Who Can Enter

You can register to receive information for the 2026 Awards here.

The eligibility criteria is as follows:  

The business must reside and be registered in the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, Borough of Queenscliffe, Golden Plains Shire or Colac Otway Shire.

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 welcome from entering the awards.

• Have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN);
• Have been operating for at least 12 months prior to the 31st of May 2026.
• 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.
• 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