Started in 1997 as the Gulf Coast Business Review, the newspaper is the leading provider and most authoritative source of business and economic information affecting the Gulf Coast from Tampa Bay south to Naples. It specializes in reporting on the region’s industry and economic trends; emerging companies; corporate strategies; identifying and profiling the region’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs and top business leaders; and keeping its readers abreast of state, regional and local government actions affecting business and the economy.

When it started, the Review focused solely on Sarasota and Manatee counties. But in October 2001, the Review acquired the 51-year-old Tampa Bay Review and became a regional weekly covering the business scene from Tampa-St. Petersburg to Sarasota. In 2005, the Review expanded again, opening an office in Fort Myers to cover the fast-growing business communities in Lee and Collier counties.

In 2013, the Review changed its name to the Business Observer. Overall, the Business Observer covers an area that encompasses more than 90,000 business establishments. The Business Observer is committed to providing business owners, senior executives, entrepreneurs, investors and public policy makers with the Gulf Coast’s most authoritative and relevant business information.

The Business Observer perspective is unique among Florida media. In its editorial opinions, the Business Observer strongly supports and promotes laissez-faire capitalism and private property rights. In its news content, The Business Observer is written expressly for business owners and managers by a team of experienced journalists.