John,
Apart from the electrical side of licenses and so on, be prepared to jump through some hoops with the immigration people (now part of the new Dept. of Homeland Security, apparently).
If you're planning on becoming an employee for a Fla. company, getting a work permit involves your prospective employer applying to the state Dept. of Labor on your behalf, demonsrating that they are unable to find an existing U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien who is suitable for the job.
Admittedly I went straight for the full green card rather than just getting a limited-duration work permit first, but the process took almost 12 months from being offered a job to getting my visa. That was for a position in a central Nebraska, so I would imagine that you will have a lot more competition on the Florida Gulf Coast.
If you're thinking about trying to become self-employed from the outset, you'll have to sink a very substantial amount of cash (six figures) into a business before they'll even consider you for a visa.
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 09-23-2003).]