Free support is available from our Business Concierge service for
community members looking to set up their own business in the new year.
Our Economic & Cultural Development team
helps businesses set up and trade as soon as possible by providing a dedicated
contact point for permits, compliance steps and local economic insights.
We encourage contacting this free service
before making any substantial investment or signing lease agreements, as it’s
likely at least one permit will be required to set up and operate.
Over 2023-24, the service assisted 430 people
keen to set up a new
business such as a café, bar, dog grooming service, restaurant, retail store,
beauty service, home-based food business, gym or Pilates studio, as well as
those looking to expand their existing business.
The
service received the highest number of enquiries from community members
proposing to start businesses, including those based at home, in Geelong, Lara,
Ocean Grove, Geelong West, Newtown, Belmont, Grovedale and Bell Bark.
The largest
number of enquiries related to hospitality, and beauty and health related
businesses. We also helped a lot of businesses in fitness (gym, yoga or Pilates
etc), recreation and entertainment, farming and floristry.
The Business Concierge service also delivers
programs and events that support business growth and upskill the region’s
workforce and can identify grants and funding opportunities available.
Mayor
Stretch Kontelj
It can be hard to know where to start and who to speak
to when setting up a new business.
Our
Business Concierge team is a one-stop-shop to help get your business off the ground in 2025 and be the best it can
be.
The Economic & Cultural
Development team are here to help streamline the process, give advice and
explore opportunities with you.
Charlemont
ward councillor Emma Sinclair
With around 21,500 small businesses in
Greater Geelong, we are dedicated to strengthening and empowering this sector.
It
is estimated that small business generates around $9 billion annual revenue in
our region.
Our
free service covers each stage of the business journey, offering existing
traders support as they look to expand.