Start a business · Guide

Registering a business: ABN, business name, GST and company

Registering a business is mostly online, mostly quick, and often free. The trick is knowing which registrations you need and doing them in the right order. Here's the sequence, with links to the official places to do each one.

AUSBUSINESS
Last reviewed · 5 min read
A laptop on a wooden desk, ready for online registration
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General information only. This guide is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. It doesn't take your circumstances into account. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed professional.

In short

  • Decide your business structure first. It changes what you need to register.
  • Get an ABN first. It's free and most other registrations need it.
  • Register a business name if you trade under anything other than your own name. It doesn't give you exclusive rights to the name; a trade mark does.
  • Register for GST once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 (or straight away for taxi and rideshare). You can choose to register earlier.
  • Check licences and permits for your industry and council, and register a matching domain name.

Before you register: choose your structure

Whether you’re a sole trader, partnership, company or trust changes which registrations you need and whose name they’re in. If you haven’t decided yet, read Sole trader, partnership, company or trust? and talk to an accountant first.

Talk to an accountant before you register

Get professional advice from an accounting firm before you register anything, especially before you register a company. The structure you choose affects how your income is taxed, who is responsible for debts, and how you can protect personal assets, and it’s much easier to get it right at the start than to change it later.

An accountant can talk you through the options for your situation, for example whether to run the business through a company, through a family trust (often with a company as trustee), or simply as a sole trader, and how each would work for you and your family. Ask what setting up and running each option costs each year, because some structures cost more to set up and run.

See Sole trader, partnership, company or trust? for how the main structures compare, so you can go into that meeting prepared.

Then register

You can do several registrations in one go through the business registration service on business.gov.au, or one at a time with each agency.

1. 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 register a business name, to invoice other businesses properly, and for most other registrations.

  • Cost: free.
  • Where: the Australian Business Register (through business.gov.au).
  • Who: you need to be carrying on (or about to start) a business, not just a hobby.
  • Tip: keep your ABN details up to date, including when you change address or stop trading.

2. Business name

You need to register a business name if you trade under any name other than your own. For example, Jane Smith doesn’t need to register to trade as “Jane Smith”, but does to trade as “Smith Garden Design”.

  • Where: ASIC, nationally. There’s no separate state registration.
  • What you need first: your structure decided, an ABN, and a name that’s available.
  • Cost: at the time of writing, $47 for one year or $108 for three years (check ASIC for current fees).
  • Timing: usually confirmed within about two business days when paying by card.
  • Renewal: ASIC emails a reminder before it’s due. If you don’t renew, the name can be cancelled and someone else can take it.

Registering a business name doesn’t give you exclusive rights to it. Before you commit, search the ASIC business names register and IP Australia’s trade mark checker, and consider registering a trade mark if the name matters to you. See Choosing a business name and brand.

3. Company registration (if you’re setting up a company)

If you’ve chosen a company structure, you register the company with ASIC and receive an Australian Company Number (ACN). You’ll appoint at least one director, set out who the shareholders are, and decide on a registered office. The company then applies for its own ABN.

Company registration has more steps and ongoing obligations than the other structures, and many owners have an accountant or lawyer handle it. ASIC’s website lists the current fees.

4. GST

Goods and services tax (GST) registration depends on your turnover:

  • You must register within 21 days of realising your GST turnover will reach $75,000 a year ($150,000 for non-profits).
  • Taxi, limousine and rideshare drivers (such as Uber or DiDi) must register regardless of turnover.
  • Starting out: if you expect to reach $75,000 in your first year, register from the start.
  • Below the threshold you can choose to register. Ask your accountant whether that makes sense for you.

business.gov.au suggests checking your turnover monthly so you notice when you’re approaching the threshold. The rules on what GST registration means for your pricing and reporting are on the ATO website, and your accountant or BAS agent can explain how they apply to you.

5. Other tax registrations

Depending on your business, you may also need to register for things like PAYG withholding (before paying your first employee) or fuel tax credits. The business registration service on business.gov.au asks the right questions and tells you which apply.

6. Licences and permits

Many businesses need licences or permits from the federal government, their state or their local council: food businesses, trades, transport, childcare, alcohol, signage, home-based businesses in some council areas, and more.

Use the licence finder on business.gov.au: enter your industry and location and it lists what you’re likely to need. Then check with your local council, especially for premises, signage, parking and running a business from home.

7. Trade mark (optional, but worth considering)

A registered trade mark gives you exclusive rights to use your name or logo for the goods and services you register it for, Australia-wide. It’s separate from your business name and domain name. Search IP Australia’s database first; if your name is close to an existing trade mark, it’s far cheaper to change now than after you’ve printed signs.

8. Domain name

Register a domain name that matches your business name (for example smithgardendesign.com.au), even if your website comes later. It protects the name online and gives you a professional email address.

To register a .com.au you need an Australian presence and to be a commercial entity (an active ABN or ACN is the usual way), and the name must relate to your business, such as your business name, an acronym of it, or a product or service you offer. If your ABN is cancelled, you can lose the domain.

See Domain names and web hosting and Professional email for your business.

Registration checklist

  • Business structure decided
  • ABN
  • Business name (if not trading under your own name)
  • Company and ACN (if a company)
  • GST (if required, or chosen)
  • Other tax registrations (PAYG withholding before hiring)
  • Licences and permits (licence finder + local council)
  • Trade mark search (and registration if needed)
  • Domain name
  • Calendar reminders for every renewal date