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Business Resources
The City’s Economic Development Department is tasked with identifying, cultivating and attracting targeted and emerging industries. The department partners with state and federal organizations to help businesses get the most updated information and resources to help them succeed.
The process of starting a small business has been broken down into ten basic steps in the Starting your Business in Deerfield Beach Handbook below. It is advisable to seek the guidance of a mentor, professional tax consultant, accountant and/or attorney to help verify that all legal requirements are met before opening a business.
Other resources such as Business Incentives and Employer Services can also be found on this page.
Business Startup & Permitting
- City of Deerfield Beach Building Department
- City of Deerfield Beach Business Tax Receipts
- Florida Atlantic University Small Business Development Center (FAU SBDC) - provides business consultation services to small and medium sized businesses looking to grow. The SBDC's mission is to help businesses develop their business model, strategize their goals and help them execute and exceed those goals.
- Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation -access applications for professional licensure, view exam information, renew your professional license online, search for licensed professionals in the state.
- Florida Department of Revenue - register to collect and report Florida sales tax.
- Internal Revenue Service - establish an employer identification number (EIN/Federal Tax Id), get information on federal tax responsibilities.
- Open My Florida Business: The portal is designed to help individuals seeking to start and operate a business in the Sunshine State. By entering the type of business you wish to start, the portal will create a checklist to help you understand governmental requirements for your business category.
- Sunbiz: State of Florida Division of Corporations - incorporate business online, search documents, file annual report, etc. @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Business Incentives
Grants
Verizon Wireless - Small Business Digital Ready:
Business owners that sign up for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready online community will be eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant. Grant application is open until December 20, 2023.
Feed the Soul's Restaurant Business Development Grant:
Black and Latino-owned restaurants and related businesses can apply for a financial stipend of $10,000 and free financial education, consulting and marketing assistance through the grant program. Applications open until January 31, 2024.
Hello Alice "American Dream" grants:
The small business funding and information platform has set up a new grant program at www.elevatetheamericandream.com, where visitors can nominate a small business (or their small business), making it eligible for $1,000 grants.
National Science Foundation - America's Seed Fund Program:
The America's Seed Fund program is open to early stage companies that need to improve their technology and find their market potential. The grant program gives out roughly $200 million per year to eligible businesses.
City Incentives
HireDFB:
Designed to encourage the hiring and retention of Deerfield Beach residents to new jobs in the City and to help offset onboarding costs. Eligible applicants may receive an award based in increments of $500 per eligible employee for a maximum of 50 awards per business.
Request the complete guidelines and eligibility requirements by emailing ed@dfb.city
Business Growth Training
The City has partnered with SCORE Broward to offer Free Business Workshops. The goal is to make the workshop series accessible to anyone who may be interested in learning, collaborating with community members, and/or growing their entrepreneurial skills.
Visit the Business Outreach section to learn about upcoming sessions.
Workforce Training Incentives
Quick Response Training (QRT):
An employer-driven training program designed to assist new value-added businesses and provide existing Florida businesses with the necessary training for expansion. The company may use in-house training, outside vendor training programs, or the local educational entity to provide training. Reimbursable training expenses include instructors’ and trainers’ wages, curriculum development, and textbooks/manuals. This program is customized, flexible, and responsive to individual company needs.
Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWT):
Incumbent Worker Training is a program that provides training to currently employed workers to keep Florida’s workforce competitive and to retain existing businesses. The program is available to all Florida businesses that have been in operation for at least one year prior to application and require skills upgrade training for existing employees.
Florida Power & Light Rate Incentives
Economic Development Rider (EDR):
Designed to help attract new investment to the Sunshine State and create more jobs for Floridians. Eligible companies receive discounts on new electric demand for up to five years.
Commercial Industrial Service Rider (CISR):
This rate was designed to attract new, large power users to the state as part of a competitive site location project.
Sales and Use Tax Exemptions
The State of Florida has numerous sales tax exemptions for businesses in different industries for different uses:
- Aviation
- Electricity and Steam
- Machinery and Equipment
- Semiconductor, Defense and Space Technology
- Space Industry
For more information contact the Florida Department of Revenue at 850-488-6387 or visit the Florida Department of Revenue's website.
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE)
PACE is a long-term, fixed-rate source of financing that allows property owners to do energy conservation and hurricane hardening improvements to their property. Property owners can use PACE financing to cover 100% of the costs involved in installing eligible projects, including all related equipment, materials, and labor. Eligible improvements include energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy generation, and resiliency upgrades. A few examples include air conditioners, roofs, windows/doors, water heaters, solar panels, pool heaters, hurricane shutters, and generators.
C-PACE financing is provided through private capital, which is repaid through a voluntary non-ad Valorem assessment on the property owner’s annual tax bill. Learn more about the C-PACE program.
Employer Services
- CareerSource Broward - provides numerous services to employers and job-seekers.
- Florida Division of Workers' Compensation - information on rights and responsibilities for employees' workers' compensation. @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Contact Us
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Economic Development
150 NE 2nd Ave.
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441954-480-4317
Email UsDirector of Economic Development
Kris Mory, CEcD
Business Development Manager
Kaitlyn Collier, FRA-RP