Bendigo is the biggest city in north-central Victoria, about 150 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. This guide sticks to local facts: where the city is growing, what its economy runs on, where businesses cluster, what the City of Greater Bendigo and the state offer, and the steps to take. It ends with one option for home-related businesses, a flooring showroom, and who it suits.
The short version. Greater Bendigo had 126,568 residents in June 2025, up 1,275 in a year, and 852 new homes were approved there in 2025–26. Health care is the biggest employer. The City wants most new homes in existing suburbs, though Huntly and Strathfieldsaye took about half of those built in 2024, and a new industrial precinct near Marong was rezoned in October 2026. Start with the City's business help desk.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
How is Bendigo growing?
The ABS counted 126,568 people in Greater Bendigo at 30 June 2025, up 1,275 (1.0%) in a year, against 1.8% for Victoria. The gain split fairly evenly between births outnumbering deaths (450), people arriving from elsewhere in Australia (423, net) and overseas arrivals (402, net).
The City's snapshot cites a forecast of about 172,000 people by 2046, and Plan for Victoria targets 37,000 new homes by 2051: 26,000 in existing areas and 11,000 on greenfield land. Forecasts and targets can change.
Where are Bendigo's new homes going up?
The ABS shows 852 new homes approved in Greater Bendigo in 2025–26, 764 of them houses. Approvals aren't finished homes, but they show what's coming.
The City's Managed Growth Strategy aims for more than two-thirds of new housing to go into areas that already have homes, including townhouses and some three- and four-storey apartments. The rest goes to growth areas, led by Huntly and Strathfieldsaye. The City says 49% of homes built in 2024 were there, though its table shows 143 new homes across both in 2025, down from 311 in 2024.
Elsewhere, the Minister for Planning has approved changes for Marong township, structure plans are being drafted for Huntly, Elmore and Goornong, and Maiden Gully, west of the city, has had an adopted precinct structure plan since September 2020. Our guide to new housing estates in regional Victoria has a Bendigo section.
What does Bendigo's economy run on?
Greater Bendigo had about 60,000 local jobs in 2024/25, on economy.id's modelled figures. Health care and social assistance leads by a distance, ahead of retail, education, construction and manufacturing. Compared with Victoria, Bendigo leans towards health care and mining and away from professional services.
| Industry | Share of Bendigo's jobs | Share of Victoria's jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 21.6% | 15.6% |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | 9.2% |
| Education and training | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| Construction | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | 7.3% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 5.2% | 9.7% |
| Mining | 3.4% | 0.3% |
The City calls Bendigo a largely self-contained regional centre, with more than 90% of its workforce living locally. That points to local staff as well as local customers.
Where do Bendigo's businesses cluster?
The city centre. About 18,000 people work there, the City says, and around three million visitors come to Greater Bendigo each year. Its City Centre Action Plan 2026–2029 includes short-term leases and pop-ups for vacant spaces, and reopening Hargreaves Street Mall to traffic. The City says Bendigo's streetscapes and historic buildings show its gold-rush past, so ask the planners whether an address is in a heritage area before you plan works or signs.
Suburban centres. The City's activity centre strategy (2015) names Kangaroo Flat, Strathdale, Eaglehawk, Epsom and Strathfieldsaye among its neighbourhood centres, with Huntly and Maiden Gully planned.
Industrial land. The Victorian Planning Authority says the City's industrial land strategy points to a shortage of large, serviced lots, and names the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct, south of Marong, as the highest priority for the short to medium term. An amendment gazetted on 6 October 2026 rezoned the land from farming to industrial use: 206 hectares at full build-out, with access to around 3,000 jobs. Rezoning isn't building, so plans and services come next.
Showroom-style sites. The 2015 strategy says bulky goods shopping needs large sites and highway exposure. Our location guide covers what a showroom needs.
What help does the City of Greater Bendigo offer?
Start with the City's business help desk, open on weekdays. It can tell you which parts of the City you'll deal with and what support exists, and the City suggests calling before you apply if you need more than one permit.
The permits it lists are planning (use of land and signs), building (alterations), food, hair, beauty and skin penetration, footpath trading (tables and A-frames) and accommodation. Planners offer pre-application advice and free Duty Planner appointments. Working from home? The City says you may not need a planning permit if you meet its limits on staff, floor area, vehicles and signs.
The City works with the local chamber of commerce, Be.Bendigo, and its Business Matters newsletter reaches more than 4,000 businesses. It has also signed the Victorian Small Business Commission's Small Business Friendly Charter, which includes streamlining approvals and paying small suppliers promptly.
What state and federal support can you use?
Business Victoria has a start-a-business checklist, from market research to registrations and insurance. Its Small Business Bus visits regional Victoria, with bookings essential and virtual coaching if the bus isn't near you.
