STARTING A BUSINESS IN FLORIDA

Region: Southeastern Region

Capital City: Tallahassee

State Governor: Ron DeSantis

Principal Cities: Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee, Cape Coral

Why Invest in Florida?

Competing in today’s global markets is challenging.  Your business location should not be. We offer a business-friendly environment with competitive costs, streamlined regulation, global access and a talented workforce to help your foreign corporation doing business in Florida successfully. Many leading companies are already benefiting from Florida’s business advantages and exceptional quality of life. We invite you to take a closer look and start a business in Florida.

1

Statewide Commitment

Government leaders are committed to making Florida the best state for forming a corporation

Governor DeSantis is focused on cutting taxes, streamlining the regulatory environment and improving education to meet business demands.

4

Workforce Talent

Florida’s workforce is ranked #1 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Florida ranks #1 in high-tech employment, with 237,000 working in tech industry across all sectors, and more than 27,000 IT companies are based in the state.

Florida ranks among the Top 10 States for Education. (Education Week)

7

Innovative R&D

Florida is home to a number of innovative companies and leading universities and research institutes such as Draper Labs, Florida Solar Energy Center, Max Planck, Moffitt, IHMC, Sanford-Burnham, Scripps, SRI and Torrey Pines.

About $7 billion is invested annually in R&D in Florida.

9

Quality of Life

Florida has no personal income tax.

Already one of the world’s top travel destinations, many visitors recognize the “play here, stay here” philosophy and choose Florida as their permanent home.

Florida has earned top rankings in Harris Poll’s “most desirable places to live” since the survey’s inception.

Business Climate

Florida is the #2 Best State for Business. (Chief Executive) 

We offer competitive costs, expedited permitting, incentives for job creation, investment and training and a pro-business tax structure – ideal for starting an LLC in Florida (or any other kind of business).

Global Hub

Florida is the strategic and economic center of the Americas due to its geographic location, economic and political stability, and multi-cultural and multi-lingual workforce.

Among U.S. states, Florida ranks as the 3rd largest exporter of high-tech goods and services. (TechAmerica Cyberstates)

Entrepreneurial Environment

Florida’s economy is thriving. The state ranks among the nation’s Top 10 on the Small Business Survival Index, Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity and Business Tax Index, all of which provide a key gauge for entrepreneurial success.

Florida hosts a variety of tech incubators, accelerators and university-based research hubs.

10

Strategic Partnerships

More than any other state,
economic developers, educational institutions, workforce boards, businesses and state/local governments join forces to help existing and prospective Florida businesses start up, grow and expand throughout the state.

Industry Leadership

Florida is home to the nation’s #2 largest pharmaceuticals and medicine manufacturing industry. 

Florida has the 2nd largest aviation and aerospace industry. 

Among U.S. states, Florida ranks as the 3rd largest state for high-tech establishments. (TechAmerica Cyberstates). 

Florida has a significant and growing presence in industry clusters, such as Cleantech, Life Sciences, Infotech, Aviation/Aerospace, Logistics & Distribution, Defense/Homeland Security, Financial/Professional Services and Manufacturing.

Multi-modal Infrastructure

Florida has one of the world’s most extensive multi-modal transportation systems, featuring 20 commercial airports, 15 deepwater seaports and an extensive highway and rail network.  The state is also home to three spaceports, including two of only eight commercially licensed spaceports in the U.S.

Florida is “wired for success”.  The state has multiple hubs that allow for high-speed data transmission from around the U.S. to Europe, Latin America and Africa making it ideal to start a business in Florida.

Florida State Demographics

22.9 % million
Population (2023)
3.3 %
Latest Unemployment Rate (2024)
$ 1.28 trillion
GSP (2023)
4.7 %
Unionization Rate (2023)
$ 68.9 billion
Exports (2023)
$ 68248
Per Capita Personal Income (2023)
11.08 % million
Labor Force (2024)

Key Industries enhancing economic development in Florida

Aviation & Aerospace

Cleantech

Corporate Headquarters

Defense & Homeland Security

Financial & Professional Services

Information Technology

Life Sciences

Logistics & Distribution

Manufacturing

Contact Information for foreign corporations starting a business in Florida

Alexander Bothmann
Director Germany, Austria, Switzerland, CEE Markets
Rhoda Campbell
Director
UK & Ireland

London, United Kingdom

Christelle Maffre
Director for France & Italy
Tanja Buist
Senior FDI Consultant BeNeLux

News about Florida