Quick Answer
Small businesses relocating to Broward County benefit mostly from Florida’s structure:
- No personal income tax, so owners of LLCs, S corporations and partnerships pay no state tax on business profits.
- A 5.5% corporate income tax that applies only to C corporations, and only on income above $50,000.
- No sales tax on commercial rent since October 1, 2025.
Companies creating higher-wage jobs can also qualify for Broward County’s Direct Cash Job Growth Incentive and Strategic Job Creation Incentive, each worth up to $2,000 per new job.
Florida’s Built-In Tax Advantages
Most of the savings for a small business moving to Broward come from Florida’s tax code itself, not from incentive applications.
| Tax | Florida Treatment |
|---|---|
| Personal income tax | None (constitutional) |
| Corporate income tax | 5.5% on net income above $50,000 |
| S corporations and partnerships | No entity-level corporate income tax |
| Sales tax (Broward) | 7% (6% state + 1% county surtax) |
| Commercial rent tax | Repealed October 1, 2025 |
| Business inventory | Not subject to property tax |
| Tangible personal property | First $25,000 of assessed value exempt per site |
No Personal Income Tax
Florida’s constitution bars a state personal income tax. For pass-through businesses (LLCs, S corporations and partnerships), profits flow to owners’ personal returns and face no state income tax. The same benefit helps employers recruit executives, professionals and technology workers from higher-tax states.
Corporate Income Tax: 5.5% With a $50,000 Exemption
Only C corporations pay Florida’s corporate income/franchise tax. The rate is 5.5% of Florida net income after subtracting an exemption of up to $50,000. A small C corporation earning $50,000 or less in Florida-apportioned income owes no state corporate income tax but still has to file a return.
Florida also has no corporate income tax on limited partnerships or S corporations, and no franchise tax on capital stock.
Sales Tax and the Commercial Rent Repeal
Broward’s combined sales tax is 7%: Florida’s 6% plus a 1% county transportation surtax. The county surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of any single taxable transaction.
For relocating businesses, the bigger change is that Florida repealed its sales tax on commercial rent, including local surtaxes, for rental periods beginning on or after October 1, 2025. Florida had been the only state charging sales tax on commercial leases. Broward office, warehouse and retail tenants no longer pay it.
Property Tax Relief for Business Equipment
Each business tangible personal property return is eligible for an exemption of up to $25,000 of assessed value. You file one return for each site where you do business. Florida also doesn’t tax business inventories or goods in transit for up to 180 days.
Broward County Cash Incentives
Broward’s local incentives reward job creation, not relocation by itself. Most require pre-approval before you commit to a site.
Direct Cash/Job Growth Incentive
This negotiated incentive targets high-skill, high-wage jobs and capital investment:
- Award: Up to $2,000 per new job.
- Cap: Broward County’s share is capped at $200,000 per company.
- Wage requirement: New jobs must pay at least 115% of Broward County’s average wage.
- Funding: It’s typically paid jointly by the county and the city where the business locates, though the county can award it without a city contribution.
Strategic Job Creation Incentive (SJCI)
Broward formalized the SJCI in late 2023 with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. It’s a performance-based program that gives pre-approved companies tax refunds for each new full-time-equivalent job.
- Who qualifies: New, relocating or expanding businesses in targeted industries, or businesses creating manufacturing jobs, that give the county a positive return on investment.
- Award: It scales with salaries, up to $2,000 per new job.
- Cap: The county’s share is capped at $1,000,000 per company.
Recent Examples
- Project “Axis” (June 2026): Fort Lauderdale approved a $52,500 SJCI package, with Broward County paying $36,750 and the city paying $15,750.
- A 150-job project (June 2026): A larger city-county package combined a $90,000 SJCI from the city with a $400,000 Direct Cash Job Growth Incentive split equally between the city and county. That works out to about $1,333 per job on the city’s direct cash portion.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance helped 12 companies establish or expand operations in Broward in fiscal 2025.
State Incentives Still Available
| Program | What It Offers | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Response Training (QRT) | Customized employee training grants | Relocating and expanding employers |
| Incumbent Worker Training | Training for existing employees | Growing firms upskilling staff |
| High Impact Performance Incentive (HIPI) | Negotiated grant for major facilities | Large, high-impact projects |
| Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC) | Annual corporate tax credit for up to 20 years | Projects with 100+ jobs and $25M+ investment |
| R&D sales tax exemptions | No sales tax on qualifying R&D machinery and materials | Tech, life sciences, engineering firms |
| Manufacturing equipment exemption | No sales tax on industrial machinery | Eligible manufacturers |
| R&D corporate tax credit | Capped credit tied to the federal R&D credit | C corporations with qualified research |
Sales Tax Exemptions Small Firms Often Miss
- R&D machinery: Machinery and equipment used more than 50% for research and development is exempt from sales and use tax.
- R&D materials: Materials incorporated into or fabricated for qualifying R&D projects are exempt. Unlike the corporate R&D credit, this exemption is uncapped.
