- Business Readiness Health Check
This easy-to-use tool from the Queensland Government helps assess your new business idea, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. You’ll get a personalized report with key insights and practical resources to support your business launch. - Business Launchpad
This Queensland Government digital tool helps you understand the licences, permits, and regulations your business needs at the Local, State, and Federal levels. - Business Planning Resources
The Queensland Government’s business planning resources make it easy to get your business on track. Learn how to create a business plan, write operational documents, and set goals with helpful videos, templates, and a webinar recording. - Data to understand your market and location
Use Brisbane’s Community Profiles to access detailed statistics about local residents, workers, and businesses. These profiles are automatically generated with the latest demographic, social, and economic data. - Australian Tax Office
Find information on tax issues, basics for small businesses, superannuation, record-keeping, and your business obligations.
Business services
Discover business services for business owners. Call our Business Hotline for more information. Download our latest Business in Brisbane publications.
Regulatory support to run a business
Council is committed to supporting Brisbane businesses.
We provide a range of resources, services and opportunities for businesses at any level of growth.
Home-based business
You may need planning approval to run a home-based business.
Pop-up shops
If you run a small business, a pop-up shop can help to showcase your product and find new customers.
Find out how to get started and what else to consider.
Food business
Starting a food business? Make sure you have all the necessary licences and permits.
These licences and permits help to ensure the way food is handled and served is safe.
Laws and permits
Some businesses or commercial activities need specific permissions or approvals to operate, including:
Discover more regulated activities and how to apply for permits.
Support programs
Council runs programs, workshops and forums to help local businesses develop, grow and thrive.
We also host and support events, awards and initiatives that honour the contribution businesses make to the city's economy.
Business events
We offer a range of business events and workshops for local Brisbane businesses. Register for local business training and workshops. Find networking events to make new contacts.
See our upcoming events.
Business networks
Brisbane's business networks aim to provide connection and community for business owners in Brisbane.
Discover local business networks and the benefits they can bring your business.
Funding support
Council sponsorship can help community and business groups bring their proposals to life and create opportunities for our residents and visitors.
Examine the eligibility criteria and apply for sponsorship to get your idea off the ground.
International opportunities
Our international business programs aim to improve international opportunities for Brisbane-based businesses.
Find out how your business can benefit, from trade missions to connecting with talented international tertiary students.
Maker Entrepreneurship program
Our Maker Entrepreneurship Program offers free business skills training to makers in Brisbane.
It supports independent, artisan and bespoke creators. This includes artists, designers, jewellers and woodworkers.
Learn more about the program’s eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Nighttime economy
From music venues to theatres, recreation to retail, our nighttime economy supports thousands of jobs and generates millions of dollars in revenue each year.
Council supports the growth of Brisbane’s nighttime economy by delivering initiatives and promoting all that the city and suburbs have to offer after dark.
Small businesses programs
We are committed to supporting small businesses to make business easier and maintain high service standards.
Find out about our programs designed for small businesses in Brisbane, including self-assessable signage requirements.
Vibrant and active precincts
Brisbane's business precincts are alive with shopping and dining opportunities.
As our city looks toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Council wants to promote these precincts and enhance their value for residents and visitors.
If you’re a business owner, you can access tools and resources to help attract customers to your local business precinct.
Youth entrepreneurship
Council is committed to boosting entrepreneurship within our economy and is investigating ways to retain future talent.
We'll be meeting with young people from across Brisbane to learn what support they need to start and run their own businesses.
We've met with representatives of organisations dedicated to youth entrepreneurship.
In May 2025, we also met with business-minded high school students to:
- learn more about their business experiences
- understand the type of support they need to pursue their future entrepreneurial endeavours
- provide an opportunity to learn from other young entrepreneurs and build connections.
For more information, email Council.
Brisbane Economic Development Agency
Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Council and is the city’s official economic development board.
BEDA’s role is to grow Brisbane’s economy, drive demand for our city, and create growth and trade opportunities for local businesses.
