Obstacles to business in Miami (salon, real estate, insurance)

[tallrick]

What are the main reasons that businesses are at a disadvantage if they come to the Miami area? Here's a few I can think of

Unrealistically high real estate costs
High electrical rates/unreliable service
Poor quality workforce
Team Metro
Lack of quality transportation infrastructure
Government corruption
high property tax
No room to grow
High cost of housing decreases employee morale

Any other reasons for businesses to stay away?

[compelled to reply]

The local population is not as well educated as other areas, and also the school system leaves something to be desired in many ways. Quality of life per dollar is lower than places like Houston or Atlanta. Since we have no more room to grow, poor planning for the growth, and a lack of areas zoned for commercial interests.

[Wild Style]

add to that insurance. I knew a woman from NYC who opened a salon down here. she told me she was going to have to close her doors if the insurance went up anymore.

[rogerbacon]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

add to that insurance. I knew a woman from NYC who opened a salon down here. she told me she was going to have to close her doors if the insurance went up anymore.

That makes sense. Back in the 80's I know there were over 8,000 lawyers in Dade county. I'm scared to think how high that number is today. All of those lawyers have to make money sueing SOMEBODY.

[chisoxfan]

Because of the cost of living in South Florida, businesses have to pay higher salaries to attract employees. My company has missed out on several highly qualified candidates simply because they couldn't afford to live here on the salaries being offered.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by chisoxfan

Because of the cost of living in South Florida, businesses have to pay higher salaries to attract employees. My company has missed out on several highly qualified candidates simply because they couldn't afford to live here on the salaries being offered.

Yeah, but why don't they? They do everywhere else. That is the NUMBER ONE problem with this place. Literally all of the other problems would have a trickle-down improvement effect if it weren't for the economy, even the schools, since more wealth does tend to equate to a happier population and better basic services. Literally all of the other problems here would improve via a trickle-down effect if employers just started paying up. Even the schools could improve because a more prosperous population demands better education.

[MiamiGringo]

I have to say it's education. I have run businesses in other high tax, high insurance, high real estate, crowded urban areas in California, London and New York, and these problems are the same as they are in Miami.

The one big issue that I see is different is the educational one. I can't count on a receptionist who can spell, a bookkeeper who is familiar with general principles, etc.

Florida as a whole way underinvests in schools and education. I know it is a national problem but with the high drop out rates, the low pay for teachers, the fragmented school districts, I think it is very telling that the biggest education issue is evolution. It's a shame really but I don't see it getting better without some real commitment to schools, not just the Jeb Bush "give 'em vouchers and the hell with 'em attitude." We need serious reform.

[chisoxfan]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Literally all of the other problems here would improve via a trickle-down effect if employers just started paying up. Even the schools could improve because a more prosperous population demands better education.

It's really a vicious cycle, isn't it? A mediocre school system produces a mediocre home-grown work force ... which makes it less appealing for companies to do business here.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by chisoxfan

It's really a vicious cycle, isn't it? A mediocre school system produces a mediocre home-grown work force ... which makes it less appealing for companies to do business here.

One interesting thing BCC wants to do is start a campus in Jamaica. The first thing I thought was "Waste of tax money!", but they all come here anyway, as that's our number one source of immigration (in Broward, not Dade) and probably our number one source of growth as we approach buildout, so why not have immigrants prepared for the workforce here? If our four year colleges are ready to handle it, that would be setting us at an incredible advantage when it comes to immigration and actually bringing in quality people.

[eaglecall]

Originally Posted by tallrick

What are the main reasons that businesses are at a disadvantage if they come to the Miami area? Here's a few I can think of

Unrealistically high real estate costs
High electrical rates/unreliable service
Poor quality workforce
Team Metro
Lack of quality transportation infrastructure
Government corruption
high property tax
No room to grow
High cost of housing decreases employee morale

Any other reasons for businesses to stay away?

I agree. And there are more reasons that cannot be posted because of political correctness that now is camuflated under "racism" by some with a little bit of cheap power.