Steps to apply
Here are the steps to apply to register a business name and the information you will need on hand. When you enter your ABN we use information from the Australian Business Register (ABR) to automatically populate some of your application.
Step 2: Enter the proposed business name and decide if you want to register it for 1 or 3 years
Step 3: Enter the details of the proposed business name holder
Step 4: Enter the addresses of the business
Step 5: Confirm eligibility to hold a business name
Step 6: Review and change the information if required
Step 8 Pay the registration fee
Step 1: Enter the Australian Business Number (ABN) or ABN application reference number of the entity that will hold the business name
Find the ABN before you start. Don’t have an ABN? Visit the Australian Business Register (ABR) to apply.
Tell us your ABN
You must have an ABN to apply. We will know from your ABN what type of entity you are.
ABN application reference number
If you have applied for an ABN with the Australian Business Register but your ABN application is still being processed, you can submit your application for a business name using your ABN application reference number. The ABR will update us with the ABN once it’s approved (you don’t need to do anything).
However, your business name registration cannot be finalised and approved until your application for an ABN has been approved.
If the ABN application is refused by the ABR, we will refuse your business name application.
Joint ventures
For the purposes of business names register, a joint venture partnership is two or more entities that apply for a business
name, each with their own ABN.
Joint ventures can have different structures. A joint venture entity with an ABN can be either a:
- partnership (which would be classified as a ‘partnership’ via the ABR for the purposes of the business name application)
- corporate structure where the joint venture partners are members of the company, or
- unit trust (which would be classified as an ‘unincorporated entity’ via the ABR for the purposes of the business name application).
Christmas Island or the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
If a business operates only on Christmas Island or the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, then it may be exempt from the requirement to have an ABN.
Step 2: Enter the proposed business name and decide if you want to register it for 1 or 3 years
To get ready you can check to see if the name is available.
Choose your business name
You will be asked to enter your chosen name in the application. We will confirm whether it is available.
Your business name should be unique and cannot be registered if it is identical to a business or company name that is already registered.
You can check if your chosen business name is available for you to register before you apply by using the search service, Checking Name Availability.
There are four possible results:
The name is available
You will be able to complete and pay for your application online straight away.
The name may not be available
Your application may be rejected. You can try another name or continue completing the application and we will consider your request. You have the option of attaching information to support your request for the business name. You will only be required to pay the registration fee for this application if our consideration determines that the name is available.
Our consideration of the name will usually be undertaken within two business days. We will hold the name until we have have considered your application so while you are waiting the name will not be available for anyone else to register it.
This will happen where the name must be considered because it is:
- unknown to ASIC
- contains an undesirable word or expression
- contains a restricted word or expression and may require Ministerial or other official consent to be used.
Unknown to ASIC
Any word which is not known to us is manually considered to make sure it does not contain a potentially undesirable word or expressions or restricted words.
Undesirable word or expression
Undesirable words are those that are likely to be offensive or suggest a connection to, for example, a government department or the Royal Family, where no such connection exists. These are considered to determine the context the undesirable word or expression is proposed to be used.
Restricted words
The use of some words is restricted as they may need Ministerial or other official consent to be used. For instance, you can’t register a business name that includes "bank" unless you have approval from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
The name is not available
This name will be rejected. We suggest you try another name. You will not be able to continue with the application. We will tell you why the application has been refused, either because the name:
- contains an invalid character or characters
- contains an undesirable word or expression, or
- is identical or nearly identical to a name already registered, or currently under application or review (this includes company names and some names registered under state and territory legislation).
If you want to keep a copy of this decision, you can print the screen.
The name is held pending transfer of holder
If this business name is being transferred to a new holder (e.g. as a result of the sale of a business), the previous business name holder must cancel the business name and request a consent to transfer number to use in the application.
Similar names
You will not be able to register a business name that is identical or nearly identical to a business or company name that is already registered. However, your business name may be registered if there are similar names that are already registered.
