How to Register a Business Name in Australia (2026): Steps, ASIC Fees and Renewals

Picked the perfect name for your café, trade business or online shop? In Australia you usually can't trade under it until you register the business name with ASIC. This guide is for sole traders, partnerships, companies and trusts setting up in 2026. You'll learn when registration is required (and when it isn't), how to check a name is free, the exact ASIC fees from 1 July 2026, the step-by-step application, renewals, and the trade mark trap that catches many new owners.

Quick answer

You must register a business name with ASIC if you trade under any name other than your own personal name (or your company's exact registered name). You need an ABN first — or apply for both together through the government's Business Registration Service. Registration costs A$47 for 1 year or A$108 for 3 years and is usually done within 48 hours of payment.

• Check availability first on ASIC's business names register (green, amber or red result)

• Fees from 1 July 2026: A$47 (1 yr), A$108 (3 yrs) — renewals cost the same

• One national registration covers every state and territory

• A business name gives no exclusive rights — that needs a trade mark

What a business name is — and when you must register one

A business name is the name you trade under: the name on your sign, website, invoices and social media. Since 2012 there's one national register run by ASIC under the Business Names Registration Act 2011, so a single registration covers every state and territory.

ASIC says you need to register unless you fall into one of these exemptions:

Do you need to register a business name?

Your situation	Register?	Example
Sole trader using only your own name	No	Jane Citizen
Sole trader adding any other words	Yes	Jane Citizen Plumbing, Citizen Cakes
Partnership using all partners' names	No	Nguyen & Patel
Partnership using a trading name	Yes	Northside Physio
Company trading under its exact registered name	No	Bright Ideas Pty Ltd
Company trading under any other name	Yes	Bright Ideas Pty Ltd trading as 'Glow Lighting'
Trust trading under a name	Yes — the trustee registers it	Smith Family Trust trading as 'Smith Landscaping'

Sole trader using only your own name

Register?

No

Example

Jane Citizen

Sole trader adding any other words

Register?

Yes

Example

Jane Citizen Plumbing, Citizen Cakes

Partnership using all partners' names

Register?

No

Example

Nguyen & Patel

Partnership using a trading name

Register?

Yes

Example

Northside Physio

Company trading under its exact registered name

Register?

No

Example

Bright Ideas Pty Ltd

Company trading under any other name

Register?

Yes

Example

Bright Ideas Pty Ltd trading as 'Glow Lighting'

Trust trading under a name

Register?

Yes — the trustee registers it

Example

Smith Family Trust trading as 'Smith Landscaping'

A company name and a business name are different things. Registering a company with ASIC reserves the company name, but if your company trades under a brand, that brand is a business name and needs its own registration.

Before you apply: what you need

An ABN (or an ABN application reference)

ASIC won't register a business name without an Australian Business Number or the reference number you were given when you applied for one. If you don't have one yet, the government's Business Registration Service at register.business.gov.au lets you apply for an ABN and a business name — plus GST, PAYG withholding and a company — in one form. The ABN itself is free; see our ABN registration guide.

A name that passes ASIC's rules

ASIC's business names register shows a traffic-light result when you search:

• Green — available; you can apply.
• Amber — ASIC will assess it after you apply, often because it's nearly identical to an existing name or uses made-up words.
• Red — unavailable.

ASIC compares names ignoring plurals, "a" and "the", capitals, punctuation, spaces and word order — so "The Coffee Hut" and "Coffee Huts" count as the same. It also refuses names that suggest a government connection or royal patronage, are likely to offend, or use restricted words such as bank, trustee, ambulance, police, Anzac or university without the required consent. Accented letters aren't allowed.

A holder who isn't disqualified

You can't hold a business name if you — or anyone managing your entity — have been convicted of certain offences under the Corporations Act 2001 or of a dishonesty offence punishable by three months or more in prison, within the last five years (counted from conviction, or release if jailed). Bankruptcy alone doesn't disqualify you.

How to register a business name with ASIC, step by step

You can apply through ASIC Connect (if you already have an ABN or ABN reference) or the Business Registration Service (if you're getting the ABN at the same time). The ASIC Connect route looks like this:

Register a business name on ASIC Connect (2026)

1. 1

   Search the name

   Check the business names register and IP Australia's TM Checker. Aim for a green result with no conflicting trade marks.

   Search the business names register
2. 2

   Create or log in to ASIC Connect

   Set up an ASIC Connect account if you don't have one.

3. 3

   Start the transaction

   Choose 'Licences and Registrations', then 'Business name registration'.

4. 4

   Enter your details

   Your ABN or ABN reference, the name exactly as you want it to appear (names are case-sensitive), holder details and business address.

   Tip: Type the name exactly as you'll use it — 'BrightSpark' and 'Bright Spark' display differently.

5. 5

   Review, declare and submit

   Confirm the details and that the holder isn't disqualified, then submit.

6. 6

   Pay the fee

   Pay A$47 (1 year) or A$108 (3 years). If you choose an invoice, pay within 10 business days or the application lapses.

7. 7

   Get your confirmation

   ASIC says the name should be registered within 48 hours of payment and emails your record of registration.

The application itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes. business.gov.au puts confirmation at two to five business days depending on how you pay — card is fastest.

