Opening a business location in Palm Beach 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

Palm Beach County's 39 municipalities are distinct markets: West Palm Beach for Class A and transit, Boca Raton for corporate polish, Delray Beach for main-street retail, Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter for medical and corporate parks, Boynton Beach for value. See the city guides for Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Delray Beach. The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County offers relocation assistance and expedited-permitting help for qualifying companies - worth contacting if you are bringing headcount.

2. Entity, tax, and licensing setup

Register or foreign-qualify with Florida Sunbiz, get your EIN and Florida sales-tax registration if applicable, and plan for a local business tax receipt in your municipality. Industry licenses - DBPR for food and hospitality, AHCA for healthcare - run parallel to the build-out, not after it.

3. Space diligence (before the LOI)

• Confirm jurisdiction: municipal building department or county ePZB.
• 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 ratios, signage rights, and center or building exclusives.

4. Lease negotiation with real numbers

Negotiate TI, free-rent build-out, and rent commencement against your actual 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, agency licenses. Then open - and update your Google Business Profile before your first customer tries to find you.