September 19, 2026 — North Central Florida (Gainesville & Ocala) new business activity

• civil engineers: Marion County government news release, Suwannee River Water Management District press release
• surveyors: Marion County government news release, City of Ocala City Council agenda
• accountants: City of Gainesville news release
• bookkeepers: City of Gainesville news release
• business attorneys: City of Gainesville news release
• commercial builders: City of Ocala City Council agenda
• commercial cleaning companies: Columbia County news release
• controls and automation firms: City of Ocala solicitation notice
• dispatch software firms: Marion County government news release (Ocala Marion TPO)
• dumpster and container services: Columbia County news release
• electrical contractors: City of Ocala solicitation notice
• electrical engineers: City of Ocala solicitation notice
• excavation contractors: Suwannee River Water Management District press release
• exterior cleaning crews: Alachua County Government news release
• fleet insurance brokers: Marion County government news release (Ocala Marion TPO)
• irrigation contractors: Alachua County Government news release
• land use attorneys: City of Ocala City Council agenda
• landscape architects: Marion County government news release
• landscapers: Alachua County Government news release
• licensing consultants: City of Gainesville news release
• masonry contractors: City of Ocala solicitation notice
• painters: City of Ocala solicitation notice
• plumbers: Suwannee River Water Management District press release
• pressure washing companies: Alachua County Government news release
• property managers: Columbia County news release
• real estate agents: City of Ocala City Council agenda
• real estate developers: Suwannee River Water Management District press release
• recycling haulers: Columbia County news release
• site engineers: City of Ocala City Council agenda
• site work contractors: Marion County government news release
• stucco contractors: City of Ocala solicitation notice
• trail and paving crews: Marion County government news release
• transit operators: Marion County government news release (Ocala Marion TPO)
• utility equipment suppliers: City of Ocala solicitation notice
• vehicle repair shops: Marion County government news release (Ocala Marion TPO)
• waterproofing companies: City of Ocala solicitation notice

North Central Florida (Gainesville & Ocala) recorded 391 new business filings the week of August 29 to September 4, 2026, up 15.0% from the week before.

The gain is 51 filings over last week and 66 over the same week last year. This week also ran above the 13 week average. The longer view is softer, though. The last 13 weeks added up to 4,816 filings, below the 4,902 in the 13 weeks before that.

Marion County led with 181 filings, up 10. Alachua County came second with 125, up 31, a gain of 33.0%. Bradford County went from 2 filings to 12. Columbia County slipped from 26 to 19. By city, Ocala had 158 and Gainesville had 72, the same as last week.

Property holding companies were the largest group at 44, up 8. Professional services added 6 to reach 39. Administrative and support services rose 10 to 36. Transportation and logistics grew 8 to 24, a gain of 50.0%. Construction and trades fell 9 to 29.

Florida LLCs made up 282 of the filings, or 72.1%. Fictitious name registrations came to 68.

A steady slowdown over the past 13 weeks.

The bold line is the 13-week average. Read it for the longer trend. The thin line is each week's count, which swings week to week.

• 2025-26
• 2024-25
• 2023-24
• 2022-23
• 2021-22

New business formation usually runs highest around Mar and is quietest around Nov, holding near 1,500 a month across the years.

Each line is one year, ending at the current month on the right, so you can read the past year left to right. New Year's Day is left out because the state office is closed, so almost no businesses register that day.

Administrative & Support Services grew the most this week, 10 more (up 38.5%). Construction & Trades dropped the most, 9 fewer (down 23.7%). 6 other sectors shown here also grew.

Marion led the region this week with 181 new filings. 4 of the other 5 counties shown here were also up from the week before.

• Marion County commissioners voted to put a bond question on the November 3 ballot. Voters would decide on up to $140 million for parks, trails, water protection and land conservation. At least 70% of the money would go to construction, design and other capital costs.

  If voters say yes, most of the money goes to building and design work, which is steady demand for local firms.

  Who this helps

  • site work contractors
  • civil engineers
  • landscape architects
  • surveyors
  • trail and paving crews

  Marion County government news release, 2026-09-14

• The City of Ocala asked vendors for information on automatic reclosers and distribution automation equipment for its electric system. Responses are due September 21, 2026, through the city's ProRFx bid system.

  A request for information usually comes before a purchase, so electrical suppliers and installers can shape what the city buys.

