Plan Your Business

Turn your idea into a business. Part of the planning involves researching the market: What's the competition? What trends are happening in the industry? Who's your target market? The other piece is actually writing the business plan, a document that provides details on your proposed business for the first few years.

Tips

Starting points:

1. Write down your business idea -- be as specific as possible.
2. Do a quick internet search for your business idea. What else is out there? How is your business idea different?
3. Brainstorm or compile a useful list of questions to prompt you to add details to your business plan.

Suggested strategies:

• Have a place to keep all of your notes and a running to-do list.
• Visit the Small Business Administration's website to review helpful information on starting a business.

Finance Your Business

See also our list of resources for financial relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the introduction page of this guide.

There are a number of options for getting money to start a small business, such as self-investment (using or borrowing against your own assets), borrowing from family and friends, peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding, venture capital, and angel investors. There are two types of financing: equity financing, where you receive funds in exchange for partial ownership in the company; and debt financing, where you receive funds that must be repaid. Grants and awards, in which you receive money that does not need to be repaid, may also be available.

Tips

Starting points:

1. Use a start-up cost worksheet (like one from Start Your Own Business reference book on p. 172, or one from the Small Business Administration website [pdf])
2. Identify what type of financing you want to pursue.
3. In addition to information about your own business, research the lending institution to make sure it matches your needs.

Suggested strategies:

• Start local. Find local banks, city or county economic development offices and regional business competitions.
• Use associations geared to a particular demographic of business owners (women, veterans), or business type to see if they offer grants or loans.

OTHER RESOURCES:

• Small Business Association 7(A) Loan Program
• South Florida Regional Planning Council - Revolving Loan Program

Find a Location

Selecting a location for your business involves a variety of factors. The building itself may include certain amenities or perks, and there's the decision to rent or buy. The location should be convenient to your target market and strategically placed in relation to your competition. If you are manufacturing a product for distribution, the location should be close to your distributors or close to transportation. Planning on an online-only business? Selecting a domain name and creating a user-friendly website is important for attracting customers, in addition to making sure your website is findable on major search engines.

Tips

Starting points:

1. Virtual location: Do a search to see if a domain name is available.
2. Physical location: Identify a region based on your market research that would meet a need in the area.
3. Physical location: Search Here for commercial property or Schedule One-On-One with an Economic Development staff to speak and/or meet with you to discuss your plans in greater detail.

Suggested strategies:

• Use searchable directories like ReferenceUSA's map feature to find a geographic gap in the competition or complementary businesses you want to be located near.
• Use SimplyAnalytics (a subscription database) or Census BusinessBuilder (a free website) to find geographic regions based on certain criteria. For example, if you are starting a daycare center, locate areas with families or near businesses with a high number of employees that do not have their own daycare centers.

Opening a New Business

The City of Miramar is the right place for business with an ideal location to open a new business or relocate your existing one. 

The following information can help you understand the steps you should take before open:

Checklist

• Obtain a Certificate of Use.
• Apply for Appropriate Permits & Obtain required inspections.
• Understand & Pay Applicable Permit Fees.
• Apply for Business Tax Receipts.

SIMPLE STEPS TO JUMPSTART YOUR BUSINESS IN MIRAMAR

STEP 1

CONSULT WITH THE CITY’S PLANNING & REDEVELOPMENT DIVISION

Before signing a lease, please contact a City of Miramar planner to make sure that the location is zoned for the business you wish to operate.

STEP 2

COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FOR ZONING CERTIFICATE OF USE

1. This application is required for the following:
   • New businesses
   • An existing business at a new location
   • Adding/changing the type of use of a legally established business
   • Transfer of business ownership

2. The “Zoning Certificate of Use” application may be picked up at the Planning & Redevelopment Division, Building Division or downloaded from the City of  Miramar’s website at: https://www.miramarfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4843/Zoning-Certificate-of-Use-PDF?bidId=
3. Submit the completed application to the Building Division, located at 2200 Civic Center Place, 1st Floor.

While you are here: You may want to visit the Planning & Redevelopment Division to ask questions about zoning, signage, and business incentives.

Special note: If you are planning for any interior work or changing the use of space (for example, from retail to the restaurant), it is best to check with the Engineering Services Department to see if water and wastewater impact fees apply in your case. This should be done before submitting a building permit for any interior work.

STEP 3

COMPLETE THE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT APPLICATION

A.    Any person wishing to engage in or manage any business, profession or occupation in the City of Miramar, including a home-based business, is required by ordinance to acquire a City BusinessTax Receipt.

