The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Tampa, Florida. From market and industrial research to creative marketing plans and successful sales strategies, the SBDC provides a range of services to help businesses get ahead. Small businesses are the foundation of our communities and it's always important to show them our support. Even though the Shop Small initiative has ended this year, that doesn't mean we should stop backing small businesses.
When we purchase in small quantities, we not only help the business owner, but we also contribute to the local economy and keep our communities strong. In Florida, the standard processing time for forming an LLC is six to eight business days, which is relatively fast compared to other states. Small businesses are an essential part of Florida's economic landscape, representing 99.8% of all Florida businesses and employing 3.6 million people, more than 41% of the state's workforce, according to the U. S.
Small Business Administration (SBA). To celebrate small businesses, Small Business Day is celebrated each year to “organize small events” that emphasize the power of money spent in local communities. The SBA also offers a range of resources to help small businesses succeed. The business plan and marketing tools provide a simplified and realistic approach to creating essential business planning documents. The Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund is a program created to provide funding to help businesses in their resilience efforts.
The black business loan program offers alternative credit solutions to small, black-owned businesses based in Florida by providing short-term loans and technical assistance. The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program offers short-term, interest-free working capital loans with the goal of closing the gap between when a major disaster occurs and when a business has obtained longer-term recovery resources. By most estimates, two-thirds of every dollar spent on a local business stays in the community. This means that when you shop at a small business in Tampa, you're not only helping the business owner but also contributing to keeping your community strong. In spring and summer, when the weather is more pleasant in the northern states, fewer tourists and snow lovers spend their time and money in Florida.
This can be a difficult time for small businesses in Tampa. The City of Tampa is determined to provide small businesses with their fair share of the holiday giving season. Essential items such as food and medicine, as well as business expenses such as new machinery and equipment are exempt from sales tax, and Florida has a sales tax break in August when families shop for back to school supplies. The past two years have been difficult for many small businesses as they adapted their business models to survive the pandemic. But with the right resources and support, these businesses can continue to thrive.
