Starting a new business is both exciting and challenging. Find permits, guides, news and other resources for starting a new business.

Running your business from home can be a perfect way to balance work and family commitments. Or you might be just starting out and wanting to minimise your overheads.

Manningham is home to a large number of home based businesses and we actively support and encourage this business community.

A home based business is run from a residential premises or building in which the owner of the business lives.

It is important to distinguish between people who may be working from home, and those who are running a business from home. A home based business operator runs a business from home, and doesn’t work from home for an external organisation.
 

Is my business appropriate to run from home?

Council has certain requirements for home based businesses. These requirements help to ensure that your business won’t have a negative impact on your neighbours or the neighbourhood.

The most appropriate businesses or occupations to be conducted from the home are those where:

• only two employees who do not live in the home but work in the occupation or business operating in the home
• a room or space is set up for the business or occupation away from the rest of the household so that it is not affected by household noises or interruptions if you plan to meet clients at home
• the product or service does not require large storage areas, administration or waiting areas
• the product or service has only few deliveries and they only occur during normal business hours or daylight hours on weekends
• the product or service does not create noise pollution or any other disturbance that can affect the local neighbourhood.

What kind of advertising signage can I have?

In all residential zones, home based businesses are permitted to have signage which displays business identification information. A total of 0.2 square metres of advertising is permitted without a planning permit.

The information which is acceptable on this sign includes:

• business name
• short service description
• contact number.

For any sign not meeting these requirements, you must apply to the Statutory Planning team on 9840 9333.

Read Clause 52.05 in the Manningham Planning Scheme for the full details about signage requirements.

More information

The Manningham Planning Scheme provides more information about home based businesses.

Find out which businesses need a permit and where you can get advice.

Below is a list of all common permits and fees related to your business. Permits often need to be renewed annually as regulations and your business activities change.

Food businesses

If you plan to sell food within our community there are a range of regulations you need to be aware of. A food business registration ensures that you have met these essential requirements and are needed before you start trading.

Footpath trading permits

Use our shared spaces to safely show off your wares, meet and greet your customers and provides a welcoming entry to your shop. A footpath trading permit allows you to have items such as tables and chairs, planter boxes and other decorative items.

Parking permits

Parking permits help make sharing parking spaces easier for you and your customers. Whether its a big delivery or sale day, parking permits keep it fair for everyone. 

Building and planning permits

You may want to upgrade your shop or expand out the back. You will need the right permits in place before works begin. Find out what property and development permits you need.

Health and beauty businesses

For health or beauty business registrations. 

Accommodation businesses

For prescribed accommodation business registrations. 

Events, arts and recreation permits

Real estate signage

Find out the requirements for real estate advertising and promotion of properties for sale.

Depending on the type of business you're running, you may need one or more business permits.

Our Procurement activities must be transparent and ethical with demonstrated integrity, fairness and accountability that meets relevant legal requirements.

Register to view tenders

We use the eTendering Portal, eProcure to advertise and manage all open Tenders, Requests for Quotation and Expression of Interest.

After registration you can:

• View and/or download full documents for all current and future opportunities.
• Access tender Q & A forum.
• Securely submit responses online.

Register now

If you would like to do business with us, there’s a few things to understand about the local government procurement process.

The source of our procurement policy is from the Local Government Act 2020.

Keep in mind that you’re dealing with ratepayers, not shareholders.

Tenders involve:

• Public money.
• Legal and value for money basis for decisions.
• Audits and reviews.

Make sure you:

• Read the tender or quote carefully and understand all requirements.
• Respond to questions in the right format.
• Provide pricing in the correct structure.
• Submit by the deadline.
• Make submissions clear and easy to understand.
• Consider the sustainable outcomes we require.

How to create a great tender

Broadly speaking, we seek:

• open and fair competition that provides value for money
• clear guidelines to allow consistency and control
• demonstrated accountability to our community
• ethical behaviour
• the best outcomes for our community.

We’re always looking for suppliers who practice fairness and are also innovative.

What we look for in our suppliers

We seek suppliers who are able to generate and support local businesses (where practicable) and who are committed to generating sustainable benefits (such as social, economic and environmental benefits).

We want them to have certain attributes such as:

• providing value
• a history of work in the area
• the financial capacity to deliver
• complying with relevant legislation
• reliability
• professionalism.

Potentially we’ll ask prospective suppliers about their:

• qualifications, skills and experience
• trading history
• contract history
• quality management
• references
• occupational health and safety
• equal employment opportunity history
• environmental management policy
• risk management policy
• insurance details.

Remember to only provide the information requested and describe your organisation accurately.

*While every care has been taken in preparing this publication, Manningham Council accepts no responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement, expressed or implied, contained within.

Are you looking for?

• Current tenders
• Tenders under Evaluations
• Awarded Tenders