Starting or growing a business in regional Victoria has real advantages. Lower costs, a skilled and growing workforce, strong community loyalty and government support all help create favourable conditions, particularly for small and medium enterprises.
A different kind of business environment
Regional Victoria's five distinct economies each have their own strengths, from Geelong's advanced manufacturing and professional services to Gippsland's energy transition and agribusiness; Ballarat and Bendigo's health and education sectors; and the Loddon Mallee's manufacturing, horticulture, and critical minerals industries. Whatever your field, there is a regional economy where your business can thrive.
With growing populations, expanding infrastructure, and ongoing investment in industry and services, regional Victoria supports businesses of all sizes, from innovative startups and medium enterprises to large-scale operations.
Nationally significant institutions in health, education, manufacturing, and energy are established across the regions, reflecting the depth of infrastructure, professional networks, and systems that make regional Victoria a serious place to do business.
Low costs, loyal customers
Business overheads in regional Victoria (such as rent, land prices, and labour costs) tend to be lower than metropolitan prices. So if your business has significant premises and infrastructure costs, regional Victoria gives you room to grow.
Fast internet is available across the regions, and with e-commerce and online service delivery now standard, you can confidently run a national or global business from any regional base.
Regional businesses also benefit from the loyalty of their customer base. Locally owned businesses in regional Victoria are actively supported by residents who really value their contribution to community life.
Government support and infrastructure
Regional businesses and investors can access government programs, grants and incentives designed to support growth in the regions.
Grants and programs
- Regional Development Victoria supports businesses across all five regions through grants, programs, and direct advisory services.
- Business Victoria provides tools, resources, and support for businesses at every stage.
- Local councils and regional business chambers offer networking events, streamlined planning processes, and connections to local networks.
Industrial precincts
Purpose-built industrial and employment precincts provide the infrastructure, connectivity, and co-location benefits that modern businesses need across the regions. For example:
- The Ballarat West Employment Zone (438 hectares) is one of Victoria's largest industrial precincts.
- The Parwan and Bacchus Marsh agriculture and processing precinct covers 2,880 hectares with 1,500 direct jobs.
- The Gippsland Logistics and Manufacturing Precinct, located in Morwell in the Latrobe Valley, is a purpose-built industrial site with direct rail access to the Port of Melbourne. Focused on advanced manufacturing, transport, and logistics, the precinct is forecast to create up to 1,000 jobs when fully operational.
- The Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct is a 294-hectare industrial site south of Bendigo, focused on advanced manufacturing and logistics. Currently in development with $6 million in Victorian Government investment, it is projected to support around 3,000 jobs, providing long-term industrial land supply for one of regional Victoria's fastest-growing cities.
Workforce pipeline
Universities, TAFEs, and vocational training providers operate across all five regions, producing a steady stream of qualified graduates in healthcare, engineering, construction, hospitality, and more. If you're hiring locally, the talent pool is deep and growing.
In 2008, Liping and her son Tony visited Australia on a holiday and quickly fell in love with the Victorian lifestyle. She described how the state stood out as the most liveable and stress-free place to start a business when compared to the other major cities they had visited. She purchased Lake Cooper Estate and has developed it into an award-winning winery. - Liping Wang from China, settled in Heathcote.