City of West Palm Beach launches innovative online tool to help local small businesses grow and thrive in a competitive market

West Palm Beach, Florida – In a move aimed at strengthening the local economy and helping small businesses thrive, the City of West Palm Beach is set to launch a new online platform called SizeUp West Palm Beach. The official unveiling will take place on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 10 a.m., through an educational webinar designed to guide entrepreneurs and business owners in using the tool effectively. Interested participants can register online to join the session.

Small businesses play a vital role in the economic fabric of the city, yet data shows they face significant challenges. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 20% of small businesses fail within their first year, while roughly half do not survive beyond five years. Analysts from Entrepreneur and Investopedia highlight that lack of preparation—including insufficient market research, weak business planning, and marketing missteps—is a major factor behind these high failure rates.

SizeUp West Palm Beach addresses these challenges by giving local business owners access to sophisticated, hyperlocal market data—information that was previously available primarily to large corporations. Through the platform, entrepreneurs can identify potential customers and suppliers, refine their marketing strategies, and gain insights into the spending habits and preferences of consumers in their area. The tool also allows users to test assumptions about future business performance, benchmark their industry against local competitors, and make decisions backed by objective, actionable data.
“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the foundation of our local economy. Having practiced as a small business attorney, I know firsthand how critical it is to have reliable information before making big decisions. By providing free access to professional-grade market research and insights, the City of West Palm Beach is giving our entrepreneurs the tools to reduce risk, make smart, data-driven choices, and position themselves for growth. After all, today’s small businesses are tomorrow’s major employers, and their success strengthens our entire community,” said Mayor Keith A. James.

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The platform itself is built on award-winning software that has received national recognition. The U.S. Department of Commerce honored the technology with 1st Place for its ability to help American businesses become more competitive, foster prosperity, and support job creation. This recognition underscores the value of providing small business owners with tools that enable informed decision-making and sustainable growth.

SizeUp West Palm Beach is already accessible to entrepreneurs at www.wpb.org/sizeup, offering a free, user-friendly interface to explore a variety of business insights. The City encourages local business owners, prospective entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders to take advantage of the platform as a way to strengthen their ventures and navigate the competitive marketplace more confidently.

For additional information, or to learn more about how to use SizeUp West Palm Beach, residents and business owners can contact the City of West Palm Beach’s Office of Economic Development at (561) 822-1416 or via email at [email protected].

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By equipping small businesses with tools previously reserved for larger enterprises, West Palm Beach aims to cultivate a more resilient and prosperous business environment. Experts say that platforms like SizeUp can play a pivotal role in reducing the risk of failure for startups and small ventures while helping established businesses discover growth opportunities and connect with new markets.

As small business owners prepare for the webinar, many see the launch as an opportunity to leverage data-driven insights, reduce uncertainty, and make decisions that can positively impact their bottom line. In an era where market knowledge can make or break a business, SizeUp West Palm Beach offers an innovative approach to leveling the playing field.