The 2019 Rhino Awards were launched at Taronga Western Plains Zoo on Friday.

It's the 24^th year the awards have been held and the first time having a microbusiness category.

Dubbo Chamber of Commerce president Matt Wright said microbusinesses were those with one to four employees. It was exciting to be able to include those businesses that hadn't had a category in the past, he said.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

The awards recognise a range of accomplishments from becoming environmentally friendly to the best new business. Last year, the gold rhino went to Regand Park Early Childhood Education Centre.

"All of the favourites are still there, especially the people's choice categories. They're the ones we really want to get the community involved in and get them to vote for their favourites," Mr Wright said.

One of the things the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce wants to emphasise this year is that you don't have to be a member of the chamber to enter the rhino awards.

"There's always a misconception you have to be part of the chamber and there's favouritism towards chamber members and that's absolutely not the case. It was evident last year with a strong number of finalists and winners who weren't even chamber members," Mr Wright said.

On Monday, people will be able to go onto the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce website to start nominating the businesses they would like to enter in each category. The entry portal will then open on Monday, June 3.

Mr Wright encouraged all businesses to register for the portal and have a look at the entry questions, even those who may have thought about it but never put in an entry before.

"I think people might be a little bit daunted by what the process is. They may find their business fits into a number of categories," the president said

"Maybe jump on the phone and ring some previous winners, previous finalists and get a feel for the process itself or for that matter just touch base with any of the chamber board if you've got some questions and you need a but of comfort about how the whole thing works."

Becoming a finalist or even winning a rhino award was a great point of difference for businesses to advertise, said Mr Wright.

The Dubbo Chamber of Commerce will officially launch the 2019 Rhino Awards at the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce race Day on Friday, June 14.

More information about the awards is available at the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce website.