  Who this helps

  • electrical contractors
  • utility equipment suppliers
  • controls and automation firms
  • electrical engineers

  City of Ocala solicitation notice, 2026-08-27

• The City of Ocala opened a bid for exterior concrete stucco repair at City Hall on Watula Avenue. Bids close September 30, 2026, and vendors register through the city's ProRFx system.

  This is a small public job that a local crew can bid on right now.

  Who this helps

  • stucco contractors
  • masonry contractors
  • painters
  • waterproofing companies

  City of Ocala solicitation notice, 2026-09-10

• The Ocala Marion Transportation Planning Organization opened a request for proposals for a Community Transportation Coordinator. The coordinator would run paratransit bus service for Marion County. Proposals go through the county's Bonfire bidding site.

  A service contract like this needs drivers, vehicle upkeep, dispatch tools and insurance behind it.

  Who this helps

  • transit operators
  • vehicle repair shops
  • fleet insurance brokers
  • dispatch software firms

  Marion County government news release (Ocala Marion TPO), 2026-09-14

• The Ocala City Council agenda for August 18 lists Ordinance 2026-30. It would rezone about 5.93 acres at NW 14th Street and NW Magnolia Terrace from a mix of Light Industrial and General Business to Light Industrial.

  Land zoned for light industrial use can host shops, warehouses and small plants, and each one needs a builder and services.

  Who this helps

  • commercial builders
  • surveyors
  • real estate agents
  • land use attorneys
  • site engineers

  City of Ocala City Council agenda, 2026-08-18

• A $6.19 million septic to sewer project along U.S. 90 in Live Oak is finished, according to the Suwannee River Water Management District. It moved 31 homes and two businesses onto new sewer lines and added connections for future growth.

  New sewer lines open the corridor to more development, and each new hookup needs plumbing and site work.

  Who this helps

  • plumbers
  • excavation contractors
  • real estate developers
  • civil engineers

  Suwannee River Water Management District press release, 2026-09-17

• Columbia County is changing its trash hauler to Ecowaste Solutions on October 1. About 700 commercial dumpsters are being replaced, and all of them are due to be swapped by September 25.

  Businesses in the county may need to check their pickup schedules and service terms with the new hauler.

  Who this helps

  • property managers
  • dumpster and container services
  • commercial cleaning companies
  • recycling haulers

  Columbia County news release, 2026-09-19

• Alachua County kept its water shortage rules in place after recent rain. Landscape irrigation stays at one day a week, Tuesday for nonresidential properties. Pressure washing and other nonessential outdoor washing of driveways, sidewalks and buildings is still barred.

  Rules like these change how landscaping and exterior cleaning companies schedule their jobs.

  Who this helps

  • landscapers
  • irrigation contractors
  • pressure washing companies
  • exterior cleaning crews

  Alachua County Government news release, 2026-09-15

• The City of Gainesville will hold off on mailing annual business tax renewal notices while it moves to new software. Renewals go online in January 2027. A business with a paid 2025-26 receipt counts as in good standing for 2026-27 until then.

  New Gainesville businesses can plan their license paperwork around the January 2027 online renewal.

  Who this helps

  • accountants
  • bookkeepers
  • business attorneys
  • licensing consultants

  City of Gainesville news release, 2026-09-09

If you sell to new businesses here, start in Marion and Alachua counties, where most of this week's filings landed. Property holding, professional services and administrative support firms formed in the largest numbers. Accountants, bookkeepers and attorneys have a clear reason to reach Gainesville businesses before the January 2027 online tax renewal. Builders and trades can look at the open Ocala bids and the Marion County bond, which would put at least 70% of its money into construction, design and other capital costs. Bradford County is worth a look too, with 12 filings after only 2 the week before.

We count every new business filing recorded with the state for the seven days shown, then compare it to the week before, the same week last year and the 13 week average. We wait about two weeks after the week ends for the state to finish recording all filings, so the counts are complete and accurate. Business types come from each filing's description and are grouped into plain categories. The public records cited come from government agendas, notices and news releases.

Frequently asked questions

How many new businesses filed in North Central Florida the week of August 29 to September 4, 2026?

There were 391 new business filings. That is 51 more than the week before and 66 more than the same week last year.

Which counties had the most new filings?

Marion County had 181 and Alachua County had 125. Columbia County was third with 19, followed by Levy with 17 and Suwannee with 16.

Which business types grew the most this week?

Transportation and logistics rose 50.0% to 24 filings. Agriculture and natural resources rose 70.0% to 17. Administrative and support services added 10 to reach 36.