Master checklist

Opening a business location in Broward County: the master checklist

The full sequence from "we are looking at South Florida" to an open door - in order, with the decision points that actually matter.

1. Market and city selection

Broward's 31 municipalities are genuinely different markets. Match the city to your customers and workforce first, your budget second: Fort Lauderdale for downtown professional density, Pembroke Pines and Miramar for suburban workforce access, Hollywood for value, Pompano Beach and the northern corridor for industrial-adjacent uses. See the city guides for Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Pembroke Pines.

2. Entity, tax, and licensing setup

Register or foreign-qualify your entity with Florida Sunbiz, get your EIN and Florida sales-tax registration if applicable, and plan for a local business tax receipt in the city you land in. The Business Development Board and Broward's economic development office publish incentive programs for qualifying relocations - worth a look if you are bringing meaningful headcount.

3. Space diligence (before the LOI)

• Confirm which building department has jurisdiction over the address.
• Get the current certificate of occupancy and permitted use; flag any change of use.
• Walk the space with a contractor and get a budget range - 48 hours through this site.
• Check parking, signage rights, and exclusives in the center or building.

4. Lease negotiation with real numbers

Negotiate TI, free-rent build-out period, and rent commencement against your actual construction budget and schedule. The TI guide covers the mechanics.

5. Design, permit, build

Design 3-8 weeks, permitting 4-10 weeks, construction 8-20 weeks depending on space type. The timeline guide and checklist PDF walk the sequence. Choose your contractor with the vetting guide.

6. Open

Final inspections, certificate of occupancy, business tax receipt, utilities, and any agency licenses (DBPR for food, AHCA for healthcare, and so on). Then open - and update your Google Business Profile before your first customer tries to find you.