Florida is home to more than 3.5 million small businesses and employs nearly 3.8 million Floridians, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Between March 2023 and March 2024 alone, Florida saw a net increase of more than 16,000 business establishments, with small businesses accounting for the majority of both openings and net job growth.
Small businesses make up nearly all employers in Florida and account for a significant share of job creation statewide, yet many operate with limited marketing budgets and minimal staff. Unlike large corporations with expansive advertising resources, small businesses increasingly rely on cost‑effective digital tools such as personalized ads and AI‑powered platforms to reach customers and manage day‑to‑day operations.
May marks National Small Business Month, a time to highlight the economic impact of entrepreneurs across the state. Now more than ever, Florida small business owners are underscoring the growing importance of personalized digital advertising and artificial intelligence in helping them compete with larger companies and sustain growth. Recently, several Florida‑based entrepreneurs traveled to Washington, DC as part of the Meta Business Leaders Network, where they met with congressional members, including Senator Moody, Representatives Neal Dunn, Laurel Lee, and Gus Bilirakis, to discuss how accessible digital tools are supporting small business growth and local economies. Here’s what they had to say:
Brittney Jones, owner of Touched By a Rose Events, a Tallahassee‑based event planning business, shared that personalized digital ads are essential to how customers find and engage with her services. She noted that these tools have supported business growth and hiring, while AI has become a critical efficiency driver, helping streamline customer communication and freeing up time to focus on growing her company.
Audra Nasser, founder of Dinner Done, Tampa-based ready-to-cook business, emphasized that affordable, targeted digital advertising allows small businesses to reach local customers despite having far smaller marketing budgets than large competitors. She also highlighted the growing role of AI as small businesses look for new ways to operate efficiently and help staff work more efficiently.
Mark Savant, president of Mark Savant Media, a Florida‑based marketing and media firm, pointed to rising customer acquisition costs across the advertising landscape. He stressed that personalized digital ads remain one of the few realistic tools small businesses can use to stay competitive, and that AI is increasingly woven into business operations as a way to increase productivity and scale responsibly.
Mike Engiles, owner of Crystal Rivers Watersports in Crystal River, Florida, explained that reaching the right local audiences is critical for businesses that rely on tourism and regional engagement. He shared that personalized digital ads help keep his business visible and competitive, while AI presents new opportunities to further improve efficiency and customer engagement.
In celebration of National Small Business Month continuing and supporting small business throughout the year, these Florida entrepreneurs’ experiences highlight a broader reality: when small businesses lack the budgets of big corporations, access to personalized advertising and AI tools can help level the playing field and support sustainable growth. Together, the business owners emphasized the importance of policies that protect and preserve these digital tools, urging Congress to consider the impact future legislation could have on the small businesses that rely on them to reach customers, operate efficiently, and continue growing.
