So you’ve decided to start a business. That’s the hard part – the decision. Now comes the admin, and if you’ve never done it before, it can feel like an avalanche of acronyms and government portals.
This guide walks you through the key steps of business registration in Australia, in the right order, without the fluff. It won’t cover every edge case – every business situation is different – but it will give you a clear map of where to start. Remember: contact a professional if you have a complex case, or if you’re registering a company.
Step 1: Choose Your Business Structure
Before you register anything, you need to decide what kind of legal entity your business will be. This decision affects your tax obligations, your personal liability, and how you can bring other people into the business down the track.
The four main options in Australia are:
Sole trader – The simplest structure. You and the business are legally the same entity. Easy to set up, low cost, and you keep all the profit. The downside is that you’re also personally liable for all the debts. This suits freelancers, consultants, and anyone testing an idea before committing to something bigger. If you are truly starting solo, you can also start with this, and upgrade to a different model later without too much fuss.
Partnership – Two or more people running a business together. Still relatively simple, but you’ll want a formal partnership agreement in place before you start. Like a sole trader, each partner carries personal liability. Do not set this up without a legally binding partnership agreement – otherwise your assets will be linked in ways you may not have intended.
Company (Pty Ltd) – A separate legal entity. The company can own assets, enter contracts, and carry debt in its own name. This limits your personal exposure, which matters if the business carries real risk. It comes with more compliance obligations and costs – annual ASIC fees, director responsibilities, and a bit more complexity at tax time. You’ll also have to communicate with shareholders – even if the shareholder is you!
Trust – Typically a discretionary (family) trust. These are popular for tax planning and asset protection, particularly for established businesses. They’re more complex to set up and administer, and you’ll need an accountant and lawyer involved. Not usually the right starting point for a brand new business. This really isn’t an option if you didn’t already know it existed.
If you’re unsure which structure is right for you, this is worth spending an hour with an accountant before you proceed. Getting the structure wrong early can be expensive to unwind later.
Step 2: Get Your Personal Tax File Number
If you’re operating as a sole trader, your business income is taxed as personal income. That means you need a personal Tax File Number (TFN) before you can proceed with most of the other registration steps.
If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident who has worked or lodged a tax return before, you almost certainly already have a TFN. You can find it on a previous tax return, a payment summary, or through your myGov account.
If you don’t have one yet, apply through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website. The process is straightforward and free.
For a company or trust structure, the entity itself will need its own TFN – but that happens later in the process, usually when you register the company through ASIC.
Step 3: Sort Out Your Business Address
Every registered business in Australia needs a physical address. This is used for official correspondence, listed on the public ABN register, and required for ASIC records if you’re setting up a company.
You have a few options:
- Your home address – This works, but it becomes public record on the ABN register. For most people, that’s not ideal. It means that if you’re remotely successful, you’ll receive spam at your home address. A lot of spam. Seriously.
- A commercial office – If you’re renting or leasing a space, use that address.
- A virtual address – A registered business address service that receives mail on your behalf. These are widely available in most Australian cities and cost anywhere from $20 to $100 per month. They give you a professional-looking address and keep your home address private. Even very serious businesses commonly use virtual addresses – it’s a legitimate mechanism for doing business.
If you’re running a service-based business from home, a virtual address is worth considering from day one – not just for privacy, but for the way it positions you to clients.
Step 4: Get Your ABN (and ACN or Director ID if Needed)
Australian Business Number (ABN)
An ABN is an 11-digit number that identifies your business to the government and to other businesses. You need one to invoice clients, register for GST, and register a business name.
Apply for your ABN through the Australian Business Register. It’s free, and if your application is straightforward, it’s often issued on the spot. Please note that your ABN is not a business name. You generally get your business name as a later step after doing important checks.
Australian Company Number (ACN)
If you’re registering a company (Pty Ltd), you’ll receive an ACN as part of the company registration process through ASIC. The ACN is a 9-digit number specific to the company entity. A company also gets its own ABN, which is linked to but separate from the ACN.
Director Identification Number
Since November 2021, all company directors in Australia are required to have a Director Identification Number (Director ID). This is a unique identifier that stays with you for life, regardless of how many companies you direct.
