Business Registration Guide

Before you register anything, you need to be clear about how the business will exist legally. This is called your business structure. If you worked through the Choosing a Business Structure guide, you might already know what type of structure you intend to have. Whether the business is run by one person, a family group, or for community benefit makes a real difference to the registrations you need and who is responsible if something goes wrong.

Once you choose a structure, everything else flows from that decision. If you are unsure, it is better to pause and get advice than to guess. Changing structures later can be expensive and complicated, especially once income starts coming in.

Your structure will determine what registrations you’ll need, whether you need separate tax file numbers, how your income will be taxed and who is legally responsible for your business.

Recognised structures include Sole trader, Partnership, Company, Trust or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (ORIC)

If you are still unsure what structure your business should be registered as, stop and get advice before proceeding.

An Australian Business Number (ABN) is essential to operating a business in Australia. The ABN is an 11-digit number issued by the Australian Government through the Australian Business Register. Your business will use an ABN so that government agencies, customers, and suppliers recognise your business.

You need an ABN to:

• Invoice customers
• Register a business name
• Register for GST
• Apply for grants or funding
• Be recognised as a business

Many ABNs are issued straight away. In some cases, the application is reviewed more closely and can take up to 28 days. If that happens, the Australian Business Register will contact you.

One important tip is to only apply once. Submitting multiple ABN applications can slow things down and raise unnecessary questions.

Applying for an ABN is free, and most people apply online through abr.gov.au. For guidance on how to register, use our How to register an ABN guide.

Before you start the application, have these ready:

What you need before applying

Have these ready:

• Your Tax File Number (TFN)
• TFNs of other people involved if you’re not choosing a Sole Trader structure
• Your legal name and some identification records
• The address where your business is located or plans to be located
• Your email and contact details
• The date you started the business or plan to start the business
• The business structure you have chosen to operate under

If you plan to operate your business under your personal name, you do not need a business name. However, if you plan to operate your business under a name different from your legal name, you must register a business name. This means that if you add words like “consulting” or “services” to your business name, or use a brand name, you will need to make it official by registering it.

For example:

William Smith is registering a business under his legal name on his ID “William Smith”, so no business name is required.

But if William Smith wanted to register the business name under his nickname “Billy Smith”, or register something else like “William Smith Consulting”, then William is required to register a business name.

Registration of business names is completed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

It’s important to recognise that a business name registration is different from your ABN. If you require a business name, you need to register both a Business Name and an ABN. Registering a business name does not give you ownership of the name or trademark rights. But it does allow you to trade legally under that name. Business names must be renewed every 1–3 years, so keep track of renewal dates.

A practical tip here is to check name availability before printing logos, ordering signs, or buying domains. Many people assume a name is available and then find out later that it cannot be registered.

If you haven’t selected a business name, or if you need help finding out what business names are appropriate and available, see our Choosing a Business Name information and worksheet for more information about Business Names.

If you have been convicted of any of the following crimes, People who cannot hold a business name | ASIC, you may not be able to register a business name.

Business Names do come with a fee. ASIC requires you to pay $45 for 1 year and $104 to hold a business name for 3 years. If you are registering a business name, it’s important to record the date you registered and the term you registered for. That way, you can remember to renew your business name on time.

Depending on your business structure, there are different ways to register a business name.

• If you are a Sole Trader, download the guide to registering a business name here.
• If you are registering a company name, download the guide to registering a business name here.
• If you are registering a joint venture name, download the guide to registering a business name here.
• If you are a partnership, download the guide to registering a business name here.
• If you are registering a business name for a trust, download the guide to register a business name here.

When you’re ready to register, carefully read the How to register a business name with ASIC guide, and select Register a Business Name from the bottom centre of the page.

If your business is a company, registration is still handled by ASIC. When a company is registered, it becomes a legal entity and is issued a 9-digit number, known as an Australian Company Number (ACN). Companies have extra reporting and governance obligations, but they also provide stronger protection between personal and business risk.

When you register your business as a Company, the ACN is provided to you, and there are rules about where you must display your ACN and how it must be displayed. To check these rules, you can visit Australian Company Number (ACN) | ASIC

Every individual in Australia has, or should have, a personal Tax File Number. Some businesses also need their own TFN, depending on their structure.

Sole traders use their personal TFN for business income, but all other business structures must apply for a separate TFN for the business entity.

A TFN is required to lodge tax returns, employ staff, and meet obligations with the Australian Taxation Office. Applications are made through the ATO, usually online. This step should be done after your structure is finalised to ensure the TFN is linked correctly.

If you don’t have a Tax File Number, you can apply for one at Apply for a TFN | Australian Taxation Office

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a 10% tax added to most goods and services sold in Australia. If your business earns or expects to earn $75,000 or more in a year, GST registration is mandatory. If your turnover is below that amount, you can still register for GST if you want to, but you are not required to.

Registering for GST means you charge GST on sales, lodge Business Activity Statements, and pass the GST collected on to the ATO. At the same time, you can claim back GST paid on business expenses. Some businesses choose to register early because it allows access to government contracts and can improve credibility, but it also increases reporting obligations.

GST registration can be done during the ABN application or later through the ATO.

If you are unsure if you need to or should register for GST, see our Registering for GST guide for help.  

Many people think registration stops with an ABN and business name. However, most businesses also need licences, permits, or approvals. These depend on what you do, where you operate, and whether your activities affect people, food, land, transport, or cultural heritage.

The most reliable and safest way to check requirements is to use official tools such as the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) or the Business Queensland Launchpad tool. These services ask about what your business activities are and where your business is located, then provide a tailored list of the required licences depending on the local, state, and federal governments’ rules.

If you intend to start a home-based business, market stall, food business, or event, you must check with your Local Council. Your Local Council manages the approvals for activities such as signage, noise, parking, and trading in public spaces.

If your business operates on Country, involves cultural knowledge, or affects land or waterways, additional responsibilities apply. Queensland law requires the protection of cultural heritage and consultation with Traditional Owners or Prescribed Body Corporations before certain activities begin.

In short, most businesses require more than just an ABN. It depends on

• What you do
• Where you operate
• Whether you deal with food, people, land, transport, or culture

If you need help finding out about what licences or permits your business requires, see our Licences and Permits guide for more information.

Before you start trading, it’s recommended that you open a business bank account and put basic record-keeping systems in place. Knowing when reports, renewals, and tax obligations are due is just as important as registering in the first place. Many businesses struggle not because of a lack of work, but because compliance is left until it becomes overwhelming.

Visit our Business Banking section for more information on how to set up a business bank account.