The Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst co-ordinates the annual awards, with Powercor Australia the major sponsor this year. 

Bendigo Business Excellence Awards chairman Gerard House said the awards aimed to recognise excellence in business and "people living up to their promise".

"If you promise excellent service and through the service you deliver that excellent service - we consider that to be the primary focus of the awards," he said.

Mr House said there were many benefits to winning an award, such as an increase in marketing opportunities.

"The process we work through invariably brings the strongest to the top," he said.

"If you win a category through this process, then you can be assured you have been well and truly vetted against the entry that you put in.

"You can't just put in a first-class entry and not live up to it."

The community is required to nominate a business.

The awards committee will then contact the nominated businesses and ask them to fill out an entry application. 

The awards are presented at a ceremony at the All Seasons Hotel in October. 

Visit www.bbea.com.au to nominate a business.

The awards were launched at a breakfast on Wednesday morning.