Before you can start doing business you’ll need to register your business name using the Business Registration Service from the Australian Government.
This service combines the registrations for business and tax in one place and makes it easy to start a business.
Before you decide on a business name, you should check whether it’s available as a trademark, business name, and a domain name (see below).
First, check to see if a trademark is available on the IP Australia website.
Next, check to see if your business name is available using the Australian Securities and Investments Commission database. From the drop-down menu select “business names” to search within that database. And then type your proposed business name in the entry blank.
If someone else has already used your desired business name as a trademark in Australia or already is doing business using that name, you should choose another name.
Once you’ve decided on a name and you know it doesn’t have any competing trademarks or companies doing business as that name, you can register your business name.
To register your business name you’ll need:
- Your Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Or, have your ABN in the application process.
Step 1:
- Log in to ASIC Connect.
- Register for an online ASIC Connect account by clicking “sign up” if you don’t have one.
- When asked, answer “no” to whether you have a current business when logging in for the first time. You don’t need an ASIC key to register.
- Select “licences and registrations’ tab at the top of the webpage.
Step 2:
- Select “Business Name” from the drop-down menu.
- Select “Go”.
- Tick the boxes.
- Select “Get Started”.
Step 3:
- Select the relevant option and enter your ABN.
- Select “Next”.
- Enter your ABN without any spaces.
Step 4:
- Enter the name you want to call your business.
- You must enter it exactly.
- Business names are case sensitive.
Step 5:
- Select a registration period of 1 or 3 years.
Step 6:
- Enter in the details of the business name holder.
- Enter the business name’s address.
Step 7:
- Confirm eligibility to hold the business name.
- You must not have been convicted of criminal offences per the Business Names Registration Act 2011.
Step 8:
- Review your application.
- Make sure the business name is spelled correctly.
- Complete the declarations.
- Confirm you are authorized to complete the application.
Step 9:
- Make Payment by credit card, BPAY, or ask for an invoice.
- Invoices will be emailed immediately and must be paid in 10 days or your application will be cancelled.
- Your business name will be completed in 48 hours once you’ve come to the confirmation page.
Once you’ve registered your business name it’s a good idea to also register the name as a trademark. This gives you exclusive rights to that name. Registering a business name and a domain name does not give you those exclusive rights.
See the blog post on protecting your intellectual property.