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✉️ support@businessformationaustralia.com.au
Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm AEST
We are not a government agency. Business Formation Australia is a private business registration service.
Select your registrations
Tick everything you need, we'll handle them all in one application.
Not sure what you need? Answer a few quick questions and we'll suggest the right structure and registrations for your situation.Which structure is right for you? →
Essential registrations
ABN
Australian Business Number (ABN)
Required for businesses operating in Australia, identifies your enterprise to government and suppliers.
Who needs it: Sole traders, companies, trusts or partnerships that are running a business.
Registers with: Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
Time: Typically same day
$49⏱ Same day
$49
📋
Business Name Registration
Register a trading name with ASIC if you're trading under a different name.
Who needs it: Anyone trading under a business name that's not their personal or company name.
Registers with: Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC)
Time: Often same day
From $89⏱ Same day
From $89
🏢
Company Registration (Pty Ltd)
Set up a proprietary limited company, a separate legal entity with limited liability.
Who needs it: Businesses wanting a company structure for liability or investment purposes.
Registers with: Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC)
Time: 1 to 2 business days
$679⏱ 1 to 2 business days
$679
Additional registrations
📊
GST Registration
Register for GST if your annual turnover is $75,000 or more (or if required for your activity).
Who needs it: Businesses with turnover above the GST threshold, taxi/ride-share drivers.
Registers with: Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
Time: 1 to 2 business days
Free⏱ 1 to 2 business days
Free
🌐
Domain Name
Secure a domain name for your business website and branded email.
Who needs it: Any business wanting a website or a professional email address.
Registers with: Accredited domain registrar
Time: Typically same day
$29⏱ Same day
$29
💼
PAYG Withholding Registration
Register to withhold tax from payments to employees or certain contractors.
Who needs it: Employers and payers required to withhold tax.
We need your details to lodge registrations on your behalf.
Privacy notice: Your information is collected solely to process your registrations. We handle all data in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
Personal information
Proof of Identity
The details below are used to confirm your identity.
When you apply for an ABN and other tax registrations, your identity will be verified with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) against your tax records. This allows us to confirm who you are and helps to prevent identity theft.
If your details don't match the ATO's records, you'll be asked to check your details and correct any errors.
Please ensure your details with the ATO are up to date. To update your tax details visit the ATO website ↗.
Your details
Birth details
Enter the city or town.
Residential Address
Start typing the address in the field below and select the correct one from the drop-down list that appears.
Or you can .
Providing your TFN is the quickest way to prove your identity.
Stored securely and used only for ATO identity verification.
No problem — we'll verify your identity using your name, date of birth and residential address. Please make sure those details exactly match your official records (for example, your driver licence or Medicare card).
ABN Details
Answer the following questions to help us work out if you're entitled to an ABN.
Select a business structure that best describes the business.
ABN Application
Most people applying for an ABN are starting a business, so this is selected by default. If your situation is different, choose another activity type below. If your activity isn't in the form of a business, you may not be entitled to an ABN.
Not a standard business? .
ABN Start Date
If you're applying for a new ABN, the date can't be more than 6 months into the future. If you're applying to reactivate an ABN, enter today's date.
Industry Type
Please note: If you register for an ABN, you will lose this GST status and will be moved to standard GST registration.
Main Business Activity
Start typing and choose from the options presented. The matching business industry code is recorded automatically.
Selected activity: Choose your activity above
ABN Details
Don't need an Australian Business Number (ABN)?
In most cases, you need an ABN to apply for a business name. You can apply without an ABN if you're applying as a joint venture where each partner has their own ABN.
Please check your selections before proceeding. If you choose incorrectly, you may have to pay a fee to reverse or adjust your registration.
If you aren't sure which registrations you need, consider getting advice from a business adviser or other professional.
Your Contact Details
Main business address
Start typing the address in the field below and select the correct one from the drop-down list that appears.
Or you can .
Postal address
Contact details
Enter your main business contact details below. This is how you will receive notices and correspondence related to your business.
Business Name Application
Enter your proposed name to check if it's available to register as a business name. You can register up to five business names per application.
You don't need to register a business name if it's the same as your company name. If you want to operate under a different name you'll need to register it as a business name.
If you have also applied for an ABN with this application and your ABN application is unsuccessful, your business name registration will also be unsuccessful and fees will be refunded.
