DOWNTOWN TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 A report from WalletHub ranks Florida as the best state to start a small business. The Director of the Small Business Development Center at Florida A&M University Tangela Lofton says that impact has been felt in the Big Bend.<\/p>\n
The WalletHub report says the state has the \u201cthird-most startups per capita and the highest percentage of adults who engage in entrepreneurship.\u201dThe Florida Small Business Development Center Network<\/a> says more than 3.5 million small businesses are currently operating in Florida while the SBDC at Florida A&M University has consulted 571 existing and aspiring business owners in the Big Bend alone in 2024. Watch the video below to hear from small business owners about this rank and why they settled in the Sunshine State.<\/p>\n Florida ranked best state to start small business, Tallahassee business owners weigh in<\/p>\n BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:<\/p>\n One of the best places to start a small business is here in Florida. I\u2019m Brieanna Smith in the Downtown Tallahassee neighborhood. I learned why the Sunshine State earned the title and what it means for neighbors in the Big Bend.\u00a0<\/p>\n A new report from personal finance company,\u00a0WalletHub<\/a>, ranks Florida as the best state to start a small business, citing a growing working population, increasing number of startups, and the state\u2019s corporate tax rate.\u00a0<\/p>\n For Brittney Jones,\u00a0settling in Tallahassee was a no-brainer when she wanted to start her event planning firm Touched by a Rose<\/a>, now in operation for 13 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDuring legislative season, it is so busy, especially for a lot of small business owners, and then during the school year there are so many different things to do with our universities and then just our community in general,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Jones isn\u2019t alone.<\/p>\n The Florida Small Business Development Center Network<\/a> says more than 3.5 million small businesses are currently operating in Florida.<\/p>\n Director of the center at Florida A&M University<\/a>, Tangela Lofton, tells me they helped develop 12 new businesses across the Big Bend in 2024, and that year, they generated about $40 million in sales from small businesses alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are full of energy, entrepreneurial energy, we say, and the ecosystem that Florida has created or curated has definitely contributed to the success and success and impact of small businesses,\u201d Lofton said.<\/p>\n Though ownership doesn\u2019t come without challenges \u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMost small businesses they look wonderful from the outside, but they’re just one incident away from being able to not be able to stay open,\u201d Lofton said.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes you could be getting calls every single day,\u201d Jones said. \u201cThen, there could be a two-week period where you don’t get a call.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Those struggles can be seen with favorites like Leon\u2019s at Lake Ella.<\/p>\n The restaurant’s owner<\/a> said he needed to close due to repair costs and profitability.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tally Fish House and Oyster Bar<\/a> also closed its doors Tuesday due to long-distance military move, according to a Facebook post.<\/p>\n But whether the challenges are financial or personal, Jones is encouraging neighbors to take it day by day.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t overwhelm yourself, do things one at a time, and then if you pace yourself out, here’s your business,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The SBDC wants to see more success stories like this since its goals are to increase the number of small businesses they assist through business development programs like the F.A.N.G. Incubator<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Registration is currently closed for its January cohort.\u00a0<\/p>\n In Downtown Tallahassee, Brieanna Smith, ABC 27.<\/p>\n Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website. <\/a><\/p>\n Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram <\/a>and X.<\/a><\/p>\n