New businesses will need to have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or be in the process of applying for an ABN (and not have been refused) to register a business name.
If you have forgotten your ABN, you can use the ABN Lookup service to find your ABN before you start.
If you do not have an ABN, you can visit the Australian Business Register to apply for an ABN.
The registration application will ask you to select an ABN option that best suits your circumstances.
Option 1: The proposed business name holder has an ABN
If you already have an ABN, you can start your business name registration. We will ask you to enter your ABN, and check your entity name and type, which will be pre-filled from the details held on the Australian Business Register. If these details are incorrect, you will need to check you have entered the right ABN, or contact the Australian Business Register to update your details.
Option 2: The proposed business name holder has applied for an ABN and has an ABN application reference number
If you are in the process of applying for an ABN and the Australian Business Register has not finalised your application, you may use your ABN application reference number to apply for a business name. If you apply with an ABN application reference number, the business name will be held (but not registered) until your ABN application has been determined by the Australian Business Register.
We will be automatically notified by the Australian Business Register when your ABN application is determined. If your ABN application is successful and nothing else is outstanding (for example, payment of the registration fee), we may proceed to register your business name. If your ABN application has been refused, we will not be able to register the business name.
Option 3: The proposed business name holder is applying as a joint venture which does not have an ABN, but all joint venture partners have an ABN
There are various ways that a joint venture may apply to register a business name. If the joint venture itself has an ABN, it will select Option 1 above (the proposed business name holder has an ABN). We will treat the joint venture like a partnership and you will be asked to provide details of all partners in the joint venture.
Alternatively, if the proposed business name holder is a joint venture which does not (in its own right) have an ABN, the joint venture can apply to hold a business name if each partner in the joint venture has their own individual ABN, by selecting Option 3.
Option 4: The proposed business name holder carries on business exclusively on Christmas Island or the Cocos (Keeling) islands and does not have an ABN
If you carry on business exclusively on Christmas Island or the Cocos (Keeling) islands and you are not entitled to an ABN under the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999, you do not need an ABN to register a business name.
You can select Option 4 and you will be asked to provide details of your entity name and type (for instance, an individual, company or partnership) as we will not have this information to pre-fill in your application for you.
Details we will use from the Australian Business Register
We will use your ABN to pre-fill certain details in your business name registration application. These details include the name of the entity that holds the ABN and the entity type as recorded on the Australian Business Register. You will not be able to override or change these details in the registration application.
For example, John Smith has a registered ABN 12 345 678 910. He is recorded on the Australian Business Register as 'John Alfred Smith' and his entity type is 'Individual/Sole Trader'. When John enters his ABN in the business name registration application, the name 'John Alfred Smith' and type 'Individual/Sole Trader' will be pre-filled on the application.
If these details are incorrect, you will need to check you have entered the right ABN or contact the Australian Business Register to update your details before you can resume your application.
Will existing business name holders be required to obtain an ABN to keep their business name?
If you have a business name that was registered in a state or territory immediately prior to 28 May 2012 and your name has been automatically transferred to the new national register (a 'transitional' or 'grandfathered' name), you will not be required to provide an ABN for your business name in order to keep it registered or renew it. However, you will need an ABN if you wish to apply for a new business name.If you have an ABN, you may notify ASIC to add your ABN to your business name if you wish.
Why do I need an ABN to apply for a business name?
It is a requirement under the Business Names Registration Act 2011. Using the ABN as an identifier for business names also allows for greater consistency between the Australian Business Register and the ASIC business names register, and avoids the need to create an additional business identifier. If you have not notified an ABN for a business name, the previous state or territory business name number will be used.
What if I do not want to apply for an ABN?
You will not be permitted to register a business name on or after 28 May 2012 unless you have an ABN or are exempt from holding an ABN. If you do not have an ABN and are not exempt from the requirement to hold an ABN, you will not be able to register a business name and you will not be permitted to trade under a business name.
In these circumstances, you can rely on an exemption from registering a business name if you are:
- an individual and your business name is your individual name (first name and surname)
- a registered company and your business name is the company's name, or
- a partnership and the business name consists of all the partners' names.
Providing a legal name when applying for an ABN
When you apply for an ABN you will be asked to provide a legal name. A legal name is not the same as a registered business name.
For example:
| Legal name | Business name | |
| Individual/sole trader | Jim Patrick Smith | Jim's Mowing |
| Partnership | Ann Citizen, Greg Jones, Brian Smith | CJS Concrete Paths |
| Company | AXY Pty Ltd | Ann's swim coaching |
| Trust | Smith Family Trust | ABC Plumbling |