Thinking about starting a business in Gulf Breeze, Florida? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Gulf Breeze.
Are You Ready for Entrepreneurship?
Most new ventures do not succeed, in part because the founder did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Gulf Breeze. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.
Gulf Breeze, Florida Demographic Information
Gulf Breeze has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Gulf Breeze demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Gulf Breeze.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
1720 |
| 5-9 Employees |
420 |
| 10-19 Employees |
255 |
| 20-49 Employees |
144 |
| 50-99 Employees |
42 |
| 100-249 Employees |
12 |
| 250-499 Employees |
15 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Gulf Breeze Businesses |
2608 |
As a new Gulf Breeze entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Gulf Breeze for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get
a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that
you are pursuing.
| Business Type |
# of
Businesses |
| Advertising Agencies |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
7 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
2 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
1 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
7 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
3 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
8 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
5 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
6 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
8 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
14 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
6 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
8 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
1 |
| Flooring Contractors |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
19 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
6 |
| General Automotive Repair |
7 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
4 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
8 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
10 |
| Jewelry Stores |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
12 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
24 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
3 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
3 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
6 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
4 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
3 |
| Offices of Dentists |
10 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
14 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
7 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
6 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
5 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
5 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
9 |
| Residential Remodelers |
11 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
7 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
3 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
4 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
7 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
4 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
4 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Used Car Dealers |
6 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
6 |
| Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
2 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
10 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
Have You Considered Franchising?
As you drive around Gulf Breeze, it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising and Veterans. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings and Get Nuts. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Hotel and Motel Franchises and Kitchen Design Franchises.
Note on Gulf Breeze Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Gulf Breeze.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is essential in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Mistakes. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Florida.
Marketing Your New Venture
To grow your Gulf Breeze business, you need a excellent marketing plan.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Radio Ads discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Ramping Up Sales
Mastering the art of selling is essential if you want your new Gulf Breeze business to do well.
Clever sales techniques can transform any business from good to great. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Selling Stuff on the Web is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge
The best entrepreneurs know that they don't know everything.
With your business being located in Gulf Breeze, Florida, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Florida universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any Gulf Breeze networking organizations.
Never Give Up
Most new Gulf Breeze businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Gulf Breeze and elsewhere to achieve real success. We have a wealth of experience in business start-ups, financing, marketing, sales and more...and we've made all of our knowledge available to you.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Gulf Breeze, Florida
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Gulf Breeze.
- Resources for Gulf Breeze, Florida Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Gulf Breeze entrepreneurs.
- Florida Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Florida.
- Florida Small Business Development Center - The Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN) is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy.
- Gulf Breeze, Florida Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Gulf Breeze, Florida newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Gulf Breeze area.
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