Promoting your business
We can showcase your business in a couple of ways.
Love Local Life business directory
Sign up to profile your business via the Love Local Life business directory.
This online directory has been created to showcase Boroondara businesses, with the aim of assisting residents and visitors to find new favourite products and services while supporting local.
Businesses can showcase their COVIDSafe service options, including:
- click and collect
- contactless delivery
- outdoor dining and more.
Featured businesses are also promoted across the Love Local Life Facebook and Instagram pages
Share your story with fellow business owners
If you have advice for other local business owners on how you have adapted to the challenges of COVD-19, we would love to share your story.
Email us with the following so we can profile you:
- the name of your business
- information about your products and services and how you’re doing things differently to ensure the health of employees and customers is prioritised
- a photo of your adapted business in action (this could depict the steps you’ve taken to promote health and safety, for example, your new takeaway coffee set-up/station.
Council online resources
We have a number of online resources available to support your business.
- Access online tutorials for a beginner's guide to using Instagram and LinkedIn for your business. See Online business resources.
- To receive regular information and resources to support your business, subscribe to our Business Boroondara e-newsletter, BizBits.
- Learn about what permits may be required to get your business up and running. Contact Council's Business Support service.
- Register for an upcoming workshop or networking session.
- Register for free, online business mentoring for new and established business owners to address challenges and explore opportunities.
- Consider whether you can save money, help attract new customers, build better staff morale and support and protect the environment by becoming a sustainable business.
Local, state and federal supports
The City of Boroondara, Victorian Government and Australian Government are providing a range of supports and resources to assist businesses.
Council financial support
In April 2020, Council announced a $4.5million relief and recovery package, which provided financial support to businesses.
Outdoor dining
We introduced temporary outdoor dining spaces across Boroondara from late 2020 to assist the local economic recovery and support businesses to operate in a COVIDSafe way.
We fast tracked applications for businesses to establish new and extended outdoor dining spaces on:
- footpaths
- businesses’ private land (like courtyards and private car parks)
- public spaces (like parks, civic squares and pedestrian laneways)
- temporary parklets in car parking bays.
Trading in temporary parklets will end on 30 September 2021. We have offered businesses business that are trading on footpaths and other public spaces an extension to their permits. We are offering this free of charge until 30 September 2021.
From October 2021, we'll work with these businesses to transition back to our standard, paid footpath and public space trading permits that were in place before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Footpaths
If you already trade on the footpath, you can apply for an extension to your footpath trading area. This may be the best option for you if you are:
- looking for a quick and easy way to extend capacity for outdoor trading
- already holding a current permit for footpath trading
- clear of loading zones, disabled parking, bus or tram stops
If you don't already trade on the footpath, you can apply for a fast-tracked permit.
You can apply online for a footpath trading permit or for an extension to your current footpath trading area. You must have support from your neighbouring businesses.
Private land
You may have space on your property that can accommodate outdoor dining, such as a courtyard or on-site car park.
In many cases, businesses can use or construct temporary buildings in these spaces without the need to apply for, or amend an existing planning permit.
In some cases the law requires a planning permit (for example if the property is within the Heritage Overlay).
To help you determine if you require a planning permit, connect with our Planning team by calling 9278 4888 or emailing [email protected] to discuss requirements and identify next steps.
If you have any questions about the outdoor dining project, please email our Outdoor Trade team at [email protected]
Victorian Government financial support
Support is available from the Victorian Government to help businesses impacted by COVID-19.
- The Victorian Government Coronavirus hub provides information on financial support for businesses and workers and business grants and support.
- Business Victoria offers a range of grants and programs to support business.
- Learn more about support for commercial (including retail) tenants and landlords who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 from the Victorian Small Business Commission.
- Visit Jobs Victoria Fund for information on wage subsidies to assist Victorian businesses to employ at least 10,000 people who are looking for work.
Australian Government financial support
Support is also available from the Australian Government to help businesses impacted by COVID-19.
- The Australian Government provides information on COVID-19 financial assistance and support for businesses.
- The Australian Government Office for the Arts COVID-19 update includes funding and support opportunities for the cultural and creative sector.
- The Treasury department of the Australian Government offers a number of temporary assistance measures to support businesses to manage cash flow challenges and retain employees.
- The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) provides information and support for businesses having difficulty meeting tax and super obligations.
Other resources
For additional resources, support services, information and advice, see:
- The Victorian Government COVIDSafe workplaces information and resources
- The Victorian Government translated information about COVID-19
- The Victorian Government signs, posters and templates for your workplace
- The Victorian Government QR code and record keeping for contact tracing information and requirements for workers and visitors to your business or venue
- The Victorian Government information on checking in with QR codes
- The Australian Banking Association information on how banks are helping customers impacted by COVID-19
- Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) COVID-19 information for business
- Business Victoria COVID-19 information for your business and mental health in business resources
- Partners in Wellbeing helpline. Available on 1300 375 330, 9am-10pm weekdays and 9am-5pm weekends
- Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service. Available on 1800 512 348, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Ahead for Business hub supporting small business to be mentally healthy
- Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman My Business Health hub
- Indigenous Business Australia COVID-19 support
- The Victorian Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 resources for business
- The Australia Retailers Association free COVIDSafe retail business support services
- Support Act crisis relief services for artists, crew and music workers
- Safe Work Australia’s COVID-19 information for workplaces
- The Fair Work Helpline for free initial advice on your obligations as an employer
- Upskill My Business offer free online learning for small businesses
- Some Victorian TAFEs and Registered Training Organisations are delivering free infection control training for customer-facing employees
More information
For more information or assistance, contact our Local Economies team at [email protected] or on 9278 4444.