At Yellow Round Table, our mission is to help Australian businesses do good business. by building strong foundations that cut the red tape!

Our zone of genius? The business permits your business needs to start, scale, and survive.

But before we dive in, now is a good time for you to grab a drink.

When it comes to business permits, no two businesses are the same.

It doesn’t matter if your business operates from home or a commercial property. The reason why no two businesses are the same is because of your address.

First off, your Council will not be able to provide you with specific permit information, unless you provide them with an address.

You don’t need to own or have leased a property; you just need to provide a (home or commercial) address. If you don’t have an address, the information is generic or they will advise you to come back with an address.

This is a very valuable piece of information for businesses to know.

The reason why your business needs to provide this information when applying for business permits

There are specific rules associated with your business address.

An address can either make or break your business.

From car parking, building structure, serving food/drinks, tables and chairs, signage, noise, number of customers/staff. waste; these all relate and at times, can trigger a business permit.

What are business permits?

When we refer to business permits, we are referring to ALL permits your business may/may not require from your Local Council.

To break business permits down for you, we have broken this down into four key areas.

This will provide some insight into a Local Council’s regulatory teams.

They are:

Statutory Planning

Decisions made by your Local Council’s Statutory Planning department are in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Your Local Council will also have other policies and strategies including a Planning Scheme.

Environmental Health

Environmental Health administer and issue permits in accordance with the Food Act 1987 and the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

Local Laws

As there are 79 Local Council’s in Victoria, this means that there are 79 different General Local Laws.

A Local Law is a requirement under the Local Government Act 1989.

Building

Your Local Council’s Building Surveyor or private registered Building Surveyor will make decisions and issue permits in accordance with the Building Regulations 2018 and Building Act 1993.

Avoid making this mistake when looking at properties for your business

Before we sign off, we wanted to tell you this important piece of information as it’s a common mistake businesses make.

The mistake is businesses buy properties or sign leases for properties prior to speaking with their Local Council.

We encourage you to speak to your Local Council first for advice, before making a decision.

Your Local Council will also let you know if you require additional advice from other State Government authorities or may need to engage external consultants to help you with your business permit application.

Need some extra business support?

On the contrary, you can always book in a consultation with Rania from Yellow Round Table today

She’s a leading expert in all things business permits in Victoria and has helped thousands of businesses develop strategies and proposals to start and scale their dream.

She’ll also educate you on the entire statutory process (what you need to know and ask for) prior to you engaging your Local Council or real estate agent.

It’s about setting you up for success and building a strong foundation for your business.

Who has a seat at your round table?

You may need many experts and specialists sitting at your round table to help you throughout your business journey.

From lawyers, accountants, building surveyors, statutory planners and maybe a business professional like Rania too?

If you are serious about building strong foundations for your business kingdom, you’ll have the right people helping you make decisions and take action.

We are excited to announce that Yellow Round Table has won the best new start up award at the 2023 Hume Business Awards.

The Hume Local Government Area (LGA) has long been a hub of economic growth, and the year 2021/22 was no exception, with an impressive 8.8% increase in Gross Regional Product (GRP), reaching $16.7 billion. The region saw a 6.6% rise in employed residents, further underscoring the vitality of this area.

Our start up journey:

Our journey as a start up began in 2022, and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short time. Founded by Rania Fayad and Kevin Mullins, a husband and wife team with a combined experience of over 40 years, Yellow Round Table is on a mission to transform communities, businesses and incorporated associations.

We’re not your typical consultancy, we push boundaries, champion progress and are trusted partners committed to driving positive change. Our vision for the future revolves around creating vibrant main streets, thriving businesses and connected communities, and this award reaffirms our commitment to that vision.

A year of achievements:

In our first year of business, we have already accomplished some remarkable feats:

Mainstreet Australia Conference keynote:

Rania was invited to deliver a keynote presentation at the Mainstreet Australia Conference in August 2022. Her insights into the complex process of establishing a main street marketing and business development fund, also known as Special Rates (a statutory process), positioned her as a thought leader and advocate for investing in local economies. She emphasised the importance of providing opportunities to businesses operating in shopping precincts and town centres across Australia.

Mainstreet Champion Finalist:

Rania was shortlisted as a Mainstreet Champion in the 2023 Mainstreet Australia Awards. This recognition highlights her leadership and dedication to educating volunteer led incorporated associations and organisations on advocacy, governance, marketing, and Special Rates.

Sustainability in Business Accelerator Program:

We are proud participants in the Hume City Council’s Start North and YGAP’s Sustainability in Business Accelerator Program, further cementing our commitment to principled, purpose driven business practices.

Pitch night triumph:

Rania’s victory during the Sustainability in Business pitch night celebration showcased her energy, warmth, and the scalability of our innovative services.

Industry Leader and Mentor:

Rania was invited by Common Purpose to participate in RMIT University’s Open Doors – Industry Unlocked session as a purpose driven, industry expert that was hosted by the India Chamber of Commerce (AICC). She had the privilege of sharing her insights with the next generation of leaders, emphasising the importance of building authentic relationships, networking, and shared tactics on how to influence positive change.

Our unique approach to business

What sets us apart is our approach. We don’t just offer consulting services; we build lasting partnerships with our clients. We pride ourselves on our ability to break down complex concepts into relatable ideas, creating connections that extend beyond mere transactions.

