Discover business services for business owners. Call our Business Hotline for more information. Download our latest Business in Brisbane publications.
Council is committed to supporting Brisbane businesses.
We provide a range of resources, services and opportunities for businesses at any level of growth.
You may need planning approval to run a home-based business.
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.
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.
Some businesses or commercial activities need specific permissions or approvals to operate, including:
Discover more regulated activities and how to apply for permits.
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.
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.
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.
Council's food business program offers free tailored support to help Brisbane cafés and restaurants improve systems, menus and profitability.
The program gives you access to leading industry experts and practical, real-world tools to strengthen every part of your business.
In 2026, participants will work directly with Imagine Collective, a Brisbane-based consulting group specialising in:
Applications for the 2026 food business program are now closed.
Council sponsorship helps community and business groups bring proposals to life and create new opportunities for residents and visitors.
Examine the eligibility criteria and apply for sponsorship to get your idea off the ground.
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.
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.
From music venues to theatres and retail, Brisbane’s nighttime economy creates thousands of jobs and generates millions in revenue annually.
Council helps grow Brisbane’s nighttime economy by delivering initiatives and showcasing everything the city and suburbs offer after dark.
Council proudly supports the Queensland Government's Small Business Friendly program, helping small and family businesses succeed. Find out about our small business commitments and performance in the areas of community, connection and care.
Brisbane's business precincts are alive with shopping and dining opportunities.
As Brisbane prepares for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Council aims to promote precincts and enhance their value.
If you’re a business owner, you can access tools and resources to help attract customers to your local business precinct.
Council's visual merchandising training program offers fully-funded, tailored support to help Brisbane precinct retailers develop skills to enhance customer experience.
Council is committed to boosting innovation and entrepreneurship and is finding ways to support our city's future talent.
In 2025-26, Council is providing opportunities for entrepreneurial students to connect and learn by hosting a series of Future Founders Forums. These events aim to inspire our next generation of business leaders and will be held in locations across Brisbane. Each event will enable attendees to:
To further support business-minded students, Council has funded a number of places to participate in youth business training programs. These programs provide students additional support to help launch or grow their own businesses.
To register your interest in attending a forum and for more information about Council's youth entrepreneurship initiatives, email Council.
Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA), a Council-owned subsidiary, is the city’s official economic development board.
BEDA’s works to grow Brisbane’s economy, boost demand for the city, and create trade and growth opportunities for local businesses.
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.
Stay up to date with Council's business resources and services with our Business in Brisbane newsletter.
Business in Brisbane provides essential information on running a business, 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.
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 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.
The following government websites, government funded initiatives and other online resources provide useful information for Brisbane businesses.
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:
Our Better Brisbane initiative accepts market-led proposals that:
Learn more about Better Brisbane proposals to find out how to submit.
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