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Address: 311 Interstate Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240

Sarasota Local Service Businesses

Essential to the operation of our economy, the wellbeing of our community, and the enrichment of our families.

Contrary to the stigma cast on small business owners for wearing suits and ties, the everyday local service business owner in Sarasota is more likely to be seen in a t-shirt and jeans. From granite countertop fabricators to the paver sealer, these are the men and women that give back to their community day in and day out. Although they may not have billions of dollars or thousands of employees (yet!), what they do have is an immeasurable impact on our city’s economy, wellbeing, and enrichment.
To be clear, by “Local Service Business” I mean, businesses in Sarasota that provide services to our residents. They may not sell a particular product, but they serve our community with essential services, like:
Lance Jenkins, Owner of Absolute Pressure Washing & Paver Sealing (pictured with his son Noah)
  • Plumbing Company
  • Roofing Company
  • Gutter Cleaning Company
  • Kitchen Countertops Installer
  • House Cleaning Company
  • Fence Installer

And the list goes on and on and on…

  • Electrician
  • Home Renovation Company
  • AC Company
  • Pest Control Company
  • Pressure Washing Company
  • Painting Company
  • Paver Sealing Company
  • Pool Building Company
  • Paving Contractors
  • Auto Detailing Company
  • Handyman
  • Flooring Company
  • Plumbing Company
  • Roofing Company
  • Gutter Cleaning Company
  • Kitchen Countertops Installer
  • House Cleaning Company
  • Fence Installer
  • Paver Sealing Company
  • Pool Building Company
  • Paving Contractors
  • Auto Detailing Company
  • Handyman
  • Flooring Company
  • Electrician
  • Home Renovation Company
  • AC Company
  • Pest Control Company
  • Pressure Washing Company
  • Painting Company
And the list goes on and on and on…

The backbone of Sarasota's economy

As small business owners, they are the backbone of our local economy. They are the ones who create jobs and help to keep money circulating within our community. They are also the ones who are most likely to give back to local charities and causes.
In fact, studies have shown that for every dollar spent at a locally owned business, 68 cents stay in the local economy compared to 43 cents at a national chain.
I have found this to be true, first-hand. As the owner of Sozo Web Agency, the president of a 501(c)(3), and having served on the board of directors for other non-profits, I have seen the direct impact our local small businesses have in bringing humanitarian services to our community.
By the grace of God, I have been able to handle relief services to many of our community’s needs, while receiving financial help from Sarasota’s generous local business owners.
NSS Granite, Marble, and Quartz -local service business in Sarasota
Mongan Thomson, Owner of NSS Granite, Marble, and Quartz

Taxes & job creation

Sarasota local service businesses also generate tax revenue that helps to fund vital services in Sarasota like schools and roads. In fact, small businesses pay more than their fair share of taxes – on average, they pay twice the amount of taxes as large corporations.
And regarding jobs, small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the US, according to the Small Business Administration. Also, local businesses recirculate a greater share of their revenue back into the local economy, supporting other businesses and creating jobs.

The ability to thrive

Starting a business is hard work. It takes long hours, dedication, and a lot of patience. But it can also be incredibly rewarding, both for the entrepreneur and their families.

When you build a successful local business, you create something that can provide for your family and enrich your community. It’s a labor of love, but it’s also an investment in your future.

While providing web design and marketing services to Sarasota local service businesses, I have seen my fellow entrepreneurs go through every emotion-filled season. At times, they may feel like giving up. At others, they are on cloud nine and over the moon.

But ultimately, it’s the ones who persevere through the thick and thin who succeed.

Doing our part

I have been a Sarasota local since 1994. I have owned multiple businesses here, with some successes and some failures.

My direct experience owning a service business in Sarasota is what opened my eyes to the lack of quality and workmanship in online services, especially pertaining to great local search engine optimization (SEO) for service businesses.

In addition to that, I had an incredibly hard time trying to find a good web designer who built beautiful websites locally. 

That was more than 15 years ago. Since then, I decided to use the talents God had given me (namely: creativity, administration, and an attitude for achieving perfection) to learn website development and SEO.

In the last 15 years, I have helped to double a Sarasota local service company’s annual revenue to over $2M, built a local cleaning business to over $1M in annual revenue, and helped multiple other businesses to boost their online presence and revenues in my time working with them—many in the seven to 8-figure category of annual revenue.

Here at Sozo, we are thankful to be a part of a growing local Sarasota economy. We enjoy seeing our clients climb to dominate their market space online. 

We make it our journey to help honest, hard working Sarasota businesses to thriveand expand in reach, influence, and good service to our community.

Renan DeBarros

Renan DeBarros

El Presidente
Sozo Web Agency