For Gerogery couple Matt and Mel Grice, a last minute decision to move across to Wodonga on Tuesday night, was their only option to keep their young family together.

The owners of Wodonga business Gricey's Workshop were going to have to close and be without an income because their home address fell outside the tight border bubble.

"It came down to the fact we have a two-year-old daughter who loves her dad and we couldn't be separated," Mrs Grice told The Border Mail.

"We employee two other locals and need to keep supporting them so it made sense.

"We had to move."

Luckily the Grice family have friends on that side of the border who they are able to stay with.

Due to the permit restrictions, if Mr Grice was to drive the 25 minute commute to work each day, which the couple have been doing for more than four years, he would have to self-isolate for 14 days on return as Gerogery isn't included in the cross-border zone.

Albury fashion business owner Julie Zeinert closing her Dean Street store "wasn't an option".

Zeinert & Co has been operating for 19 years and because Ms Zeinert lives in Mudgegonga she wasn't able to apply for a new permit.

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So she decided to book a hotel in Albury.

"I had to leave my family behind," Ms Zeinert said.

"It was a really tough decision but we have built this business up over almost two decades and we didn't really have a choice to close after all we have been through this year.

"I just hope the permits are re-looked at to include business owners on each side of the border.

"Basically I have been going from my rural property in my car and straight to work.

"I don't see how that is a high risk situation."

Ms Zeinert said she will be staying at the hotel, which is also adding an extra layer of financial pressure, for the next few weeks.

"I have been speaking to Sussan Ley who is trying to work out something but she thinks it could be weeks until my case is looked at.

"In the mean time I just hope everyone keeps supporting local business as best they can."