Regional Development Victoria lists a regional business centre and office in Bendigo, a local contact point for businesses wanting to use state programs. Check each program's rules before you plan around it.
The Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) explains retail leases, including that a landlord must give you a disclosure statement at least 14 days before you enter one, and offers low-cost dispute resolution.
business.gov.au points to the Australian Government's Business Registration Service, where you apply for an ABN and other registrations in one place, and has a free grants and programs finder with a regional filter.
Greater Bendigo is also on the regional list that Victoria's state tax office, the SRO, uses for two rules. Employers that pay at least 85% of their Victorian wages to regional staff pay payroll tax at 1.2125% instead of 4.85%, though payroll tax only applies above a tax-free threshold. And buying eligible commercial or industrial property attracts a 50% duty concession, though leases don't. Ask an accountant whether either applies to you.
How do you start a business in Bendigo?
- Test the idea. Business Victoria's checklist starts with market research.
- Register. Apply for an ABN, a business name and, when due, GST.
- Check permits. Use ABLIS, the licence finder the City links to, then call the help desk.
- Choose the site. Ask the planners about zoning, signs and heritage for the address.
- Read the lease. Get the disclosure statement and have a lawyer review the lease.
- Sort insurance and staff. Arrange insurance and WorkCover before you hire. Our setup checklist covers each step.
- Get advice. Book a Small Business Bus or virtual coaching session and join the local network.
Why does housing growth matter for home-related businesses?
Every new home needs floors, and so do renovations and homes that change hands. The same goes for builders, trades, landscapers, kitchen suppliers and homewares retailers. But approvals aren't completions, and Bendigo grew more slowly than the state, so plan for quiet years as well as busy ones. Our guides to where regional Victoria is growing and whether the flooring industry is growing have the wider figures.
Is a National Floors franchise an option in Bendigo?
It's one option, not the only one. Bendigo is one of 11 open National Floors franchise territories in Victoria. Our nearest showroom, Thomastown, is about two hours away. A 60-minute drive from central Bendigo reaches Strathfieldsaye, Huntly, Marong, Castlemaine and Heathcote, but that's indicative. Each franchise has a non-exclusive Local Marketing Area, and your franchise agreement sets the exact boundary.
The estimated total investment is $318,200 to $606,750 + GST, depending on your site and fit-out. National Floors doesn't offer financing, but you can talk to third-party lenders about funding. Ongoing fees are a 6% royalty and a 1% national marketing levy on gross sales, plus local marketing of at least $2,500 a month and a technology fee of $450 a month. Expect to be on the floor six days a week.
It won't suit everyone. If you'd rather choose your own name, ranges and suppliers, compare franchise vs independent flooring store. Our guides also explain what the fees pay for, how franchise finance works and what happens at a discovery call. You'd receive the Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement, a copy of the Code, leasing information and related agreements at least 14 days before signing, with a 14-day cooling-off period after. Check whether Bendigo is still open.
Questions
Is Bendigo a good place to start a business?
It depends on the business. Greater Bendigo has 126,568 residents and is growing, though more slowly than Victoria as a whole. Most customers and staff will be local, so test demand before you commit.
Does the City of Greater Bendigo help new businesses?
Yes. Its business help desk explains which permits you may need and what support exists, and its planners offer pre-application advice and free Duty Planner appointments.
Do I need a permit to start a business in Bendigo?
It depends on what you do and where. The City lists planning, building, food, hair, beauty and skin penetration, footpath trading and accommodation permits, and the help desk can say which apply.
Where are Bendigo's new homes being built?
Mainly Huntly and Strathfieldsaye, according to the City's annual report, with Marong, Maiden Gully, Elmore and Goornong in the plans. The City also aims for more than two-thirds of new housing to go into existing suburbs.
Is a flooring franchise available in Bendigo?
As of October 2026, Bendigo is one of 11 open National Floors territories. Check whether it's still open.
Sources
- ABS: Regional population, 2024–25 and Building Approvals, Australia, August 2026
- Plan for Victoria: housing targets
- economy.id: City of Greater Bendigo, employment by industry, 2024/25
- City of Greater Bendigo: Bendigo snapshot, Our region, Business, Business support, Resources for new businesses and Planning
- City of Greater Bendigo: Managed Growth Strategy annual report 2025–2026, Maiden Gully Precinct Structure Plan, City Centre Action Plan adopted, 27 May 2026 and Commercial Land and Activity Centre Strategy, 2015
- Victorian Planning Authority: Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct
- VSBC: Small business friendly councils and Entering into a retail lease
- Business Victoria: Become a business owner and Small Business Bus
- Regional Development Victoria: Contacts and assistance
- business.gov.au: Business Registration Service and Grants and programs finder
- SRO Victoria: Regional employers (payroll tax) and Regional commercial and industrial property concession
- National Floors: the franchise opportunity, fees and FAQ and Bendigo territory page, drive times checked 7 October 2026