August 6, 2024 | Commercial

Why Pensacola Is a Great Place to Start a Business

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Why Pensacola Is a Great Place to Start a Business

I’ve spent a significant part of my career lifting up others in Northwest Florida who want to start or expand a company of their own. In that time, I’ve seen Pensacola and the greater Florida Panhandle evolve into an area where young, talented people want to live, grow, and raise their family.

Essentially, Pensacola is the full package. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder that business is booming and more people are choosing to find opportunities and build a life here.

Whether you’re looking to open a burger joint or an auto-shop, a mobile app or a marketing firm, Pensacola is the place to do it.

Here’s why.

People are at the Heart of All Business

Way back in the day, opening a business was like the movie ‘A Field of Dreams.’ Where, “if you build it, they will come.” Business owners would open a business wherever they could and the clientele would eventually find it and fill in the community around it.

Today, that’s not the case. Nowadays, people are much more likely to find a community where they want to live and then wait for the right opportunity to come up in that area. The next time you’re out for a beer in Pensacola, ask your bartender about their true passion. I bet you’ll find a lot of them are working here biding their time to get into their field of choice.

No longer do entrepreneurs have to attract people to their company. Instead, they go where the people are. Which, in my opinion, is a much more effective way to run a business, since so much of it is influenced by other community factors.


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Natural Beauty Abounds

Imagine waking up every morning, looking out your window and seeing nothing but sugar sand beaches and spectacular ocean vistas. Sounds tranquil, right? That’s life in Pensacola.

Pensacola Bay is known for its diverse environment with beautiful lagoons and bayous, marshlands, woodlands, and more. Our city is surrounded by natural beauty and incredible opportunities for outdoor recreation.

People come here to find a true work life balance. While Pensacola is indeed a fantastic tourist destination, the people who choose to live and work here get to experience it all the time. When you’re not running your business, you can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, surfing, sailing, fishing, diving, and more.

A Thriving Arts and Culture Scene

When you’re not out there enjoying the abundant natural beauty, there’s plenty of other things to do in Pensacola.

Over the years, the community has grown a world-class arts and entertainment community. In fact, I was once the president and am still affiliated with the Pensacola Cultural Center and Pensacola Little Theatre, a historic hub for the arts and community theatre in the area. The PLT is also more than just a community theatre, it’s a leading source of entertainment and art in the community. The Pensacola Cultural Center is also home to the Pensacola Literal Society, the Pensacola Ballet, and is across the street from the Pensacola Art Museum.

Whether you’re a patron of the arts or you’re looking for something new and exciting to do on date night, Pensacola offers culture in the form of art, dining, and shopping; you name it, we have it.


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Tourists Love it Here

With spectacular natural wonders, incredible recreation and a thriving culture and dining scene comes something else Pensacola has in bounds: tourism.

As our community has evolved into the diverse and rich landscape it is today, we’ve also seen the tourism industry grow. The Pensacola International Airport makes international travel easy to and from the region, while our great hotels and accommodations provide incredible options for both tourists and traveling working professionals.

Great Schools

When Tonya and the team are working with families buying a home, one of their primary concerns is the quality of the schools that serve the neighbohood where they live. Parents want their kids to attend top quality schools and get a top quality education. . Luckily, in Pensacola, the ability of being able to attend a top quality school almost always exists..

When you’re starting a business in Pensacola, it’s not just about you. It’s about creating opportunity and success for your entire family. Education is essential and Pensacola schools are among the best.

From public elementary, middle, and high schools to Montessori and faith-based schools, there’s a diverse range of options to suit your child’s unique needs and gifts.

Simply Put: A Better Quality of Life for More People

For a long time, Pensacola didn’t have many young people living here. It was a quiet, sleepy town with not much going on. However, in focusing on making itself better, the City of Pensacola has built a safe, desirable place to live with housing opportunities for young and experienced people.

As we’ve expanded our community repertoire with services, opportunities to practice religion, entertainment, tourism, recreation, and more, it only makes sense that more people want to live here. And with a growing population, it really opens up the funnel of opportunity.

Whether you’re the sole proprietor of a brick and mortar store, or the brilliant mind behind the next big tech startup, Pensacola is right for your business because it’s right for your overall wellbeing and quality of life. Quality of life matters, and in Pensacola Florida, that quality is very high.

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It’s a Smaller Market

The Pensacola commercial real estate market is also a lot less complicated and competitive than other places. Real estate here tends to be a little less expensive than other tech hubs or bigger metropolitan areas.

For a growing business, this is ideal, since you gain the benefit of an affordable mortgage or lease, all while feeling like you’re part of something special: a growing town with a commitment to its business owners and community.

We Uplift Each Other

At the start of this post, I mentioned that I’ve spent my career uplifting other business owners. Truth be told, helping entrepreneurs find their dream in Pensacola is one of my proudest accomplishments, and I’m not the only one who feels this way.

The City of Pensacola supports business owners by creating a community where young and talented people want to live. By this fact alone, the economy and industry in Pensacola grows organically.

As the city continues to grow and improve, the funnel of opportunity gets bigger and bigger, helping businesses grow. In turn, those businesses support each other with services and goods that allow most commercial activities to thrive and grow together.

With growth comes opportunity.

Why Work with The Zimmern Team for Your Next Commercial Real Estate Purchase or Sale

I know Pensacola, and I know business owners. Buying a commercial property is more than just signing a mortgage. It’s the culmination of your dedication, dreams, and commitment. It’s putting food on the table and watching your kids grow and succeed. Your business decisions now could impact your life five, ten, even 15 years from now, and I take that very seriously.

My goal is not just to find you a great commercial property, (although I will definitely do that), it’s also to help you make the right choices now that will help grow your business and improve your quality of life for years to come.

With long-standing relationships all across Pensacola and Northwest Florida, I can help you find the right people to help your business grow, whether you’re looking for a trustworthy contractor or a great banker–I know someone.

If you’re on the fence about starting a business in Pensacola, I’d be happy to give you the full scoop. If you have a vision, I have a way. Let’s talk. Reach out to me directly at danny@thezimmernteam.com or call 850-232-1944 to connect today.

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