Apply for your Director ID through the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) portal, using your myGovID. You’ll need to verify your identity as part of the application. Do this before you register a company – you’ll need the number ready when you appoint directors.
Step 5: Check Domain Name Availability Before Registering Your Business Name
I can’t stress this enough – DO NOT get a registered business name before you’ve done the next 3 steps.
This step is one people frequently skip, and it’s a mistake. Your business name and your domain name need to match – or be close enough that clients can find you without confusion. You also need to make sure you’re not infringing on someone else’s intellectual property.
Before you fall in love with a business name, check whether the .com.au domain is available. You can do this on any domain registrar – VentraIP, Crazy Domains, NetFleet, or similar. If the exact match is taken, think carefully before proceeding. A mismatch between your business name and your web address creates confusion and costs you credibility.
If the domain you want is available, consider registering it at exactly the same time as your business name registration – because domains can be taken at any time. They’re cheap to hold, and losing one you wanted is frustrating.
Step 6: Check Business Name Availability on ABN Lookup
Once you’ve found a domain you can work with, check whether the business name is already taken by searching ABN Lookup at abr.business.gov.au. This is the public register of all Australian businesses, and it will show you whether a name is registered to someone else.
Keep in mind that business name registration in Australia is not exclusive in the way a trademark is – more on that in the next step. But you still can’t register a name that’s already registered by another business.
Do this check before you invest time or money into branding, business cards, or website design.
Step 7: Check for Trademark Issues on IP Australia’s TM Checker
This is the step most new business owners ignore, and it’s the one that can cause real legal and financial pain later.
Even if a business name is available on ABN Lookup, another business might hold a registered trademark on that name – or something confusingly similar. Operating under a name that infringes on a registered trademark can result in legal action and force a costly rebrand.
Before registering your business name, run it through IP Australia’s TM Checker at ipaustralia.gov.au. Search not just for exact matches but for similar names in relevant industry categories.
If you plan to operate nationally, build a brand of any scale, or are in a competitive industry, it’s worth speaking to an IP lawyer about registering your own trademark as well. A trademark gives you protection that a business name registration simply doesn’t.
Step 8: Register Your Business Name with ASIC Connect
Now you’re ready to make it official. Business names in Australia are registered through ASIC Connect.
The process is simple:
- Create or log in to your ASIC Connect account
- Search for your chosen business name to confirm availability
- Complete the registration form with your ABN and business address details
- Pay the registration fee ($44 for one year, $102 for three years at the time of writing)
Registration is usually processed within a few business days, and you’ll receive confirmation by email. Once registered, your business name appears on the public ASIC register.
Note that if you’re operating as a sole trader or partnership under your own name – for example, “Jane Smith” – you don’t need to register a business name, as your exact personal name is considered fine for trading with just an ABN. But if you’re using anything other than your legal name, registration is required.
This Is Just the Start
If you’ve worked through all of the above, well done – you’ve laid the legal groundwork for your business. But it’s worth being clear: this is the foundation, not the building.
Depending on your industry, you may also need licenses or permits, professional indemnity insurance, workers’ compensation cover, GST registration (compulsory once your turnover exceeds $75,000), a separate business bank account, and accounting software set up correctly from day one.
And none of this covers the business strategy side: what you’re selling, who you’re selling it to, how you’re pricing it, or how you plan to grow it sustainably. If you haven’t already, it’s worth reading up on how to put together a sample business plan before you go any further – it’s one of those steps that feels optional until you realise it wasn’t.
The registration checklist above is also something most people don’t think through before they start. Getting the structure right, protecting the name, and having a clear idea of your business model before you spend money on branding and marketing – these things matter. A lifestyle business that’s been set up thoughtfully from the start is a lot easier to run than one that’s been patched together and retrofitted.
The next step after all of this is getting the right support around you. That means an accountant who understands small business, a bookkeeper, and a business adviser who can look at your situation as a whole and help you build something that actually works for your life – not just on paper.
That’s not something a checklist can do for you. That’s what your business support team is for.
Ready to talk through what your business setup should actually look like? Start with a discovery call and let’s map it out properly.