Business Leaders Share Pros and Cons of Miami

Looking toward the future, Miami business leaders are focused on the following key areas in the coming year: new technology, new markets and products, and new staff.

According to a survey conducted by Kaufman Rossin and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce of more than 200 business leaders, local executives feel optimistic about the future in Miami-Dade County but share a few common issues.

Here’s what some of the survey respondents had to say about the best and worst things about doing business in Greater Miami:

The Best of Miami

What do your out-of-town relatives like most about visiting Miami? The location and the weather? Well, local business leaders love the same thing. They also love that The Magic City is a true melting pot, with business leaders noting the “diverse collection of different cultures, races and businesses” that make this city such a special place to live, work and play.

• 36% of respondents said location is the best thing about doing business in Miami.
  • One respondent said the area is full of “fantastic people from all over the world.”
  • Others liked the city’s “proximity to LATAM.”
• 22% enjoy the city’s weather.
  • One respondent even noted that Miami’s “great weather” is a blessing and a curse because it can be distracting – “but worth it.”
• 21% said the area has a strong business community.
  • “The entrepreneurial community is developing and growing stronger each day,” said one Greater Miami executive.
  • In addition, some leaders feel the business community is “very accepting of newcomers.”

The Worst of Miami

If there’s one thing the survey respondents agree on, it’s where the city needs to improve. As anyone who commutes in Miami-Dade will tell you, traffic here can be a bear. So it’s no surprise that was the number one issue cited by business leaders.

• 45% of respondents agree that Greater Miami’s worst quality is traffic.
• 18% believe there is a lack of qualified workers, although business leaders who are members of the Greater Miami Chamber were less concerned about this than non-members.
  • One respondent said there is a “lack of a qualified workforce and integrity.”
• 11% think the cost of living is too high.

Now we want to hear from you! What do you think of the business community in Miami-Dade County? Leave a comment and let us know.