Alachua County is committed to creating a business-friendly, diverse and innovative environment where entrepreneurs thrive. Attracting and retaining businesses are key commitments to community prosperity.
Business Resources Guide
This Business Resources Guide is designed to meet your need for information, assistance and support in one of the most dynamic innovation environments in the state of Florida. It is designed as a directory; connecting entrepreneurs and business owners with service providers, support organizations and programs. Explore this guide to find out more about local, state and national programs, service providers and organizations that can help grow your business. Accessing these resources to make connections, develop and finance your business. It can also inform you of incentives and permits processing. Whether taking the first step to start a business, expanding to the next level, or considering relocating to our community, this guide is a great start to connect you with the resources of our community.
Start and Locate a Business
Why Alachua County?
Alachua County has a lot to offer new and existing businesses, from highly educated employees to an easily accessible transportation network. Visit the data center of The Council for Economic Outreach to learn more about our business friendly community.
- Get an EIN Number
- Register a Fictitious Name
- Setup a New Corporation
- Apply for a Business or Professional License
- Obtain a Local Business Tax Receipt
- Do I need to pay State Taxes?
- What Federal Taxes do I pay?
- Small Business Administration
- UF Entrepreneurship Programs
Choosing a business location
The Alachua County Department of Growth Management, in partnership with the local community, has strived to create land use policies that help businesses locate near major transportation
and employment hubs (Activity Centers). Recently the department has spearheaded policies that allow Traditional Neighborhood Developments and Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) by right in many land use categories.
TNDs and TOD's are mixed use communities, often along multi-modal transit lines, allowing employees to live within minutes of their work.
Map Genius
Any business must be located not only for the target audience, but in the appropriate zoning district.
Use the Map Genius to find an appropriate location for your business and then get the zoning district for that location.
See the Use Table in the Unified Land Development Code to determine what zoning district(s) are necessary for your type of business
Home Based Businesses
Why a Home Based Business?
Home Based Business ResourcesStarting a Home-Based Business is great way to supplement or replace your current income. In order to have a home-based business an application must be made to the Alachua County Building Division. General home-based businesses are allowed in any established residence, while Rural Home-Based Businesses are allowed only in the Agriculture zoning district.