Most new businesses in West Palm Beach do not start with a business plan. They start with a side hustle that got busy, a recipe friends kept asking about, or a skill someone decided to stop giving away for free. The hard part comes next: picking a legal structure, registering with the state, getting a local business tax receipt, opening a bank account and figuring out what all of it costs. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, the city and a state funded advising center are putting that whole first step on one free evening downtown.
The City of West Palm Beach announced on Oct. 19 that it will host "Launching Smart in Florida: A Startup Essentials Workshop & Networking" with the Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Atlantic University, known as the Florida SBDC at FAU. The workshop runs from 6 to 8 p.m. on the third floor auditorium of the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis Street. It is free, and the city encourages advance registration through the event page on Eventbrite.
Who the Workshop Is For
The city release is unusually direct about who belongs in the room. It says participants "do not need an existing business, registered LLC, business license or completed business plan to attend." The session is open to people "at all stages of the entrepreneurial journey, including those who are beginning to explore a potential business idea."
That makes it a fit for three kinds of people. The first is the person still deciding whether an idea can become a business. The second is the early operator who already sells something but has not formalized it, such as a caterer working from referrals or a freelancer invoicing under a personal name. The third is the new owner who registered recently and wants to check that nothing was missed.
According to the release, the goal is to give "aspiring entrepreneurs, prospective business owners, and early-stage startups" the "foundational knowledge, practical guidance, and professional connections needed to successfully navigate the process of starting a business in Florida."
What Happens on the Night
The Eventbrite listing, posted by the Florida SBDC at FAU, lays out a tight two hour schedule:
- 6:00 p.m.: check in and registration, with doors opening at 5:45 p.m.
- 6:15 p.m.: opening remarks and an introduction to the City of West Palm Beach business entrepreneurship programs.
- 6:30 p.m.: the Startup Essentials Workshop itself.
- 7:15 p.m.: open questions and sign up for SBDC consultant support.
- 7:30 p.m.: small business networking until 8 p.m.
The listing names four presenters and hosts: Dr. Sandra D. Marin Ruiz, Jacqueline Ramirez, Sandra Hammerstein and Brian Katz. The city release identifies Sandra Hammerstein as the contact for the city's Office of Small Business Programs.
The 15 minute consultant sign up slot is worth planning around. The Florida SBDC Network provides no cost consulting, and the release describes the FAU center as supporting businesses "at every stage, from initial concept and startup through growth and expansion." Leaving the room with a scheduled one on one meeting is often more valuable than the slides.
Why the City Is Running It
The release frames the workshop as part of the city's effort to foster small business development and reduce barriers to ownership. It says the city and the Florida SBDC at FAU "seek to reduce barriers to business ownership and encourage sustainable economic growth" by connecting residents with professional guidance and accessible resources.
The same day, the city issued a separate release inviting businesses based in West Palm Beach, or those thinking about relocating there, to apply for its economic development grant and incentive programs. Those programs are listed on the city Office of Economic Development pages. For a founder, the timing is useful: the opening remarks on Nov. 4 cover the city's entrepreneurship programs, so it is a natural moment to ask which of those programs a brand new business could qualify for.
How to Prepare Before Nov. 4
A free workshop pays off most when attendees arrive with specific questions. A short prep list:
- Write one sentence describing what the business sells and to whom.
- List what has already been done, such as a name search, a domain, a logo or first customers.
- Note the open questions about structure, for example a sole proprietorship versus an LLC, and whether a partner is involved.
- Jot down the address where the business will operate, since local requirements depend on location, and a home based business raises different questions than a storefront.
- Bring a rough monthly budget, even a guess, so a consultant has numbers to react to.
Owners who have already registered can bring their state filing, any local tax receipt and their most recent bank statement for the business account, if there is one. That lets an advisor spot gaps quickly.
The Steps a Florida Startup Usually Faces
The workshop will cover the specifics, but the general sequence for a new Florida business is well documented by state and local offices. A business that operates under a name other than the owner's legal name usually registers that fictitious name with the Florida Division of Corporations, known as Sunbiz. A business that forms an LLC or corporation files its formation documents there as well. Most businesses then need a local business tax receipt from the city and county where they operate. Businesses that sell taxable goods or services register with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect sales tax. Employers have additional registrations for payroll taxes.
Each of those steps has its own forms, fees and timelines, and the right order depends on the business. That is exactly the kind of question the Nov. 4 session is built to answer, and the release encourages advance registration.
Getting There
The Mandel Public Library sits at 411 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. The Eventbrite listing notes paid parking. Attendees driving in for a 6 p.m. start should allow time for evening parking downtown, especially on a weeknight with other events nearby.
The workshop is in person only. Nothing in the city release or the listing mentions a recording or livestream, so owners who cannot attend should contact the Florida SBDC at FAU directly about future sessions or one on one appointments.
The Timing Matters
The event is Wednesday, Nov. 4, which is nine days after Monday, Oct. 26. Registration is free but encouraged in advance, and a two hour library session with a networking hour has a finite room. Signing up early also puts an attendee on the organizer's list for reminders or any schedule change.
For owners in Palm Beach County who want more support after the workshop, the Florida SBDC at FAU offers ongoing no cost consulting, and the Gazette has a running guide to free coaching at the FAU and FIU SBDCs. Owners who are already past the startup stage and looking at a bigger room may want the Palm Beach Business Expo guide for Nov. 12.
What to Do This Week
- Register on the Eventbrite page for Nov. 4.
- Put the event on the calendar with a 5:45 p.m. arrival so parking is not a problem.
- Write the one sentence business description and the list of open questions.
- Gather any filings or receipts already in hand.
- Plan to use the 7:15 p.m. slot to book a follow up consultation.
Office Contacts
- City of West Palm Beach main line: (561) 822 1200.
- City of West Palm Beach Office of Economic Development: ecd@wpb.org or (561) 822 1232.
Sources
- City of West Palm Beach release, Oct. 19, 2026
- Florida SBDC at FAU event listing on Eventbrite
- City of West Palm Beach grants and incentives release, Oct. 19, 2026
Related
Key Facts
When and where is the Launching Smart startup workshop?
The City of West Palm Beach and the Florida SBDC at FAU host the workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. It takes place in the third floor auditorium of the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, 411 Clematis Street. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and the listing notes paid parking nearby.
How much does the West Palm Beach startup workshop cost?
The workshop is free. The city release says advance registration is encouraged, and registration runs through the Florida SBDC at FAU listing on Eventbrite. Signing up early helps the organizers plan seating and puts attendees on the list for reminders or any schedule change. The session is in person, with no recording or livestream mentioned.
Do I need a registered business to attend?
No. The city release says participants do not need an existing business, a registered LLC, a business license or a completed business plan. The session is open to people at every stage, including those only beginning to explore an idea, early operators who have not formalized yet and new owners checking that nothing was missed.
What is on the Nov. 4 workshop agenda?
The listing shows check in at 6 p.m., opening remarks and an introduction to city entrepreneurship programs at 6:15, the Startup Essentials Workshop at 6:30, open questions and sign up for SBDC consultant support at 7:15, and small business networking from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Four presenters and hosts are named on the listing.
Who do I contact with questions about the workshop?
The city release lists the West Palm Beach Office of Small Business Programs as the contact office for the workshop, and the Office of Economic Development handles business grant questions. The city main line is (561) 822 1200, and the Office of Economic Development can be reached at ecd@wpb.org. The Florida SBDC at FAU offers no cost consulting after the event as well.