Sets the period applied to each name as you add it — you can change any name's period in the list below. You can renew before it expires.
Text entered here will convert to uppercase letters.
Added business names
Company Name
Name allocation
What name will you use for your company? Choose one of the options below to either use a name you've chosen, a name you've already reserved with ASIC, or your Australian Company Number (ACN) once it has been issued.
Text entered here will convert to uppercase letters.
Names must follow ASIC's rules — show legal status (Pty Ltd, Ltd, NL), use only allowed characters, and avoid restricted or unacceptable words. Rules for acceptable company names ↗
ABN Start Date
If you're applying for a new ABN, the date can't be more than 6 months into the future. If you're applying to reactivate an ABN, enter today's date.
Industry Type
Please note: If you register for an ABN, you will lose this GST status and will be moved to standard GST registration.
Please note: Government entities are entitled to an ABN but cannot apply using this service. If you would like to apply for an ABN as a government entity visit the Australian Business Register ↗.
Main Business Activity
Start typing and choose from the options presented. The matching business industry code is recorded automatically.
Selected activity: Choose your activity above
Address and Location
State or territory where the company is registered
Company Contact Details
This is the email address where you'll receive the outcome of your company registration. If successful, you'll also receive the certificate of registration.
Registered Office Address
Must be a street address in Australia. Official documents and notices related to your company registration will be sent to this address.
If not, your company must have written consent from the lessee or owner to use the address as the registered office.
The main business activity is at a different address to the registered office.
Postal Address
Additional Business Locations (optional)
If you run your company from multiple locations, add each additional address here.
Business Associates
Director identification numbers
From 5 April 2022, all new first-time directors of a company must apply for a director identification number (director ID) before appointment. Find out more and apply on the Australian Business Registry Services ↗ website.
Note: This does not affect your company registration process. You can continue your application without verifying director IDs.
Please add all business associates. You need:
At least 1 director (at least 1 must live in Australia), must be 18 or older
At least 1 shareholder (individuals or companies)
1 public officer, contacted by the ATO regarding tax affairs
One or more secretaries (at least 1 in Australia), required for ABN application
Individuals can hold more than one role. For example, a sole director can also be the sole shareholder and public officer.
If you're the only person involved in the company, you must hold all roles yourself: director, shareholder, secretary and public officer.
Just you? If you're the only person in the company, we'll fill this in from the details you entered earlier — you'll hold all roles (director, shareholder, secretary & public officer).
Company Structure
An ultimate holding company is a company that ultimately controls this company through shareholding or other means, and is not itself controlled by another company.
Residential Addresses of Officeholders
Company directors and secretaries must provide their usual residential address. They can use a different Australian address if they have approval from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).
Share Allocation
Give details of the shares that each shareholder has agreed to take up. The company must have agreement from the shareholder in writing.
Authorised Contacts
You need to provide at least one authorised contact who can be contacted by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for queries or more information about this application.
If you nominate a tax agent, you should also provide their tax agent number.
You're the contact? Use the details you entered earlier as the authorised contact.
Tax Agent Details
Enter the registered tax agent's number. This applies to your ABN and/or company registration.
GST Details
Must be your ABN start date or later.
Note: GST registration is only required once your turnover reaches $75,000 a year (or if you provide taxi/ride-share travel). Below that it's optional — you can still register voluntarily to claim GST credits.
"When you're paid" is called cash basis. "When you invoice" is called accrual basis.
If you import goods, you may need to account for GST on those imports.
PAYG Withholding Details
Register for PAYG withholding if you pay wages to employees, or withhold tax from certain contractor or director payments.
When you expect to first withhold tax from a payment.
Choose Your Domain Name
Search for the domain you'd like for your business website and email. Pick an available name and we'll register it for you after checkout.
Enter just the name (letters, numbers and hyphens). We'll check .com.au, .net.au, .com and .au.
Review your application
Please confirm your details are correct before submitting.
Declaration. Giving false or misleading information to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) is a serious offence. Please make sure your answers are accurate before you submit.
🔒 Secure submission · No payment required yet · We'll contact you within 2 business hours
✅
Application received!
We've received your application and will contact you at within 2 business hours to confirm details and next steps.
Reference number
What happens next
1
We review your application and contact you to confirm
2
We send a secure link for identity document upload
3
You approve and pay, we lodge with ASIC / ATO
4
You receive your certificates and confirmations by email