State Resources


Florida Business Resources

Tourism is the one of the primary contributors to Florida’s economy. In 2004, nearly 77 million tourists contributed about $57 billion to the state’s economy. Tourist hot spots include the state’s abundant beaches, Walt Disney World, MGM Studios, the Florida Keys, the Kennedy space center at Cape Canaveral, and the Everglades National Park. Agriculture is another key factor in Florida’s economy. Florida leads the nation in production of oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines. Commercial fishing and manufacturing also play a substantial role.

The Port of Miami is one of the world’s busiest ports and provides over $16 billion annually to the region’s economy. Four million cruise passengers pass through the port annually, as well as nine million tons of cargo. These statistics have granted the port twin distinctions as both the “Cruise Capital of the World” and the “Cargo Gateway of the Americas.”

Business Data

Per Capita Real GDP$33,718 Rank: 34/50 (2006)
Population15,982,400 Rank: 4/50 (2000)
Per Capita Personal Income$35,798 Rank: 20/50 (2006)
Unemployment Rate4.60% Rank: 29/50 (2008)
Business Tax Climate IndexRank: 5/50 (2008)
Corporate Tax Rate5.5%
Individual Tax Rate 0
Sales Tax Rate 6%

Business Tax Climate Index

Individual Income Tax Index Rank1
Sales Tax Index Rank19
Unemployment Insurance Tax Index Rank2
Property Tax Index Rank18
Business Tax Climate Index5
Corporate Tax Index Rank14

State Information

AbbreviationFL
CapitalTallahassee
Nick NameSunshine State
State Web Sitehttp://www.myflorida.com
MottoIn God we trust

Top 5 Export Partner Countries

Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia

Top 5 Export Merchandise

Transportation Equipment Sales Computers and Electronic Products Sales Computers and Electronic Products Manufacturing Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Machinery Manufacturing

Major Cities

Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa

GDP

Total Gross Domestic Product (USD Millions) $734,519.00 (2007)
Per Capita Real GDP (USD)$33,417.00 Rank: 36 (2007)

Population Stats

Population 18,328,340 Rank: 4 (2008)

Age Distribution

Under 18 Population3,646,340
Under 18 Percent of Total Population23%
65 and older Population2,807,600
65 and older Percent of Total Population18%

Gender Distribution

Male Population48.8%
Female Population51.2%
Non-English Speaker (at home)2,836,450
Net International Immigration528,085
Birth Rate12.5%
Percent of People Under Poverty Level12.8%
Rank24

Expenditure

Per Capita State Spending$70,360
Rank45
Energy Expenditures per Person$3,265
Expenditures of State and Local Government Employee-Retirement Systems$5,497,451

Revenue

Personal Income$34,910
Rank20
State Internal Revenue Collection$136,476,423
Rank4
Cash and Deposits by State Government$6,740,330
Per Capita State Tax Collection$2,079
Rank38

Education

High School Graduation Rate53.9%
Rank49
Percent of Population with a Bachelor's Degree16.4%
Rank30
Percent of Population with an Advanced Degree8.8%
Rank27

Largest Universities

University of Central Florida University of Florida University of South Florida
High School Graduation Rate53.9%

Logistics

Public Road Length (Mile)121,995
Gas Tax Rate (%)15.3%
Highway Planning and Construction (USD Thousands)1,569,233
Number of Public Airports127

Main Airports

FLL: Fort Lauderdale JAX: Jacksonville MCO: Orlando MIA: Miami PIE: St Petersburg-Clearwater RSW: Fort Myers TPA: Tampa

Ports

Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Panama City, Pensacola, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Port Manatee, Tampa

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State Business Links

Tallahassee Democrat
http://www.tallahassee.com/

Secretary of State

Florida Secretary of State
http://www.dos.state.fl.us/
When the 1838 Constitution created the office of the Secretary of State, the Secretary was the keeper of the Great Seal and the custodian of the Laws of Florida. Since that time, the Secretary’s duties have multiplied and expanded.Today, the Secretary of State is Florida’s Chief of Elections, Chief Cultural Officer and the head of the Department of State. The Department consists of Office of the Secretary and the Divisions of Administrative Services, Corporations, Cultural Affairs, Elections, Historical Resources, and Library and Information Services.

Small Business Administration

Florida Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/fl
The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was established as an independent agency of the Federal Government to help people get into business, stay in business and grow. That mission has not changed since 1953.

Top 10 Business Links

Economic Development Offices of Florida
http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=114
This is a list of links to the Economic Development Offices or Counsels for different counties and areas of Florida.
Employ Florida Marketplace
http://www.employflorida.com/
This site is useful for employers looking for suitable employees. The site offers various services, such as recruitment, education, labor market, training grants, tax credit, and more. Under the labor market section, there is additional information on employment in different industry areas by region, profiles of typical salary and benefits for different positions, and other labor market information.
Enterprise Florida
http://eflorida.com/
Enterprise Florida provides information on why Florida is a good place to do business, the industries in Florida, the different regions, international business, exporting, trade links, and more. A variety of services are also offered, such as help with establishing a facility in Florida, starting or expanding a business, R & D, and international assistance.
Florida Department of State Division of Corporations
http://www.sunbiz.org/
This is a resource for corporations based in Florida. Official business documents are available from this site, as well as services such as e-filing and e-certification. Forms for businesses wishing to incorporate are also available.
Florida Disaster Planning
http://www.floridadisaster.org/business/
This website, courtesy of the state of Florida, aids businesses in developing a plan of action in case of damage to or destruction of your business. The plan includes preparing your business for a disaster, important contacts and information for a given area, and important steps for before, during, and after a disaster.
Florida Information Locator
http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx
This website provides a wealth of information on Florida. Most pertinent to entrepreneurs are the sections on Florida business, corporations, real estate, employment & labor, permits & licenses, and insurance information. However, there is much more information and tools available.
Florida Trend
http://www.floridatrend.com/
This website provides a broad range of information, including business news in Florida, plus industry, law, government, etc. information. There is a special section with items such as a business opportunities guide for Florida, a small business start guide, and even the most recent business research.
Florida Women’s Business Center
http://www.flwbc.org/
The FWBC is a member-based organization, which offers a variety of services, including educational workshops, counseling sessions, business incubation, technology aid, and networking events to support women in business in Florida.
Labor Market Statistics
http://www.labormarketinfo.com/
Find detailed labor, economic, and business statistics at this site, which is part of the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.
Small Business Development Center
http://www.bus.ucf.edu/sbdc/
The Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida offers different training seminars for small business entrepreneurs.

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