Find useful services
Further support and resources
Join the Business in Brisbane Facebook group
Brisbane businesses can join our Business in Brisbane Facebook group to connect with like-minded people and keep up to date about opportunities and information for business.
Business in Brisbane newsletter
Stay up to date with Council's business resources and services with our Business in Brisbane newsletter.
Business in Brisbane has everything you need to know about running a business in Brisbane, including Council support, grants, opportunities and events.
Read the latest edition of the Business in Brisbane e-newsletter and sign up to receive it monthly.
The print edition of Business in Brisbane is available quarterly from Council business hubs, libraries and ward offices.
The local economy
Council regularly gathers information about Brisbane’s economy, including important statistics and research.
Check out key economic facts on population, resident labour force, projected jobs growth and more.
Community profiles
Community profiles provide the latest demographic, social and economic data about your chosen area.
Using community profiles can help you tailor strategies for your business and build better connections in your local community.
Discover how to create a community profile and how it can help you make informed decisions.
Online resources for business
The following government websites, government funded initiatives and other online resources provide useful information for Brisbane businesses.
- Growing your business checklist
The Australian Government’s growing your business checklist can help you explore opportunities for growth. - Tips to improve your business
The Queensland Government offers ideas, tools, and actions to help you identify areas for improvement across different parts of your business. - Grants
- Business Mentors
- Exporting
- Free consultations from Trade and Investment Queensland
- Services, toolkits and grants from Austrade
- IDCARE for Small Business
Strengthen your cyber resilience with IDCARE, a not-for-profit offering free expert support to small businesses. Whether you're facing an incident, suspect phishing, or want to check your cyber health, IDCARE can help assess your needs or assist in recovery. - Cyber Wardens
The free Cyber Wardens online course takes just 45 minutes and offers practical cyber safety solutions to protect your business. It’s an initiative by COSBOA, supported by the Australian Government, Telstra, CommBank, and the Australian Cyber Security Centre. - Scamwatch
Scamwatch, run by the ACCC, provides information for small businesses and consumers on how to recognize, avoid, and report scams.
- Develop a Business Continuity Plan
The Queensland Government’s business continuity planning template helps you create a risk management, incident response, and recovery plan. - Business Insurance
The Queensland Government offers information on insurance options to help manage risk and protect your business from loss. - Business Security Assessment Guide
The Queensland Police Service’s Business Security Assessment Guide helps you review your business security and identify risks. Complete the template yourself or request an on-site assessment. - Plan for a network outage
The Australian Government offers tips to help prepare your business for unexpected outages due to emergencies or network faults.
- Sustainable Business Hub
The Brisbane Sustainability Agency offers resources and exclusive deals to help reduce costs and environmental impact. - Reducing business waste
Council's business recycling program offers cost-effective waste management solutions, saving time and money while reducing landfill waste. Local businesses with fewer than 100 employees get free access to the ASPIRE waste exchange platform.
- Online Learning Portal - Brisbane Business Hub
Businesses with a registered ABN and fewer than 20 employees can access on-demand online courses on leadership, marketing, and IT. - Digital Solutions free monthly business webinars
Digital Solutions, a not-for-profit digital marketing leader, offers free monthly webinars on various digital topics. - Regional Business HQ free online webinars
Regional Business HQ offers free business webinars for Brisbane small businesses.
- Queensland Small Business Commissioner
The Queensland Small Business Commissioner offers factsheets on common disputes and mediation services for lease or business-to-business issues. - Prevent, manage and resolve disputes
The Australian Government offers resources and tips to help businesses prevent, manage, and resolve disputes.
Business initiatives and proposals
Great ideas shouldn’t wait for a tender. We're open to collaborating on proposals that make Brisbane even better.
Submit a proposal to Council if you have an innovative and original idea that:
- solves a problem
- addresses an opportunity for Brisbane
- enhances our services.
Our Better Brisbane initiative accepts market-led proposals that:
- represent value for money
- contribute to the Brisbane Vision 2031.
Learn more about Better Brisbane proposals to find out how to submit.