We will give you a list of similar names that are already registered with us. It is your responsibility to be aware of any problems that might arise from names already registered which are similar to, or likely to be confused with, the name you register. You may also need to check if your proposed name is similar or identical to any registered or pending trademarks. You can check this on the IP Australia website.
You can then decide if you want to choose a different name.
Even if we register a name for your business, a person or company with a similar registered name may still take action against you.
Registration period and fees
You can choose the registration period you want to register your business name for, either:
- one year - $30
- three years - $70
Alternative registration period
You have the option of requesting an alternative registration period that ends on:
- the same date as another business name registered to you (with the same ABN), or
- the same date as your company annual review date (if a company is registering the business name).
Step 3: Enter the details of the proposed business name holder.
Depending on the type of holder, details may include the:
- full name, date and place of birth, and residential address of individuals
- ACN or ARBN of companies or registered bodies
- organisation representatives for organisations that are not companies or registered bodies (do not have an ACN or ARBN).
Business name holders
You must give us the details of the holder or holders of the proposed business name:
- for an individual, their personal details
- for a company, the ACN Find my ACN
- for a registered body (under the Corporations Act 2001), the ARBN Find my ARBN
- for other types of organisations, details of an organisation representative who can be contacted by the public about the business. Organisation representatives must be a member of the governing body of the organisation, for example, the president, secretary or member of the committee of management of an association or other body. Trusts must provide details of at least one trustee Organisation representatives will be listed on the public register.
| Type of Holder | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Company (with ACN) | ACN | |
| Registered body (with ARBN) | ARBN | |
| Individual | Full name, date and place of birth, residential address | |
| Partnership | Each partner | Full name, date and place of birth, residential address, email address (individuals) or ACN and email address (companies) or ARBN and email address (registered bodies) or organisation representative(s) details (other organisations) |
| Trust | Organisation representative(s) details (other organisations) | |
| Other organisation | Organisation representative(s) details (other organisations) | |
| Joint venture | Each joint venture partner and their ABN | ABN or ABN application reference number and full name, date and place of birth, residential address, email address (individuals) or ABN or ABN application reference number, ACN and email address (companies) or ABN or ABN application reference number, ARBN and email address (registered bodies) or ABN or ABN application reference number, organisation representative(s) details (other organisations) |
Step 4: Enter the addresses of the business
You will need to provide:
- a street address in Australia for the service of documents
- a street address in Australia for the principal place of business
You are encouraged to provide an email address. If you do provide an email address you are consenting to us using it to send notices to you via email. You can also provide a mobile phone number for SMS reminders.
Business name addresses
Provide the following addresses:
| Address for service of documents | A physical address in Australia where official documents can be delivered to the business name holder. It will appear on the public register. Make sure that this address can be accessed by the person who will be administering your business (this could be you or an agent for your business). |
|---|---|
| Principal place of business | The main place where business is carried out in Australia. This address will appear on the public register. |
| Email (optional) | If an email address is provided, it will be used as a preferred address for all correspondence, including notices sent under the Business Names Registration Act 2011. Make sure that this address can be accessed by the person who will be administering your business (this could be you or an agent for your business). |
| SMS (optional) | If provided, we may use the address to send short messages such as alerts and reminders. Make sure that this numbers can be accessed by the person who will be administering your business (this could be you or an agent for your business). |
Step 5: Confirm eligibility to hold a business name
You will be asked to make specific declarations before you lodge the application that the proposed business name holder (or any person involved in the management of the business) is not disqualified from holding a business name.
A business name holder, or a person involved in the management of a business name holder, is disqualified from holding a business name if they:
- are disqualified from managing a corporation under section 206B(1) of the Corporations Act 2001, or
- have, within the last 5 years, been:
- convicted of, or
- released from prison after serving a term of imprisonment for,any of criminal offences referred to in 32(1)(c) or (d) of the Business Names Registration Act 2011.
