It took hours for Examiner staff to tally the votes, with finalists in each category, contacted this week, to appear in a special edition booklet.

"We have been inundated with votes this year which means the competition will be hotly contested," the Examiner's general manager Michael Wright said.

"Any business which received a nomination, whether a finalist or not, should be extremely proud their customers took the time to vote and acknowledge their hard work."

There were several categories clocking 1000 votes or more with both real estate categories, property management and sales, looking to be highly competitive.

Animal services, cafe and pharmacy were again popular categories, and this year restaurant-international as well as the new business category saw an influx of votes.

The 2014 Annual Business Awards night is on September 3 at Wests Nelson Bay Diggers and is expected to sell out. Tickets are available from the Port Stephens Examiner, phone 4983 8400.