Presentation Event

Who Can Enter

You can register to receive information for the 2025 Awards here.

The eligibility criteria is as follows:  

The business must reside in Geelong & the Bellarine, Surf Coast, Queenscliff, Golden Plains area and be within 40 kms from the Geelong city centre.

Please note: A business also refers to a franchise or organisation. It can apply to either a private and/or commercial business or fully funded government organisation including training/educational organisations and not for profit organisations. Departments are excluded from entering the awards, however, subsidiaries are eligible to enter. 

  • Have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN);
  • Have been operating for at least 12 months prior to the 31st of May 2025.
  • If entering for the Emerging Business Category, have been operating between 12 to 36 months.
  • Previous Business of the Year Award winners will not be eligible to enter a business category for the three years following their win i.e. Business of the Year winner in 2024 cannot enter in 2025, 2026 or 2027.
  • Individual category: Young Entrepreneur entrants must be within the age category 16 years 40 years as of the time of entries closing date.
  • Sponsors and Partners of the awards are allowed to enter, however must not enter the category that they sponsor or represent.
  • The business that a Judge represents or owns is not allowed to enter the awards.  However, the entrant can enter the individual award category (if the judge is not judging this category). 
  • Geelong Chamber of Commerce Board Members and their associated business are allowed to enter (as long as they are not a judge).
  • Entrants in the Emerging Business category will NOT be eligible to enter the Business of the Year category. 
  • In the event that retiring judges wish (either individually or their business which they own all or part of and/or are employed at) to enter or re-enter the awards, they must sit out for a minimum of 1 year from their retirement from the judging panel.

To learn more about the Conditions of Entry, please click here