If you can’t make the declaration, your application will only be approved if you attach for each disqualified person a determination in writing from a Minister that they are not disqualified under the Business Names Registration Act 2011.
Eligibility to register a business name
To hold a business name, an individual holder, or any person involved in the management of a business name holder that isn’t an individual, must not be disqualified from holding a business name.
This means for:
- a body corporate – each director and secretary of the body corporate
- a partnership – each partner of the partnership
- an unincorporated association or other body, each member of the committee of management of the unincorporated association or body
- a trust – each trustee of the trust, or;
- a joint venture – each joint venture partner.
An eligibility declaration must be made for each of these people when:
- applying to register a business name
- updating the details of a business name by adding a new partner.
Each person must declare that they are not:
- disqualified from managing corporations under section 206B(1) of the Corporations Act 2001, or
- within the last 5 years they have not been:
- convicted of, or
- released from prison after being convicted of, and serving a term of imprisonment for, any of the criminal offences referred to in section 32(1)(c) or (d) of the Business Names Registration Act 2011.
If they can’t make the declaration, the application will only be approved if you attach for each disqualified person a copy of the Minister’s determination that they are not disqualified under the Business Names Registration Act 2011.
If an individual holder or anyone involved in the management of a business name holder becomes disqualified at any time, they must notify us of that fact.
Disqualification under s206B(1) of the Corporations Act 2001
A person becomes disqualified from managing corporations if the person:
- is convicted on indictment of an offence that:
- concerns the making, or participation in making, of decisions that affect the whole or a substantial part of the business of the corporation, or
- concerns an act that has the capacity to affect significantly the corporation’s financial standing, or
- is convicted of an offence that:
- is a contravention of this Act and is punishable by imprisonment for a period greater than 12 months, or
- involves dishonesty and is punishable by imprisonment for at least 3 months, or
- is convicted of an offence against the law of a foreign country that is punishable by imprisonment for a period greater than 12 months. The offences listed above include offences against the law of a foreign country.
Criminal offences referred to in section 32(1)(c) or (d) of the Business Names Registration Act 2011
The person is not disqualified under s206B(1) of the Corporations Act 2001, but is:
- convicted of an offence against a law of the Commonwealth, a state, a territory or a foreign country that involves dishonesty and is punishable by imprisonment for at least 3 months, or
- convicted of an offence against the law of a foreign country that is punishable by imprisonment for a period of more than 12 months.
Get copies of the Corporations Act 2001 and the Business Names Registration Act 2011 at www.comlaw.gov.au.
Step 6: Review and change the information if required
You will have the opportunity to double-check all the information you have entered and edit it if required.
Once you have registered a business name you can correct mistakes in the business name record or update details at any time.
Step 7: Declare and submit
You will be asked to declare that you understand the terms of lodgement of the application and that the information provided is true and correct.
If you are lodging the application on behalf of the proposed holder, you will be asked to declare that you have the appropriate authority to lodge and make declarations on their behalf.
See who may be authorised to lodge an application to register a business name for more information.
Step 8: Pay the registration fee
If the name you wish to register is available; you can:
- pay immediately by Visa or MasterCard
- pay by BPAY, or
- request an invoice to pay later.
Read about our payment methods
If you do not pay for your business name within 10 business days the name will become available for others to register.
If the name is being reviewed by ASIC; you won’t be required to pay until we decide that the name is available to be registered to you.
Cost to register or renew a business name
The cost to register or renew a business name is:
- for one year - $30
- for three years - $70.
Registration costs are indexed so may rise slightly each year.
Notification of successful registration
Once you have successfully registered your business name and it has been approved we will send you your:
- successful registration letter. This will include confirmation of your alternative registration period if you have selected one.
- record of registration which includes all the details you have entered on the business names register (click here to see an example)
- ASIC Key.
Once you have your ASIC key, use it to link any other business names you have registered previously to your user account.
To help you celebrate registering your business name, you also have the option of ordering a commemorative record.