How to Raise Money to Buy a Business in Florida (2026 Guide)
by Raises.com
To raise money to buy a business in Florida in 2026, most buyers stack three sources: an SBA 7(a) loan or bank loan for roughly 60 to 80 percent of the price, a seller note for 10 to 20 percent, and equity for the rest, either their own cash or outside investors pooled through a special purpose vehicle (SPV). Florida has no personal income tax, two SBA district offices, and a retiring-owner supply of home services, healthcare and hospitality businesses that keeps buyers busy from Jacksonville to Naples. Raises.com builds the investor structure, the documents and the model, and introduces debt and equity sources, for a flat fee with no success fee and no carry.
Why Florida is a strong market for buying a business
- No state personal income tax on owner distributions; corporations pay a 5.5 percent state income tax.
- Population growth across Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Southwest Florida keeps adding customers for services businesses.
- Home services, healthcare, hospitality, marine and logistics businesses are abundant and often owner-operated.
- Wealth concentration in South Florida and Naples supplies accredited investors for the equity piece.
Lenders and programs in Florida
The senior loan on most acquisitions under $5 million is an SBA 7(a) loan, which any SBA-approved bank or non-bank lender in the state can make. It needs a 10 percent equity injection, and under the current SBA operating procedures a seller note on full standby for the life of the loan can cover up to half of that injection. The SBA South Florida District Office in Miami and the North Florida District Office in Jacksonville cover the state, and Florida community banks are active 7(a) lenders. Private credit is concentrated in Miami and Palm Beach.
Taxes, licensing and legal points that change the deal
No personal income tax. Florida levies a 5.5 percent corporate income tax on C-corporations and a documentary stamp tax on certain notes and real estate transfers, which applies to seller notes and belongs in closing costs.
Construction and mechanical trades are licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (for example the CAC license for air conditioning contractors), and a qualifying agent must be attached to the business after close. Healthcare businesses carry Agency for Health Care Administration licensing that must be transferred or reissued.
Where the deals are
Miami and Fort Lauderdale for trade, logistics, healthcare and hospitality; Tampa for healthcare and professional services; Orlando for hospitality and home services; Jacksonville for logistics and manufacturing; Fort Myers and Naples for home services and marine businesses.
Funding sources, ranked by how often they close a deal
| Source | Typical share of price | Cost (typical, varies) | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) loan | 60 to 80% | Bank rate plus a spread; 10-year terms are common for business purchases | 60 to 120 days | Deals with steady cash flow and a buyer with relevant experience |
| Seller note | 10 to 30% | Often 5 to 8% interest, 3 to 7 years | Negotiated at the letter of intent | Every owner-operated deal; ask every time |
| Investor equity through an SPV | 10 to 40% | Preferred return plus a share of profits | 30 to 90 days once documents exist | Buyers with a deal and no down payment |
| Conventional bank loan | 50 to 65% | Bank rate, shorter amortization | 30 to 60 days | Strong personal balance sheets |
| Private credit or mezzanine | 10 to 25% | Low to mid teens all in | 45 to 90 days | Deals above roughly $1M of EBITDA |
| Seller rollover equity | 5 to 30% | The seller keeps a minority stake | At the purchase agreement | Keeping the seller invested through transition |
| Earn-out | 5 to 20% | Paid only on performance | At close | Customer or key-person concentration |
How much money you actually need
On a $2 million purchase financed with an SBA 7(a) loan, the 10 percent injection is $200,000. Up to $100,000 of it can be a seller note on full standby, so $100,000 must come from you or your investors, plus closing costs and a working-capital cushion. Lenders then test that the business's cash flow covers the new debt with room to spare; a debt service coverage ratio of at least 1.25x after your salary is the common floor. An investor SPV exists to fund exactly that last piece: you form the vehicle, sell units under Regulation D, and keep control as the manager.
Raises.com has worked with buyers in Miami, Jacksonville and Southwest Florida, and the Texas HVAC close described below used the same playbook.
What this looked like on a real close
In July 2026 a Raises.com client, Texas construction operator Cody Sechelski, closed the inaugural acquisition of his services roll-up: a profitable Texas HVAC contractor in the roughly $2.4 million range, funded by an institutional senior credit facility, junior debt, a seller note, seller rollover equity and a structured equity gap, with minimal sponsor cash equity. He booked his first call in October 2025, so the engagement ran about seven months. The close was covered by Yahoo Finance, AP News, Morningstar and The Globe and Mail. Raises.com has helped clients raise more than $300 million across business acquisitions, real estate and funds, with documented case studies in the clients' own words, for a flat fee with no success fee and no carry.
The plan buyers use to fund a purchase here
- Qualify the target on cash flow. Three years of financial statements and tax filings plus a trailing twelve months before anyone quotes.
- Build the model. Sources and uses, debt service, coverage, and a downside case where 10 to 20 percent of revenue walks after close.
- Design the structure. Holding entity, operating entity, and an SPV if outside investors are involved. Confirm any license the business needs will be held by a qualifying person after close.
- Run two or three lenders in parallel. A single lender that quotes three weeks and takes two months is the most common reason closings slip.
- Negotiate the seller note at the letter of intent. Rate, amortization, standby terms and subordination are easier to win before the purchase agreement is signed.
- Raise the equity gap with the private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and operating agreement in hand.
- Close with a working-capital line already approved and a retention plan for the first 100 days.
Watch: Florida’s Secret to 200% ROI, How Developers Use Other People’s Money to Build Wealth
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an SBA loan to buy a business in Florida?
Yes. Any SBA-approved lender can make a 7(a) acquisition loan for a business in Florida, and the state's two district offices cover every metro. You need a 10 percent injection, relevant experience or a transition plan, and coverage above about 1.25x.
How much do I need down to buy a business in Florida?
Ten percent of total project cost on an SBA loan, and up to half of that can be a seller note on full standby under the current SBA rules. The remainder can come from investors through an SPV.
Can I raise money from investors to buy a business in Florida?
Yes. Form an SPV, prepare a private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and operating agreement, and sell units under Regulation D Rule 506(b) or 506(c). Investors get a preferred return and a profit share; you stay in control as manager.
Does Florida tax the business I buy?
No personal income tax. C-corporations pay a 5.5 percent state income tax, and the documentary stamp tax applies to certain notes and deeds, including seller notes.
What industries are being acquired in Florida?
Home services (HVAC, plumbing, roofing, pool), healthcare and home health, hospitality and restaurants, marine services, logistics, and construction trades.
Where to go next
- The full 2026 guide to raising money to buy a business, with all nine funding sources ranked.
- Buying a business with little or no money down.
- Raising the equity from investors through an SPV.
- How Raises.com structures and raises capital for acquisitions.
- Book a strategy call with one of the advisors. Pricing is on the booking page before you pick a time.