Reshaping Miami's Small Business Landscape
Small businesses in Miami-Dade County are facing an existential crisis.
Rising commercial rents, complex regulatory frameworks, limited access to capital, and the overwhelming presence of large corporate entities are placing unprecedented strain on local entrepreneurs. In neighborhoods across the County, small businesses—the economic and cultural lifeblood of their communities—are struggling to keep their doors open.
The challenges are clear, but so too are the opportunities to reshape the landscape and build a more resilient, equitable, and thriving small business ecosystem.
This report offers a detailed examination of both the challenges and the potential solutions, based on the input of forty small business owners and advocates from across the County, as well as a policy landscape scan of innovative practices from other cities.
Through structured interviews and focus groups, we have captured the lived experiences of business owners grappling with high rents, difficult leasing agreements, limited access to capital, and the unrelenting pressure of large corporate competition. The findings form the foundation of this report and are paired with actionable recommendations to address these pressing issues.
View a condensed scan of the policy recommendations here.
Click below to view the full, interactive report or download the pdf version here.
