Planning around closures is a lot easier when the dates are all in one place. The South Florida Business Association has several scheduled closures in 2026, including a run of Friday closures in October and November, a Thanksgiving break, a short December closure, and the annual holiday break that carries into January 2027. The big thing to know up front is simple: during these closure periods, the office is closed for regular business. Some scheduled projects may still conti

Seasonal freight does not wait for a company to get ready. When retailers, ports, food suppliers, construction firms, and hospitality businesses need goods moved, they look for reliable trucks, clean paperwork, and people who can perform right away. That is why this season matters for South Florida logistics. Freight tied to retail restocking, import activity, food distribution, tourism, and e-commerce can represent billions of dollars in movement across the national supply c

Getting into public and private contract work can feel like standing outside a locked room. The opportunities are real, but the path isn’t always obvious. Who do you need to know? Which documents matter? How do you get invited into the right conversations? And once you’re there, how do you make sure you’re ready? That’s the gap the South Florida Business Association is aiming to close with its new Black Women Contracting Program, created for minority-owned women in business w

A good contract can change the direction of a small business. A poorly planned project can do the same, just in the wrong direction. That’s where the South Florida Business Association’s logistics department plays a practical role. It helps member businesses get ready for new opportunities, respond to contract requirements, plan the work, and deliver without getting buried in delays, paperwork, or missed handoffs. For local owners, contractors, suppliers, service firms, and p

Fall is when South Florida’s business calendar gets crowded again. Trade shows return to Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale, international buyers come through the region, and industry groups use the season to turn casual summer contacts into real conversations. The events below cover food and beverage, global trade, marine, real estate, publishing, and the arts economy. Some are traditional business conferences. Others are industry gatherings where deals start in the aisles, at

An open bid can look simple from the outside: read the request, write the proposal, submit before the deadline. In practice, many proposals lose before anyone compares pricing. They miss a required form. They answer the wrong version of the scope. They ignore a page limit. They submit through the wrong portal five minutes late. Open bidding exists to make procurement fair and competitive. Public agencies, universities, utilities, nonprofits, and large private buyers use it to

The contracting world is shifting. Some companies have cut back DEI programs, renamed supplier diversity teams, or moved away from public goals tied to race and identity. Government agencies, universities, hospitals, utilities, and large buyers are also watching legal and political changes more closely. That does not mean minority owned businesses should step back from contracting. It means the strategy has to get sharper. Contracts still go to firms that can solve a buyer’s

A change in enforcement can reshape a labor market faster than a change in freight volume. That is why the trucking industry is watching the ICE takeover conversation closely. In this context, “ICE takeover” refers to the broader rise of Immigration and Customs Enforcement involvement in labor verification, audits, and compliance pressure across industries that rely on mobile, credentialed workers. Trucking sits near the center of that discussion because it depends on a large

The holidays look different when you’re a business owner. While everyone else is slowing down, you’re juggling payroll, year-end...

You can win the job, run a clean site, and still go broke if your cash flow is upside down. Public contracts don’t pay fast, and...

You can have the best crews, the sharpest pricing, and the cleanest proposal—but if your bonding and insurance aren’t in place, you’ll...

Here’s how to respond smarter, faster, and stronger: Start With a Compliance Matrix Before writing a word, build a checklist that matches...

In heavy civil work, most companies think money is made once the excavators hit the ground. The truth? Profit or loss is decided long...

Procurement officers, primes, and corporate buyers don’t have time to flip through a 10-page brochure. They want one page that tells...

Most small and mid-sized firms lose municipal work before the bid even drops. Why? Because they’re invisible in vendor systems, late to...

Florida’s diverse ecosystem of contractors—from general builders to specialized trades—significantly contributes to the state's economy....

As the leaves turn and the air cools, Thanksgiving approaches, bringing with it a time of warmth, reflection, and gratitude. This...

The gig economy in Florida has seen remarkable growth, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. With rising costs and shifting job...

In recent years, the narrative surrounding ex-felons has shifted dramatically. In Florida, individuals who once faced the challenges of...

In today's fast-moving business world, small businesses are always looking for ways to work better and boost productivity. Intelligent...