We’re known for our passion and enthusiasm, injecting life and excitement into topics that may seem mundane to others. Our commitment to cutting through red tape and bureaucracy is well received by our clients, and it’s why we proudly call ourselves a strategic partner at your round table.

Pioneering Business Consultancy

As pioneers in the business consultancy landscape, we hold the distinction of being the first to market. This unique positioning allows us to tackle challenges with fresh perspectives, making us stand out from the crowd.

We also want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our clients. Your belief and early adoption of our unique services has been instrumental in helping us reach this incredible milestone. Thank you for your support, investing in our small business and we look forward to continuing our work together.

Our journey is just beginning, but we’re already making a significant impact in our industry. We’re excited to continue this remarkable journey and bring about positive change. To read the media release and find out more about the winners, click here.

Exclusive offer

Are you considering starting a business in Victoria the new year? In celebration of Yellow Round Table’s gold win in the start up category, we’re offering a limited number of exclusive, secret deals designed to kickstart your entrepreneurship journey. We have limited spots available for an exclusive, secret offer designed to help you start your journey on the right foot. Send us a direct message or contact us with the code STARTUP and we’ll help you make your business idea a reality.

With extensive experience in compliance, economic development and facilitating pre application meetings with business owners and technical regulatory departments, we specialise in helping start, grow, and scale businesses. Having assisted thousands of home, commercial and mobile based business owners, we’re well equipped to identify potential pitfalls and streamline the process.

If you want to steer clear of costly mistakes and cut through red tape, consider booking a 90 minute strategy session with Rania to discuss your business.

In Australia, the term “main street” might not be as commonly used as in other parts of the world.

A main street typically serves as the primary retail hub in various communities including:

1. Business Precincts

2. Town Centres

3. Business Activity Centres

4. Shopping Precincts

5. Shopping Precincts

6. Shopping Villages

You might refer to your local main street by various names, such as “the shops,” “the local,” or even as if they were a friend, like “… just heading to see [insert name of friendly business owner here] to grab X, Y Z.”

The Heart of our Communities

I like to think of main streets as social, cultural and vibrant grassroots meeting places in our neighbourhoods. They come in various forms and are filled with a diverse range independently and mostly family owned and operated shops and retailers, offering an array of goods and services such as:

Grocery shops, banks, medical clinics, veterinary clinics, cafes, beauty salons. accountants, butchers, pubs, bakeries, physiotherapists, pharmacies, restaurants, art galleries, op shops, live music venues, retailers, mechanics, hardware stores, industrial businesses, real estate agencies, service based professionals, bookshops, homeware shops, major retailers and more!

From an economic perspective, main streets offer a vast range of employment opportunities, market local businesses, boost local economies and investment, increase tourism visitation and play an active role in our everyday lives.

As you can see, a main street is so much more than we think.

They are places where great memories and moments have taken place in our local community, and often set the scene for a great story.

Personal Connection

My connection to Melbourne’s North, encompassing areas like Reservoir, Preston, Brunswick, Coburg, Carlton and Northcote, has given me a unique perspective on the often overlooked value of main streets as vibrant community hubs.

This connection is deeply rooted in my Lebanese heritage, which has profoundly shaped my understanding of the significance of community spaces, particularly main streets. My father, whom we affectionately call ‘Baba,’ was a trailblazer in our family, venturing into Australia in search of new opportunities.

Baba’s journey began in a modest way, working at a well known dessert shop where he had the honour of serving an Australian Ambassador in Lebanon. This experience ignited his entrepreneurial spirit and inspired him to pursue a new life in Australia, a journey that led him to a bustling main street – Lygon Street in Carlton.

It was on this lively main street that Bab truly realised the untapped potential of such community centres. Through his unwavering work ethic and dedication, he not only built a thriving business but also transformed our lives. His journey is a testament to the hidden value that main streets bring to their communities.

By reuniting our family and bringing them from Lebanon to Melbourne, Baba’s success highlights the profound impact of main streets as more than just business districts or shopping precincts. They are heartwarming, diverse and invaluable community spaces. These streets are where stories like our, filled with determination, perseverance and achievement, come to life.

As we celebrate the unique and vibrant main streets in our communities, we acknowledge that many other families have similar stories to share. It’s these shared experiences that further underscore the vital role of main streets as hidden gems, uniting and enriching our neighbourhoods.

Join the Movement

If you operate a commercial business in Victoria and are interested in establishing your own incorporated business association or starting/renewing Special Rate funding in your shopping precinct, please get in touch with Rania Fayad, from Yellow Round Table to discuss.

To learn more about Rania and Yellow Round Table, consider the following resources:

• Rania delivered a keynote presentation at the metropolitan and regional 2022 Mainstreet Australia Conference on how to establish a main street marketing and business development fund, also known as Special Rates (a statutory process). This is an option that unfunded incorporated business associations in main streets, shopping precincts and town centres can explore.
• Yellow Round Table is listed as a consultant on the Mainstreet Australia Supplier Directory. Mainstreet Australia the peak industry body advocating for local shopping precincts.
• Explore the Yellow Round Table website to learn about services, experiences, and how our team can support your business association.
• Follow Yellow Round Table on Instagram.
• Connect with Rania Fayad on LinkedIn.
• Schedule a free 15 minute Clarity Call to discuss your specific needs and goals.