Business Name Registration
Register your new business name
$99 for 1-year
If you’re unsure how long you need your business name, register for 1-year.
ASIC Accredited
We are ASIC Registered Agents (45838).
Phone us on 1300 060 066.
Record of Registration
You will receive your official Business Name Record of Registration.
AI Business Name Generator
Use our BizAI Business Name Generator to ensure you choose the right business name.
Registration Period
Register your business name for 1-year at $99 or 3-years for $189.
Phone us on 1300 060 066.
Business Name Registration
Register and manage your ASIC registered business names. A registered business name in Australia allows an entity to trade as a name other than its legal name.
Register Business NameBusiness Name Questions
Can I register my new business name over the phone?
Call 1300 060 066 to register your new business name.
Call 1300 060 066 to register your new business name.
If you would prefer to register your new business name at the Registration Office, simply call our phone number during regular business hours.
Do I need to register a business name?
Do I need to register a business name?
The registration of a business name in Australia allows an entity or individual to trade under a name different to that of their legal name.
In Australia, there are certain circumstances when you will need to register your business name. Before you choose a name for your business, you should find out if it must be registered.
See the table below for scenarios of when you might want or need to register a business name.
| Scenario | Registration required | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Operating your business as a sole trader under your personal legal name | No | If John Doe was operating a business and called it ‘John Doe’, he would not need to register a business name |
| Operating a business partnership under the names of the partners | No | If John Doe and Greg Barnes were operating a business called ‘John Doe and Greg Barnes’, they would not need to register their business name |
| Operating your business under personal legal name plus other words | Yes | If John Doe has a business called ‘John Doe Carpentry’, he would need to register the business name |
| Using a combination of words and phrases as your business name | Yes | If John Doe operated a business called ‘The Carpentry People’, he would need to register his business name |
| Having a company (Pty Ltd) that is operating under the registered name | No | If John Doe has a company called ‘The Carpentry People Pty Ltd’ and intends to also trade under this name, there is no need to register a separate business name |
| Having a company (Pty Ltd) and operating your business under a different name | Yes | If John Doe has a company registered as ‘The Carpentry People Pty Ltd’ but wanted to trade as ‘Carpentry College’, he would need to register a business name associated with the company structure |
How do I choose the best business name?
Choosing the best business name
An effective business name should communicate what your business does and be as short as possible, catchy and memorable. Choosing the right name can help you build brand awareness and customers will quickly come to associate your business name with your brand.
Spend time researching business names before you start your business. This helps you avoid wasting time, effort and money having to change the name in the future. It will also help you choose the best domain name and email address.
Selecting your business name – checklist
Use this checklist to help you choose the right business name for your business:
- Is the business name available? You can check if a name is available clicking on the ‘Register Business Name’ button at the top of this website and entering it into the search box.
- Is a suitable matching domain name available for your business? You can check that in the domain name section.
- Does the business name suit your brand?
- Is the name easy to say, hear and write or spell? This will help make sure people can find you through internet searches when, for example, they hear radio or podcast ads you run.
- Will the business name work in the future? Consider if the name will work if you change your goods or services.
- Has the business name already been trade marked? You can check that in the trade mark section.
- Is the business name appropriate? Consider your customers’ cultural expectations and ensure the name is not offensive or problematic.
- Is a potential competitor currently using your business name or one that is similar?
- Could your business name negatively affect the business in the future? Consider the financial or reputational risks that could come from having to change the name in the future.
- Is the business name available on key marketing channels (e.g. social media, domain name for your website and email)?
ABN Lookup - a free business name information search tool.
How can I search for a business name to see if it’s available?
Easy, you can use ABN Lookup, the free business name information search tool.
Will I receive my Record of Registration certificate?
Yes, all business name registrations and renewals receive a digital email copy of their ASIC Record of Registration once processed.
Can I register multiple business names?
There is no limit to the number of business names that a single entity can own, as long as you have an ABN.
How much does it cost to register my business name?
Business name registration costs $99 for 1 year or $189 for 3 years which includes the ASIC Government Fee and your Record of Registration emailed directly to you.
How much time does it take to register my business name?
In most cases your business name will be instantly registered. There are circumstances where a manual review process is required that can take a few days. In this case we will keep you updated along the way.
Is my chosen business name available?
Check your business name availability using our business name search tool, plus our BizAI will give you other alternate name choices.
What identification do I need to register a business name?
We will ask for your personal information such as name, place of business, phone number and email address, but most importantly you will need an active ABN (Australian Business Number). If you don’t have one yet, you can register a new ABN by following the menu links above.
What happens if my business name needs to be manually reviewed?
This can occur for a number of reasons, the most common is that you have entered a name that is close to a name that someone else is using. It could also be because you’ve entered word that is not in the dictionary (this could be two words joined together without a space, a slang word or misspelling). It could also be that you have chosen a word that is restricted or potentially undesirable.
Some Business Names need to be manually reviewed and assessed by someone at ASIC to ensure the use is appropriate.
In the event that your business name is refused you are able to resubmit your application with us with a new available name at no extra cost.
Please get in touch with our team if you would like further clarification on the availability of your name.
When do I need to renew my business name?
Business names can be registered or renewed for 1 or 3 years at a time. We will notify you at least 8 weeks prior to the expiry of your name to ensure you don’t forget to renew on time.
Why does it say regcomau sydney nsw on my bank statement?
Biz Australia used the business name registration and renewal services of Registration Pty Ltd. When you make a payment with us, you may see “regcomau” sydney nsw on your bank statement. This is a legitimate payment for your registration service.
Register Your Domain Name
Web Hosting
Get a FREE Domain Name when you purchase Web Hosting or Web Builder Bundle.
Find Out MoreBiz.au
Everything you need to know to start your own business.
Business Name News
Business Name Registration
How do I find my ABN?
Your ABN is your business identifier and you’ll need to know it to be able to register a new business name. If you can’t find your ABN, we will explain how you can do that. Why Do I [...]
Read More
18
Sep
Sep
Everything you need to open and run a successful business in Australia.
