| Accounting | Accounting firms, taxation agents, financial management services |
| Agricultural Services | Farmers, packaging of primary products, support services, farming equipment |
| Alternative Therapy | Any medical treatments that are not traditional medicine techniques |
| Automotive Services | Mechanics, service centres, panel beaters, petrol stations, tyre fitters, car sales, car detailing, auto electrical, automotive accessories |
| Bakery/Cake Business | Cake shops, patisseries, bakeries, celebration cakes, home specialty, wholesale and retail |
| Beauty Product | Beauty products, skin care products, hair care products, body care and perfumes |
| Beauty Services | Beauty salon, day spa, laser/cosmetic, spray tans |
| Brows and Lashes | Eyebrow and eyelash services |
| Business Coaching | Business coaches guide a businessperson in the pursuit of their work goals |
| Business Services | Business to business services, sign writers, printers, publishing, office fitouts |
| Café | Café, coffee shop, coffee bar, casual dining |
| Children's Services | Children's entertainment, children's health and sporting |
| Cleaning Services | Cleaning companies residential and commercial |
| Cosmetic Specialist | Cosmetic injectables, Cosmetic aesthetics, non-surgical interventions |
| Creative Services | Specialists in design, content, and visual storytelling that elevate brands through impactful creative solutions. |
| Dental Services | Dentists, orthodontists, cosmetic dentistry |
| Disability Support Services | Providers of services and support for people living with disability |
| Early Childhood Services | Daycare, long daycare, family daycare, services |
| Educational Services | Tutoring, life coaching, industry training, first aid training, trade education, driving schools, swim schools |
| Environmental Business | Any business with a focus on environmental sustainability. |
| Event Services | Businesses that plan and organise promotional business and social events |
| Fashion | Men's fashion, women's fashion, children's fashion, formal wear, dress hire, boutiques, stylists |
| Fast Food/Takeaway Shop | Hamburger shops, fish & chips, takeaway franchises, sandwich shops, kebab shops, pizza takeaway |
| Financial Services | Mortgage broker, lending services, investment, lending, and management of money and assets |
| Fitness Services | Personal trainers, outdoor fitness, health and wellbeing, fitness coach/mentoring, gyms |
| Florist | Flower shops, flower deliveries, wholesale and retail |
| Hairdressers | Hairdressers, stylists, hair bars, mobile hairdressers |
| Health Improvement Services | Massage therapists, occupational therapy, accupuncture and alternative therapy |
| Home & Garden Improvement | Gardeners, furniture shops, furniture design, Garden products, trees, shrubs, fertilisers and garden tools |
| Home builder / renovations | Builder, granny flats, building renovations / additions |
| Information Technology | Businesses that provide IT services, products, and solutions, including software development, cybersecurity, and managed IT. |
| Jewellery | Jewellers, diamond traders, jewellery design |
| Legal Services | Matters of law, including advice, representation, document preparation and dispute resolution |
| Make-up Artist | Make-up studio, mobile make-up artist |
| Manufacturing | Raw materials are transformed into finished goods - including food, beauty, building products and accessories. |
| Marketing Services | Marketing, public relations, branding, graphic design, advertising services, direct mail, corporate video production |
| Most Inclusive | Entry into this category is nominated by NOVA Employment |
| Nail Artist | Nail salon, mobile nail artists |
| NDIS Provider | A person, business or organisation who delivers NDIS funded supports to participants |
| New Business | Businesses in the New Business category must be in operation for less than 2 years at the time of Awards entries closing date. |
| Not for Profit Small Business | A business that does not operate for profit, personal gain or other benefits of particular groups |
| Online Business | Businesses that have no shopfront and sell products in an online capacity |
| Performing Arts | Dance studios, music schools, acting schools, drama academies |
| Pet Services | Veterinarians, animal training, pet accessories, pet cremation |
| Physiotherapy | Experts in the human body and movement including sports injuries |
| Plumbing Services | Professional who fits and repairs pipes, fittings, and other apparatus of water supply, sanitation, or heating systems |
| Professional Medical Services | Qualified professionals conducting services directly related to the profession of the practice of medicine |
| Professional Services | Architects, ISO certification, research, SEO, web design |
| Real Estate | Real estate agents, buyers agents, commercial agents |
| Recruitment Services | Recruitment agencies, work placement |
| Restaurant | Fine dining and family restaurants |
| Services | Delivering expert services without physical products |
| Social Enterprise Business | Any business that applies strategies to maximise improvements in financial, social and environmental wellbeing |
| Sole Operator | Any business that is owned and operated by a single individual and do not have staff |
| Specialised Retail Small Business | Retail businesses that focus on specific product categories |
| Specialised Small Business | Any business that specialises in industry services. |
| Tourism | Hotels, accommodation, tour operators, bed and breakfast, souvenir shops |
| Trade Services | Specialised trade services |
| Transport and Logistics | Transport companies, warehousing and distribution, shipping management, freight forwarding |
| Wedding Services | Bridal wear, dress design, wedding planners, wedding mc, venues, wedding car hire, marriage celebrant |
| Women's Organisation | Organisations that develop, connect and deliver support and advice to women. Networking organisations, associations |