- Manufacturing machinery: Industrial machinery and equipment bought by eligible manufacturers is exempt, along with parts and accessories bought before the equipment goes into service.
- Repairs: Labor, parts and materials used to repair qualifying industrial machinery are also exempt.
Incentives That No Longer Exist
Outdated relocation guides still list programs that have ended:
- Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund: Expired June 30, 2020. Only previously approved projects are still receiving payments.
- Florida Enterprise Zone Program: Expired at the end of 2015. Its sales tax credits and equipment refunds are no longer available.
- Commercial rent sales tax: Not an incentive, but older cost comparisons still include it. It was repealed October 1, 2025.
Programs for Small and Local Businesses
County Business Enterprise (CBE) Certification
Broward’s Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) certifies local small businesses to bid on county contracts. It offers two local programs, County Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise, plus two federal programs. County projects with small business opportunities require that at least 25% of the contract go to CBE firms.
To apply, you’ll need three years of tax returns, all county and municipal business tax receipts, and any required professional licenses.
Opportunity Zones
Investors can defer capital gains by funding businesses or property in designated Opportunity Zones. Florida’s new round of zone designations takes effect January 1, 2027, so confirm a Broward site’s status before structuring a deal around it.
Step-by-Step: Claiming Incentives When You Relocate
- Contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance before choosing a site. Most local incentives require pre-approval, and the Alliance coordinates county, city and state programs. Its business development office is at 954-627-0124.
- Model jobs and wages. The Direct Cash Job Growth Incentive requires wages of at least 115% of the county average. SJCI awards scale with salaries.
- Check the city’s role. Many awards need a matching city contribution, so compare municipalities, not just sites.
- Choose your entity structure. Pass-through entities avoid Florida’s corporate income tax. C corporations get the $50,000 exemption.
- Register with the Department of Revenue for sales tax, reemployment tax and, if you’re a C corporation, corporate income tax.
- Get business tax receipts from Broward County and your city.
- File a tangible personal property return with the Broward County Property Appraiser to claim the $25,000 exemption.
- Pursue CBE certification if you plan to sell to Broward County government.
- Document your sales tax exemptions with proper exemption certificates for R&D or manufacturing equipment purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What state and local tax incentives are available for small businesses relocating to Broward County?
The main benefits are structural:
- no personal income tax
- a 5.5% corporate income tax only on C-corporation income above $50,000
- no sales tax on commercial rent
- a $25,000 tangible property exemption
Job-creating companies can also apply for Broward’s Direct Cash Job Growth Incentive and Strategic Job Creation Incentive, plus state training grants.
Does Florida have a state income tax for businesses?
Only C corporations pay Florida corporate income tax, at 5.5% on net income above $50,000. LLCs taxed as partnerships, S corporations and sole proprietorships pay no state income tax, and Florida has no personal income tax.
How much can a Broward County job incentive pay?
Both main county programs pay up to $2,000 per new job. The Direct Cash Job Growth Incentive caps the county’s share at $200,000 per company, and the Strategic Job Creation Incentive caps it at $1,000,000.
Is the QTI tax refund still available in Florida?
No. The QTI program expired June 30, 2020. Only projects approved before that date still receive refund payments.
What is the sales tax rate in Broward County?
The combined rate is 7%: 6% state plus a 1% county surtax. The county surtax applies only to the first $5,000 of a single taxable transaction.
Do businesses pay sales tax on rent in Broward County?
No, not for rental periods beginning on or after October 1, 2025, when Florida repealed the state and local sales tax on commercial rent.
Who helps businesses find incentives in Broward County?
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Broward County’s official economic development partnership, works with the county’s Office of Economic and Small Business Development and individual cities to package incentives.
Sources and Further Reading
- Broward County, Office of Economic and Small Business Development, Business Attraction incentives
- Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Incentives
- Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, 2025 Annual Economic Development Activity Report
- Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Media Fact Sheet
- Business Facilities, “Greater Fort Lauderdale Incentive Program Fuels Job Growth”
- City of Fort Lauderdale, City Commission agenda memo, Project “Axis” incentive package, June 16, 2026
- City of Fort Lauderdale, City Commission agenda memo, joint SJCI and Direct Cash Job Growth Incentive package, June 2, 2026
- Area Development, Florida Basic Business Taxes, 2026
- QuickBooks, “Florida small business taxes: Types, rates, deadlines, and how to file in 2026”
- Discern, “What is Florida’s franchise tax?,” May 2026
- Avalara, “Florida repeals sales tax on commercial rent”
- Shutts & Bowen, “Florida Repeals Sales Tax on Commercial Leases”
- Kintsugi, Broward County, FL Sales Tax Rate (2026)
- Jupid, Florida Sales Tax Calculator (2026)
- Florida Statutes, Section 196.183, Exemption for tangible personal property
- Swanson Reed, Florida Research and Development Sales Tax Exemption, Section 212.052
- Florida Sales Tax Attorney blog, “Florida Sales Tax Exemptions for Manufacturers,” July 2026
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