B.    Please contact the Business Tax Receipt office at (954) 602-3061 to determine which application is applicable to your business. For further information and to download an application visit: http://www.miramarfl. gov/201/Business-Tax-Occupational-Licenses

C.    Submit the completed application to the Business Tax Receipt Office, located at 2300 Civic Center Place (Cashier’s Office). While you are here, you can open a utilities account at the water billing cashier window.

STEP 4

COMPLETE THE WATER BILLING NEW ACCOUNT APPLICATION AND UTILITY GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT DEPOSIT

A.    An application is required to establish new Water Billing services (water, sewer, and sanitation).

B.    Please contact our Customer Service Division at 954-602-HELP (4357) or email wbcustomerservice@miramarfl.gov 

for further information.

To download the application, visit the Water Billing Division website at https://www.miramarfl.gov/205/ Water-Billing-Division

C.    Submit the completed application to the Water Billing Division located at 2300 Civic Center Place, Miramar, FL. 33025 or 6700 Miramar Pkwy, Miramar, FL 33023, or email wbcustomerservice@miramarfl.gov

This section provides general information on the departments that may pertain to your business needs.

Please note that the information contained within may be amended or revised throughout the year. Please be sure to check for the latest information by contacting the appropriate City Department.

Most of the City’s Departments/Divisions are open from Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Offices are closed on Fridays. However, please contact each Department/ Division to confirm their office hours.

Market Your Business

Marketing is much more than just advertising—it's all of the actions you take to promote and sell your products or services. Marketing books often talk about the 4 p's of the marketing mix: price, promotion, place, and product. This includes areas like branding, social media advertising, and cold call selling. As part of deciding promotional strategies, consider your goals and determine what benchmarks will let you know it's a success. While social media can be a free way to advertise, paying for a direct mailing coupon campaign might bring actual customers in your neighborhood to your store.

Figuring out what appeals to your customers involves doing both primary and secondary market research. Primary research is going out and surveying your potential customers on their needs and wants, what would motivate them to use your product, and what product features are most attractive. Secondary research is using already collected research, such as information from census data, market databases, and published survey results.

Tips

Starting points:

1. Research costs for your product or service to calculate the price to sell to customers.
2. Decide what promotion strategies will best reach your target audience.
3. Find examples of similar products or services. How do they promote their product? What works and what doesn't work?

Suggested strategies:

• Search for case studies based on the type of business (for example, coffee shop AND promotions) or type of promotion (small business AND coupons).
• Trade publications will often publish surveys on topics relevant to the industry.

Grow The Business

Marketing is much more than just advertising—it's all of the actions you take to promote and sell your products or services. Marketing books often talk about the 4 p's of the marketing mix: price, promotion, place, and product. This includes areas like branding, social media advertising, and cold call selling. As part of deciding promotional strategies, consider your goals and determine what benchmarks will let you know it's a success. While social media can be a free way to advertise, paying for a direct mailing coupon campaign might bring actual customers in your neighborhood to your store.

Figuring out what appeals to your customers involves doing both primary and secondary market research. Primary research is going out and surveying your potential customers on their needs and wants, what would motivate them to use your product, and what product features are most attractive. Secondary research is using already collected research, such as information from census data, market databases, and published survey results. Visit our "Grow Your Business Page"

Tips

Starting points:

Research costs for your product or service to calculate the price to sell to customers.

Decide what promotion strategies will best reach your target audience.

Find examples of similar products or services. How do they promote their product? What works and what doesn't work?

Suggested strategies:

Search for case studies based on the type of business (for example, coffee shop AND promotions) or type of promotion (small business AND coupons).

Trade publications will often publish surveys on topics relevant to the industry.

Exit Your Business

Exiting a business can refer to a variety of situations, most often, selling a business to a third party. However, exits can also happen by transferring ownership to a relative or member of your management team or by distributing ownership in shares to your employees. Mergers involve agreements to combine your company with another company. Finally, liquidation is selling pieces of your company that may be worth more than the whole. Business exits aren't failures; some entrepreneurs start businesses with the purpose of reselling them for a profit. Other "exits" involve bankruptcy or closing a business at a loss.

Tips

Starting points:

Read about different types of exit plans, and consider your own goals for your business (For example, if you plan to run your business until you die, what happens to it? If you plan to retire but still have your business continue, who will take over? If you plan to make a profit from your business idea by selling it to another company, what is your target price?)