Business Resources.
Without the Runaround.
Starting, running, or growing a business in Pasco County? Explore our Business Directory, learn about Membership, browse Professional Services, or discover businesses in Wesley Chapel. Start with what you need and we’ll point you toward useful local programs, trusted organizations, tools, training, and business information.
Some resources link directly to the official organization providing the program or service.
The Right Desk.
The First Time.
Forming a company, registering for Florida taxes, checking licensing, hiring employees, and finding local assistance are handled by different organizations. Use this guide to go directly to the agency or program responsible for what you need.
Form or Maintain a Florida Business
Start an LLC, corporation, nonprofit or partnership, register a fictitious name, and access Florida corporate filing information.
Register for Florida Business Taxes
Determine whether your business needs to register for sales and use tax or other Florida taxes and complete the state business tax registration process.
Check Professional & Business Licensing
Find licensing information for professions and businesses regulated by Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation, apply for or manage licenses, and verify license records.
Hire, Train & Develop Your Workforce
Access employer services for recruiting, job postings, candidate assistance, workforce training programs and other resources for employers in Pasco and Hernando counties.
Find Local Business Assistance
Explore Pasco County programs and provider organizations offering incentives, technical assistance, consulting resources and support for companies operating and expanding locally.
Less Searching.
More Doing.
These are practical tools for common business-owner jobs: building a plan, getting an EIN, researching a market, strengthening cybersecurity, and pursuing government work.
01 PLAN Build or Improve Your Business Plan
Use the U.S. Small Business Administration's planning resources to work through market research, startup costs, financial projections, traditional business plans and lean startup plans.
02 FEDERAL TAX ID Get an EIN Directly From the IRS
Apply directly through the Internal Revenue Service for an Employer Identification Number. The IRS does not charge a fee for an EIN.
03 MARKET RESEARCH Research Customers, Markets & Competition
Census Business Builder combines demographic and economic data with interactive maps and reports so you can research markets, locations, industries and potential customers.
04 CYBERSECURITY Protect Your Business & Customer Data
CISA provides free cybersecurity guidance and training for small and midsize businesses covering phishing, passwords, multifactor authentication, backups, software updates and incident-response preparation.
05 GOVERNMENT WORK Prepare to Pursue Federal Contracts
SAM.gov is the official federal system businesses use to obtain a Unique Entity ID and register when they want to bid on federal contracts or apply directly for federal awards.
Quick Answers.
Clear Next Steps.
Business requirements can involve federal, Florida, county, municipal, and industry-specific rules. These quick answers help you identify the next place to look without pretending every business follows the same path.
Browse official resource routesWhere do I register a new Florida business?
Florida business entities and fictitious names are generally handled through the Florida Division of Corporations, commonly known as Sunbiz. Your exact filing depends on the type of business you are creating.
Find the Sunbiz resourceDoes every business need the same licenses or permits?
No. Requirements can depend on your industry, profession, business activity, physical location, and local jurisdiction. A contractor, restaurant, salon, home-based company, retailer, and professional office may have very different requirements.
Check licensing resourcesWhere can I get free or low-cost business guidance?
Florida SBDC, SCORE, economic-development organizations, workforce programs, and other public or nonprofit providers may offer counseling, workshops, planning assistance, research, or specialized business support.
Start with the Resource FinderWhere can I find business workshops and local events?
The Pasco Business Exchange Events calendar brings together upcoming business events, workshops, networking opportunities, ribbon cuttings, and relevant community events from approved local sources.
View upcoming eventsAre business grants guaranteed or available to everyone?
No. Legitimate grants and incentive programs usually have specific eligibility rules, application windows, locations, industries, project requirements, or funding limits. Treat guaranteed-grant claims with caution.
Explore business assistanceWhat if I don't see the resource I need?
Tell us what you're trying to find. If a useful Pasco County business resource, program, organization, workshop, or official tool should be included here, we want to know about it.
Contact the ExchangeHelp Us Make This Resource Center Better.
Found a useful business program we should include? Looking for something specific? Send it our way. The goal is a resource center that becomes more useful as Pasco County businesses use it.
County?
Or City?
Your mailing address does not always tell you which local government regulates your business location. Before applying for a local business tax receipt, zoning approval, signage approval, or certain permits, identify whether the property is inside a municipality or in unincorporated Pasco County.
Most businesses operating in Pasco County need a county Business Tax Receipt. Businesses located inside city limits may also need the applicable municipal Business Tax Receipt.
Pasco County County services and permitting may apply
Official Local Business Links
Use the official county or municipal resource that matches the physical location of your business.
Unincorporated Pasco County
Start with the Pasco County Tax Collector for Business Tax Receipt information, applications, renewals, and county requirements.
Dade City
Access City Clerk information for Dade City Business Tax Receipts, applications, renewals, and local business requirements.
Dade City Business Tax →New Port Richey
Find zoning clearance, Business Tax Receipt applications, development requirements, and related city permitting information.
