Market Research

The best decisions start with the best information. That’s why the EDC delivers customized, real-time, quality data to businesses. Find out how your company compares to others, what kind of revenue you can expect, and even what’s a fair wage for your employees.

How Does Your Business Compare in Florida?

The Florida Power & Light Company provides comprehensive market analysis designed to help small businesses

  • Benchmark against the competition
  • Identify and map potential customers and suppliers
  • Map demographics, labor force and consumer expenditure data
  • Find the best places to advertise
Go to FPL business tool

Manufacturing Assistance

The EDC helps small-to-medium-size businesses increase productivity through cost-effective program management through its partnership with FloridaMakes.

FloridaMakes provides manufacturing engineering, technical and management assistance in numerous areas to help improve profitability, productivity, and competitiveness for the Florida manufacturing community.

Get manufacturing assistance

USF Connect

USF Connect is your introduction to a wide range of small business development services available at the University of South Florida (USF). It provides a single point of contact for resources like technology, financing, marketing, management, partners and support services that can accelerate and support the growth of your business.

Get more information

Florida High Tech Corridor Council

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) connects industry partners with applied research and skilled workforce from Corridor universities. These include the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF)

Companies obtain grants through FHTCC for applied research projects in a variety of disciplines including agritechnology; aviation and aerospace; digital media/interactive entertainment; financial services; information technology; life sciences/biotechnology; microelectronics/nanotechnology; modeling, simulation and training; optics and photonics; and sustainable energy.

Learn more about FHTCC

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program encourages small business to engage in federal research and development with the potential to commercialize the resulting product.

Go to the SBIR site

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program facilitates cooperative research and development between small businesses and U.S. research institutions with the potential to commercialize the resulting product.

Go to the STTR site

Internal Revenue Service Resources

This site is dedicated to the self-employed individual and includes a plethora of information from starting a business, operating the business, the necessary forms to file, an advocacy service, and much more.

Get IRS resources

Florida Tax Guide

Major taxes collected in Florida include sales and use tax, intangible tax and corporate income taxes. Information regarding these and additional taxes can be located at There is no personal income tax in Florida.

Get the Florida Tax Guide

Need Something Different?

Our team is more than happy to assist with any challenges you may be facing in your business. Please get in touch to let us know what the challenge is and we will contact you as quickly as possible to offer assistance.

Contact Us Now

How Can We Help?

Contact Erin Silk, VP of Business Development Services, to see how we can help you thrive in Sarasota County.

Contact The EDC

Invest in Sarasota County

The EDC of Sarasota County diversifies our local economy and helps create jobs for Floridians. Investing in the EDC empowers us to grow our economy and attract more business to our region.

Become An Investor

Latest Business Assistance News

Chairman’s Advisors