Business Resources
See below for information about starting and operating a business in Charlotte County.
Charlotte County Government
The official website of the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners.
Punta Gorda Airport
Owned and operated by the Charlotte County Airport Authority, PGD is an important transportation and economic asset for the region, providing hundreds of onsite jobs, space for business and aviation tenants, and more than $1.275 billion in total economic output
City of Punta Gorda
The City of Punta Gorda is a Council-Manager form of government, which combines the political leadership of elected officials with the managerial experience of an administrator. City Council acts as the legislative branch and operates in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter. They are responsible for setting the policy in which the City Manager carries out through the City departments.
Powering Florida
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest energy company in the United States as measured by retail electricity produced and sold, serving more than 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million+ people across the state of Florida.
Business Start up resources
America's SBDC Florida Hosted by FGCU
We help small businesses launch, grow and thrive.
Here’s a snapshot of the Florida SBDC at FGCU’s service offering, upcoming trainings and featured stories.
Business Startup Guide
This guide provided by the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce contains valuable resources for those looking to start a business in Charlotte County.
SBA Small Business Resource Guide
The SBA's Small Business Resource Guide was created to provide you with valuable tools and connect you with resources that will empower you as you build upon your American dream of business ownership.
Small Business Administration
SBA support's America's small businesses. The SBA connects entrepreneurs with lenders and funding to help them plan, start and grow their business.
SBA Veteran's Small Business Guide
Veteran-owned businesses
SBA offers support for veterans as they enter the world of business ownership. Look for funding programs, training, and federal contracting opportunities.
FLVEC
The Florida Virtual Entrepreneurs Center promotes area entrepreneurs by publishing profile articles about them online complete with photos and links back to their website and social media accounts. To start, entrepreneurs can simply create a free profile on FLVEC.com.
GrowFL
GrowFL is Florida's only organization exclusively dedicated to support and accelerate the growth of second-stage companies, by providing their leaders with focused, efficient, and timely access to resources they deem important.
Small Business Guide to Hiring Minors
Between April and July of 2022, over 2.5 million youth workers entered the U.S. workforce. This guide will help you decide whether or not hiring minors is the right move for your business and teach you the important considerations to make before taking on teen employees.
SCORE Port Charlotte
At SCORE Port Charlotte, we offer free business advice, no-cost business training through webinars and workshops, and numerous templates and tools to assist you in your journey to open your new business or grow your existing one.
Area chambers of commerce
Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Inc., has been serving the businesses and residents of Charlotte County and our surrounding areas since 1925.
Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce
The Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce is committed to improving the local business climate, because we believe that, when your business succeeds, our community also prospers.
Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce
The Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce is the community’s go-to resource for visitors, residents, and businesses!
Business partners
- American Planning Association
- CareerSource Southwest Florida
- Charlotte County Economic Development Partnership (EDP)
- Charlotte County Visitors Bureau
- Charlotte Desoto Building Industry Association
- The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER)
- Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA)
- Englewood Area Board of Realtors
- Florida Commerce
- Florida Economic Development Council
- Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Inc.
- Florida PACE
- Florida Redevelopment Association
- Florida Small Business
- International Economic Development Council
- Punta Gorda - Port Charlotte - North Port Association of Realtors, Inc.
- Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council
- Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association
- Suncoast Technology Forum
- Team Parkside
- Team Punta Gorda
- Urban Land Institute
- U.S. Department of Commerce
