funding option for some minority-owned businesses in Florida. The program provides loans, guarantees, and investments through one of the two predetermined Loan Administrators:
The assistance programs were designed to secure financing for black business owners that may not have access to traditional loan options due to location, creditworthiness, lack of time in business, or unapproved business plans. The program can help minority business owners secure up to $75,000, but require that the business is at least 51% black owned.
In addition to the Florida loan programs listed above, the state gives business owners access to multiple financial assistance programs and resources. Some programs were created to help small business owners access federal funding, apply for grants, obtain venture capital, and share tax credit opportunities.
Entrepreneurs that are interested in doing business in the Miami-Dade County area may be surprised to learn about the additional resources available to them. Since the Miami-Dade area has been designated one of Florida’s economic development priorities, there are local and state incentive programs created to attract new businesses to the area. The primary incentives offered through Miami-Dade County are listed below, but it is important to note that some of these programs apply to other areas in Florida as well.
The Community Contribution Tax Credit Program has excellent small business resources for nonprofit or for-profit entrepreneurs in Florida. This program offers Florida business owners financial incentives in the form of a tax credit or sales tax refund. To be eligible for these funds, small business owners are encouraged to donate to community development or low-income housing projects.
The Florida Venture Capital Program is not a loan or tax credit program, but it is a program that works to connect Florida-based businesses with capital. Connecting with venture capital funds typically requires the small business owner to provide some equity in the company but can be a great resource for new business owners looking to find the right investor. The Florida Venture Capital program works with funds up to $3 million.
In addition to the small business loan options and other financial incentives, the abundance of grant providers is another reason many entrepreneurs choose Florida as home. The following list, from IncParadise, shares some of the more popular grants for Florida business owners.
We’ve established that there is no shortage of financial assistance programs for Florida business owners, but sometimes those programs aren’t available or simply can’t provide enough capital for your business plan. If you are looking for funding options in place of, or in addition to, the programs listed above, a small business loan may be the solution to meet your business needs. The following lending options are available through traditional lenders, like banks and credit unions, or alternative and online lenders, like Biz2Credit, which can provide fast funding options to small business owners in Florida.
SBA Loans are a great financing option for Florida-based businesses. The funds are partially backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, so SBA loan programs can provide small business owners with lower interest rates and smaller down payments than traditional types of loans. There are multiple SBA loan programs, including the SBA 7(a), Microloans, SBA 504, and disaster loan programs. The maximum loan amount for SBA loans depends on the type of loan and the borrowers’ creditworthiness. Typically funds from SBA loans can be used for large purchases, like equipment financing and commercial real estate, to supplement monthly cash flow, or any other business expenses, like payroll.
A business line of credit is a type of revolving credit, like a business credit card. The borrower is approved for a maximum credit limit, and they can then draw on that credit line whenever they need access to fast funding. Lines of credit are great options for Florida entrepreneurs that need access to fast funds or are interested in building better business credit. The monthly payments include principal and interest, which are calculated on only the amount of funds withdrawn. As the balance is paid down, the borrower has access to the funds again without having to go through the application process again.
Term loans are a type of small business financing where the borrower receives a lump sum of money upfront and makes regular payments of principal and interest over the term of the loan. Interest rates on term loans may be variable, which change according to the market rate, or fixed, which remain the same over the life of the loan. The repayment terms depend on the lender, the amount of loan, and the borrower’s creditworthiness and may reflect a short-term or long-term loan. Term loans provide Florida entrepreneurs with a great opportunity to meet their working capital needs while building business credit.
Florida is a great state to start or continue your business operations because of its rapid business growth rate and business-friendly tax climate. There are many options available to meet the financing needs of small business owners in the state, including Florida small business loans, grant programs, financial assistance, tax credits, and even programs that work with Florida entrepreneurs to find venture capital.
If you are interested in finding more state and federal resources for a small business in Florida, check out the SBA’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) website. If you are interested in learning more about other financing options, including small business loans, check out Biz2Credit. The financing specialists at Biz2Credit were able to help Lora Brown, a Florida businesswoman, with franchise financing for her Fantastic Sam’s hair salon.
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