How to register a business name in Australia

A business name is the branding title your business trades under. In Australia, you register your business name nationally through ASIC, ensuring you won’t have to do it separately for the territories or states. You will need the business registration linked to your ABN before you can use it legally. ASIC offers a quick registration process, costing AUD $47 for 1 year, and AUD $108 for 3 years (2026-27 ASIC fees).

Dive into the step-by-step guide and learn how to register a business name in Australia with all legal parameters considered.

Do you need a business name registration?

You usually need to register a business name if:

• You’re a sole trader trading under anything other than your personal name.
  
• You’re in a partnership business, trading under names other than the partners’ personal names.
  
• Your registered company trades under a name different from the registered firm name.
  

You won’t need a separate business name registration if:

• You’re a sole trader, trading under your own personal name.
  
• You’re in a partnership, conducting operations under all the partners’ personal names.
  
• You’re already an established Australian company and operating under the same company name.
  

For example, John Smith doesn’t need a business name registration to conduct operations as John Smith. But, if he starts trading as John Smith Consulting, he needs to register the name with ASIC.

Step-by-step guide on how to register a business name with ASIC

1. Choosing the business name and checking its availability

Operating your business in Australia requires a formal registration under a unique name. The first step is to choose a business name and check its availability.

• Go to the ASIC business names register to check if your desired name is available.
  
• Select the “check business name availability” option from the drop-down menu.
  
• Red, amber and green are the traffic light indicators that will display the status of your chosen name.
  
• Green stands as available, amber indicates a need for further assessment after you apply for the name, and red indicates the name is unavailable.
  

This search only tells you if the chosen name can be registered with ASIC. It doesn’t check for trade mark conflicts. A green result doesn’t indicate that the name is clear for commercial usage. To check that separately, you must use IP Australia’s TM Checker tool to see if that name already has a trade mark registered against it.

2. Check name restrictions and holder eligibility

There are two sets of rules that you must be aware of while choosing a business name.

Name restrictions:

• Some words or expressions are restricted, and some states or territory laws also limit the use of specific industry or professional terms. You can find the list of those restricted words or expressions on the ASIC website.
  
• Your name can’t be identical or nearly similar to any existing registered business name.
  
• Upon breaching these rules, ASIC will advise you to stop using the business name or may take further action against you.
  

Holder eligibility:

• You can’t register a business name if you have been convicted of criminal offences or are dismissed from managing any corporations.
  

3. Apply to register the business name

There are two routes to register the business name, depending on whether you already have an ABN:

• If you already have an ABN or ABN reference number, apply through ASIC Connect.
  
• If you are starting a new business and don’t yet have the ABN, use the Australian Government Business Registration Service to apply for an ABN and business name together. Registering an ABN is free.
  
• If you are registering a name as a joint venture, you must also mention the ABN of your partner on the application.
  
• Your application must include your business name, Australian service address, holder details, principal place of business, registration period (1 or 3 years), and contact details including an email address and mobile number (optional).
  

How much does it cost to register a business name with ASIC?

Founders must pay a nominal fee for registering their business names. The current fee (checked Aug 2026) is:

• AUD $47 for 1 year
  
• AUD $108 for 3 years
  

If you also need an ABN, applying for one is free. Trade mark registration is a separate and optional process, and has its own additional costs.

How long does it take to register a business name?

The online application takes around 10-15 minutes to complete. Confirmation timing of the registration then depends on the mode of payment and whether ASIC needs to manually assess your application.

As per business.gov.au, you can expect confirmation within:

• 2 business days if you pay using a credit card
  
• Up to 5 business days for EFT, BPAY or bank transfer
  

Applications that ASIC flags for manual review might take even longer for final confirmation. If you don’t receive the registration record within the expected timeframe, contact ASIC with your business name, ABN number, transaction ID and contact details.

What to keep in mind after registering a business name?

• Display your registered business name prominently wherever it is open to the public, such as a storefront. You don’t have to always display the certificate of registration, but just the business name.
  
• You can display the name, either in uppercase, lowercase, or a combination of letters, without any obligation to follow the format it is registered in.
  
• Include the registered name and ABN on all your business documents such as purchase orders or invoices.
  
• In case of any change to specific business details such as address or contact details, update ASIC within 28 days.
  

Consider trademark protection

Registering a business name with ASIC will only stop another business from registering an identical or nearly similar company name. However, it doesn’t give you the exclusive rights to commercialize it. Business name registration isn’t a substitute for trade mark protection.

You must register for a trade mark separately through IP Australia; this is an optional process. It will provide you with stronger, exclusive rights to your business name and logo. Search for existing trade marks before you plan your branding activities, and consider registering one that goes well with your business name.

It’s also worth securing a matching domain name and social media handles early, before they are taken by someone else.

How to renew your business name registration?

• ASIC sends you a renewal notice by email at least 30 days before the due date.
  
• Use the “Business name renewal” portal for a quick renewal, or your ASIC Connect account if you want to review or update the business details.
  
• Select your renewal period as 1 or 3 years, and pay the fee to complete the renewal process.
  

How to cancel your business name registration?

Before cancelling, ensure all your business details and addresses are up to date.

• Log in to your ASIC Connect account and select the business name you want to cancel.
  
• Choose the cancel/transfer transaction and follow the prompts to confirm your choice.
  
• Review the details, agree to the declaration, and submit the request.
  

For the full step-by-step process, you can see ASIC Connect.

Next step: set up your business finances with Aspire

Once your business name and ABN are in place, the next step is setting up an account and creating the finance workflows for receiving payments, paying suppliers and managing your expenses.

Aspire Australia supports eligible sole traders, Australian proprietary companies, discretionary trusts and partnerships. The service offering includes an AUD $0 monthly basic plan, local AUD transfers via BECS/NPP, corporate cards, multi-currency accounts, bill payments, invoicing and integrations with QuickBooks and Xero.

With your business name and ABN sorted, pair it up with an Aspire account to gear up your operations, pay suppliers, start invoicing and issue team cards.

Open your Aspire business account today

FAQs

Can I have multiple business names registered under a single ABN?

Yes, you can register multiple business names under the same ABN. There’s no requirement for each name to relate to a similar activity. One entity can hold several registered business names.

You will only need a new ABN if the underlying business structure itself changes. For instance, if you are moving from being a sole trader to a registered company. If you are launching another business activity or name, there’s no need for a new ABN.

ABN or business name: What should I register first?

If applying directly through ASIC Connect, you need an ABN or ABN reference number. However, a new business can use the Business Registration Service to apply for an ABN and business name registration together.

What to avoid while choosing a business name in Australia?

Legally, you must avoid using restricted words or expressions in your business name. Also, you must avoid using names that are identical or nearly similar to any existing registered company name. You should also check for existing trade mark conflicts before committing your brand to a name, as ASIC registration won’t itself guarantee you against trade mark issues.

Do sole traders need to register a business name?

Not always. If you are trading under your exact personal name, for example, “Mary Jane”, you generally don’t need separate business name registration with ASIC. However, if you are trading under any other name, such as “Mary Jane Enterprises”, you must register it, even if you are a sole trader.

What happens if I don’t renew my business name registration?

If you don’t renew your business name by the due date, ASIC will cancel the registration. Once cancelled, the name will then be available for others to register. So, you could lose the legal right to use it for your business purposes.

If you still want the name, you must again check the availability and submit a fresh application. You cannot reactivate the old one.