Registering a business in Australia means moving through a sequence of registrations across a few key agencies — starting with your Australian Business Number (ABN), then your business name or company registration through ASIC, and finally your tax identifiers. Australia’s process has become increasingly streamlined, and for most people the whole thing can be completed online in a matter of days. Here’s the step-by-step process for 2026.
Choose Your Business Structure
Before registering anything, decide how you want to operate. Most people choose between a sole trader structure, a partnership, or registering as a company (Pty Ltd). Registering as a company gives you legal protection, tax advantages, and credibility that sole traders and partnerships often lack, but it also comes with more compliance obligations, so it’s worth weighing your long-term plans before choosing.
Get Your Australian Business Number (ABN)
This is the foundational step almost every business needs to take first. An Australian Business Number is free and typically the first registration step for any business, and it’s a mandatory prerequisite before registering a business name. You can apply for free through the Australian Business Register at abr.gov.au, and registration is typically processed within 24–48 hours for straightforward applications, though Australian residents typically receive their ABN immediately, while foreign applicants may need additional documentation and wait several business days.
Check and Register Your Business Name
If you plan to trade under anything other than your own legal name, this step is required. If you want to trade under a name other than your personal name or your registered company name, you need to register a business name Australia-wide through ASIC. Registration is managed through the ASIC Connect portal, where you’ll check name availability, create an account if needed, and complete the business name application form. It’s worth having two or three fallback name options ready in case your first choice is already registered or unavailable.
Costs and processing times are fairly predictable at this stage. ASIC charges $45 for a one-year business name registration or $105 for three years, and for straightforward applications, registration is typically confirmed within minutes of payment. One important detail: your business name must be renewed before it expires, or it becomes available for others to register.
Register a Company With ASIC (If Applicable)
If you’ve chosen to operate as a company rather than a sole trader, an additional layer of registration applies. Before starting, all directors must get a Director ID from ABRS, choose an available company name, and decide on the company’s structure. The core of the process is lodging ASIC Form 201 with all correct details, including officeholder consents and your registered office address. Once ASIC approves the application, you’ll receive your Australian Company Number (ACN), officially making the company a legal entity.
Cost is an important factor to budget for here. Company registration creates a new legal entity with its own legal rights and obligations, and costs $611 to register with ASIC as of July 2025, though more recent guidance puts the ASIC company registration fee at $636 from July 1, 2026, with an ongoing annual review fee of approximately $310.
Apply for Your Tax File Number and GST Registration
With your ACN or ABN in hand, tax registration comes next. Once you have your ACN, your next priority is applying for an Australian Business Number and Tax File Number. The TFN is the company’s tax identity — without it, you cannot lodge a return, and the ATO verifies overseas directors and shareholders manually, meaning foreign-owned applications take weeks rather than days.
GST registration depends on your expected earnings. GST registration is mandatory once turnover exceeds $75,000 per year, though businesses below that threshold can still choose to register in order to claim GST credits on expenses.
Requirements for Foreign Companies and Investors
Setting up a business from overseas involves a few extra steps beyond what local entrepreneurs need. Foreign companies must appoint a local agent and may need a resident director to operate in Australia. Foreign companies can own 100% of an Australian subsidiary and register entirely remotely, provided they appoint a resident director. Altogether, the full process — Director ID, ASIC registration, ABN, TFN, and GST — typically takes one to three weeks end to end.
Stay Compliant After Registration
Getting registered is only the starting point, not the finish line. Registration is just the beginning — you have ongoing duties to keep company details updated with ASIC and meet ATO and Fair Work obligations.
Why Australia Remains Popular With Entrepreneurs
Australia’s business environment continues to draw significant interest, both locally and internationally. With a stable legal system, transparent regulatory framework, and strategic position as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, thousands of entrepreneurs and foreign companies choose to register a business in Australia every year, and in 2025 alone, ASIC processed over 250,000 new company registrations.
Join The Discussion
Australia’s registration process has gotten more digital-friendly over the past few years, but there’s still a fair amount of sequencing to get right — especially for foreign founders navigating ABN, ASIC, and TFN requirements at the same time. If you’ve registered a business in Australia, what part of the process took longer than expected, or tripped you up? And if you’re just starting to explore the idea, are you leaning toward a simple sole trader setup or a full company registration?