New Port Richey Business Info →Port Richey
Visit the official City of Port Richey website for current Business Tax Certificate, building, permitting, and development information.
City of Port Richey →San Antonio
Access San Antonio's official Business Tax Receipt information, application, annual requirements, and city contact information.
San Antonio Business Tax →St. Leo
Go directly to the Town of St. Leo's Business Tax Certificate application and local administration resources.
St. Leo Business Tax →Zephyrhills
Find City Business Tax Receipt applications, zoning requirements, commercial checks, and Building Department information.
Zephyrhills Business Tax →
Need Capital?
Know Your Route.
“Business funding” can mean very different things. A small equipment purchase, working capital need, major expansion, property acquisition, or investment round may belong on completely different financing paths.
SMARTstart Microloan
Pasco EDC's SMARTstart Microloan Fund is designed for qualifying small-business owners who have a viable business plan but may not be able to obtain traditional financing.
SBA Loan Programs
SBA-backed financing includes programs such as 7(a), 504 and microloans. Loans are generally provided by participating lenders rather than directly by SBA.
Florida SSBCI
Florida's State Small Business Credit Initiative supports several capital programs for eligible Florida businesses through a network of participating lenders and investment partners.
Small Business Investment Companies
Businesses seeking larger growth capital can explore SBA-licensed Small Business Investment Companies, which invest private capital through debt, equity, or combinations of both.
Know Your Funding Story.
How much? Know the amount you actually need.
For what? Be specific about how the money will be used.
Why now? Explain what the funding allows the business to accomplish.
How does it pay back? Be ready to support the request with financial information.
Before the Storm.
After the Storm.
Hurricanes are only part of the risk. Flooding, extended power outages, equipment failure, cyber incidents, building damage, employee displacement, and supply interruptions can all stop a business from operating.
Prepare the Business
Identify the people, systems, vendors, records, equipment, technology, locations, and communications your company needs to keep functioning.
- Create a written Business Continuity Plan.
- Document employee and emergency contacts.
- Back up critical business data.
- Review property, flood, and interruption coverage.
- Identify alternate vendors and operating locations.
Protect People & Operations
When conditions deteriorate, employee safety and reliable information come first. Activate the plan instead of trying to invent one while the emergency is happening.
- Follow official evacuation and emergency instructions.
- Communicate closures or operating changes.
- Protect critical equipment and records when safe.
- Move essential operations to backup systems if available.
- Preserve documentation of losses and disruption.
Document & Recover
Once conditions are safe, document what happened, determine what is preventing reopening, contact insurers, and use official recovery systems when assistance becomes available.
- Photograph physical damage before cleanup when possible.
- Document lost inventory and equipment.
- Track business interruption and operating losses.
- Submit Florida's Business Damage Assessment Survey.
- Check SBA disaster assistance when a declaration applies.
Protect What Keeps
the Doors Open.
A continuity plan becomes much easier when you identify the five things your business cannot operate without.
Employees, owners, managers, emergency contacts and decision-makers.
Customer records, financial data, documents, credentials and backups.
Computers, phones, internet, software, POS systems and communication tools.
Buildings, equipment, inventory, utilities and alternate operating space.
Vendors, contractors, deliveries, critical inventory and alternate suppliers.
Government Buys.
Your Business Can Sell.
County departments, school districts, Florida agencies, and the federal government purchase goods and services from private businesses. The challenge is knowing which procurement system to watch.
Registration gets you into the system. This section helps you find where actual opportunities are posted.
Pasco County Bonfire
Pasco County posts competitive solicitations through its Bonfire procurement portal. Vendors can create an account, review open opportunities, download documents, receive notices, ask questions, and submit responses electronically.
Select the NIGP commodity codes that match what your business actually sells so relevant opportunity notifications are more likely to reach you.
School District Purchasing
Pasco County Schools maintains a separate purchasing operation and vendor-information area for businesses interested in district purchasing and solicitation opportunities.
Being registered with Pasco County government does not automatically mean you're registered with the school district. Treat them as separate purchasing organizations.
MyFloridaMarketPlace
MyFloridaMarketPlace is Florida's electronic procurement system for businesses interested in selling goods and services to state agencies.
Vendors can access registration information, procurement resources, training, and guidance for responding to electronic state solicitations.
SAM.gov Contract Opportunities
SAM.gov is the federal government's centralized system for procurement notices, including solicitations, pre-solicitations, award notices, and other federal contracting opportunities.
Anyone can search contract opportunities. An active SAM.gov entity registration is generally required when your company is ready to bid on federal contract opportunities.
Check the Fit First.
Government proposals can take real time. Make sure the opportunity actually fits your company before building the response.
Can you provide everything the solicitation requires?
Are you registered in the procurement system being used?
Can you meet insurance, licensing, documentation, and contract terms?
Do you have enough time to prepare a complete response?
Don't assume government contracting is only for giant companies. Public agencies buy from private vendors across many industries. The first step is simply learning where your type of work is purchased and watching the right procurement systems.