How to register a business name

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Once you have chosen an appropriate name, you can contact the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to:

In your application, you will need to provide:

  • your Australian Business Number (ABN) or ABN application reference number
  • your proposed business name and registration period
  • the business locations or addresses
  • the full names and addresses of all business owners.

Once your business name is registered, you will receive a record of registration effective for 1 year or 3 years, depending on the term you chose on your application. You will also need to meet legal obligations, that may include:

  • displaying your business name
  • renewing your registration to keep it active
  • informing ASIC of any changes to your registered details within 28 days after the change occurs - including if you cease to trade under the business name.

Once you've registered your business name you can use ASIC's business name services to renew your business name, cancel your business name or update your business name and address details.

If you registered your business name before 28 May 2012

If you registered your business name before 28 May 2012 in more than 1 state or territory, you may have multiple, identical, business names registered to you with ASIC. You can apply to have your unwanted business name registrations cancelled, or allow them to lapse. It is free to cancel a business name.

Read more about removing identical names on the ASIC website.

If your business name application was in progress on 28 May 2012

If your business name application was in progress on the 28 May 2012 (when the national Business Names Register came into effect), you will need to contact the state or territory agency you applied to. For example, in Queensland, you would contact the Office of Fair Trading.

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Last updated
01 May 2013