Ravenrock Funding Group, a small-business funding broker in Sarasota, Florida, lists the kinds of free help available to Sarasota County and Manatee County owners: small business development advising, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and county offices. Ravenrock is not affiliated with any of them, and listing does not imply endorsement. Every yes or no comes from a lending partner.
Not affiliated, not a referral program
Ravenrock Funding Group is not affiliated with any organization named or described on this page, and none of them has reviewed or endorsed us. We list them because owners ask, and because free advice before borrowing is usually money well spent.
Two counties, two sets of offices
Sarasota County and Manatee County each have their own government, and several of the communities we serve are in Manatee County: Bradenton, Palmetto, Ellenton and Bradenton Beach. Longboat Key lies in both counties. When you look for help, start with the county and city where the business is actually located.
Small business development advising
Owners search for 'sbdc sarasota' when they want free, confidential advising on plans, cash flow or loan applications. Small Business Development Centers are part of a national network supported by the SBA, and advisers there can help you prepare financial statements before you talk to any lender or broker.
Economic development organizations
The 'sarasota county economic development corporation' is one of the most searched local business organizations. Economic development groups typically work on recruiting and expanding employers, site selection and workforce questions rather than on individual small-business loans.
Chambers of commerce
Owners also search for the 'sarasota county chamber of commerce' and the Sarasota, FL chamber. Chambers offer networking, referrals and member programs. Membership is optional and paid, and joining one has no bearing on a funding decision.
City and county offices
For licensing, business tax receipts, zoning and permits, the official City of Sarasota site is sarasotagov.org and Sarasota County's is scgov.net (both checked 2026-10-16). Manatee County owners search for the 'manatee county business tax receipt' and should use Manatee County's own site.
Grants
Grants are not something Ravenrock Funding Group offers or places. Owners looking for grant programs should ask a small business development adviser, who can tell them what is current and whether they qualify.
Questions worth bringing to an adviser
- Is my bookkeeping good enough for a lender to read?
- How much debt can my cash flow actually carry?
- Should I borrow at all, or adjust pricing, terms or spending first?
- Is my business structure, LLC or sole proprietorship, right for what I am planning?
- Are there public programs I should look at before private funding?
What to bring to the first meeting
- The last two years of business tax returns, if you have them
- Recent bank statements
- Two or three sentences on what the funding would pay for
- Your state business-entity record and any trade name filing
- A list of current debts
Status of this directory
| Resource | Status on this page |
|---|---|
| City of Sarasota official site | Named: sarasotagov.org, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Sarasota County official site | Named: scgov.net, checked 2026-10-16 |
| Nearest SBDC office | Awaiting confirmation from the official locator |
| Economic development organization | Awaiting confirmation of official name and site |
| Chambers of commerce | Awaiting confirmation of official names and sites |
| Manatee County business tax receipt page | Awaiting confirmation |
We name an organization's website only after it is confirmed from an official source. Until then, the search terms above will lead you to the right place.
Where Ravenrock fits
Once you know what you need, we can compare structures and connect you with partners. The comparison of funding options is a good place to start, and a term loan is the usual fit for a plan with a defined project. County data is on the Sarasota, FL page; other guides are in the resource library.
By Ravenrock Funding Group · Updated