The 2010 Geelong Advertiser Business Excellence Awards are open to businesses that meet the following criteria:

• The business must operate on a local, regional, state, national or international level, with a significant base in the Geelong, Bellarine, Queenscliff, Surfcoast or Golden Plains regions.
• The business must have been registered and in operation in the region before May 1, 2009.
• The business will be judged on its operations during the period April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010.
• For the Sustainable Business category, the processes relating to sustainable practices must have been commenced and in operation within a 12 month period prior to the closing date for entries.
• Award sponsors and/or their various divisions or departments may enter categories that they are not sponsoring.