Business name registration fees in 2026

ASIC's fees are set by regulation and indexed every 1 July. The current schedule, from 1 July 2026:

Worked example: one year or three?

Mia starts a dog-grooming van called Muddy Paws Mobile in Geelong.

• Paying one year at a time: A$47 × 3 = A$141 over three years — more if the 1 July indexation lifts the fee before her renewals.
• Paying three years upfront: A$108 — a saving of A$33, and two fewer renewals to remember.

If you're testing an idea and might close within a year, the 1-year option keeps your outlay low. Otherwise, three years is cheaper and lower-admin.

Avoid paying middlemen. Search results are full of private sites charging well above ASIC's fee for "business name registration". They lodge the same ASIC application and add a service fee. ASIC's fee is the A$47 or A$108 above.

Business name vs trade mark: the protection gap

This is the most misunderstood part of registering a name. ASIC is clear that a business name registration:

• does not give you exclusive rights to the name;
• does not stop others using similar words; and
• does not protect you if your name infringes someone else's registered trade mark.

A trade mark registered with IP Australia gives you exclusive rights to the name for your goods or services across Australia, initially for 10 years. If someone else already owns a trade mark that matches your business name, they can force you to rebrand — after you've paid for signs, a website and stock.

Before you print anything

0/5

• Business names register shows green (or amber you're comfortable with)
• IP Australia TM Checker shows no conflicting trade marks in your classes
• Matching .com.au domain and social handles are available
• ABN active and showing the right business structure
• Decided whether to file a trade mark application for the name or logo

Share Print

Brainstorming? Try our business name generator, then run each shortlisted name through both checks.

After you register: display, updates and renewals

Display it. business.gov.au says your business name must be visible to the public wherever you do business, and appear on written communications such as invoices, letters and receipts — alongside your ABN on tax invoices.

Keep details current. Changing your address or contact details in ASIC Connect is free. Some changes — such as a partner joining or leaving — can mean the holder itself changes, so check ASIC's guidance on updating details or transferring a name.

Renew on time. ASIC emails a renewal notice at least 30 days before the due date (check your spam folder). Renew for one or three years through the Business Name Renewal Service if nothing has changed, or ASIC Connect if you also need to update details. If you don't renew, ASIC may cancel the name — and you can't legally keep trading under a cancelled name.

Business names at a glance (2026)

A$47

1-year registration or renewal

from 1 July 2026

A$108

3-year registration or renewal

48 hours

Typical registration time after payment

ASIC

30 days

Renewal notice before due date

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ordering stock and signage before checking trade marks. A green result on ASIC's register says nothing about trade marks.
• Registering through a reseller. You pay a markup for an identical ASIC application.
• Letting the renewal email go to spam. Set a calendar reminder for the renewal date on your record of registration.
• Thinking a company name covers your brand. If you trade as anything other than "XYZ Pty Ltd", register that name too.
• Using the name before it's registered. Wait for ASIC's confirmation email.

Once your name is registered and you're ready to hire, you'll need to register for PAYG withholding and run payroll — our PAYG withholding guide covers the tax tables and a worked fortnightly calculation.

Official links

• ASIC — register a business name
• ASIC — how to register on ASIC Connect
• ASIC — search the business names register
• Business Registration Service (ABN + business name)
• ASIC — rules for acceptable business names
• ASIC — renew a business name
• ASIC — current fees
• IP Australia — TM Checker

What to do next

Shortlist two or three names, check each on ASIC's register and IP Australia's TM Checker, then apply — through ASIC Connect if you have an ABN, or the Business Registration Service if you don't. Choose three years unless you're testing an idea, and diarise the renewal. If you're expecting turnover above the GST threshold, use our Australia GST calculator to price your services from day one.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a business name in 2026?

From 1 July 2026 ASIC charges A$47 for one year or A$108 for three years. Renewals cost the same as new registrations, and changing your details is free. Private websites that charge more are lodging the same ASIC application and adding their own service fee on top.

Do I need to register a business name as a sole trader?

Only if you trade under something other than your own name. Trading as 'Jane Citizen' needs no registration. Trading as 'Citizen Plumbing' or 'Jane Citizen Electrical Services' does, because extra words make it a business name. Partnerships using all partners' names and companies using their exact registered company name are also exempt.

Can I register a business name without an ABN?

No. ASIC requires an ABN or the reference number you received when you applied for one. If you have neither, use the Business Registration Service on business.gov.au, which lets you apply for an ABN and a business name in one form. Your ABN itself is free.

How long does business name registration take?

Applying online takes about 10 to 15 minutes. ASIC says a name should be registered within 48 hours of payment, and business.gov.au puts confirmation at two to five business days depending on how you pay. Names that return an amber result in the availability check need a manual assessment and take longer.

Does registering a business name protect it?

No. Registration only puts your name on the public register so customers can see who is behind it. It does not give you exclusive rights, stop others using similar words, or protect you if you infringe someone else's trade mark. For exclusive rights across Australia you need a registered trade mark from IP Australia.

What happens if I don't renew my business name?

ASIC emails a renewal notice at least 30 days before the due date. If you don't renew, ASIC may cancel the name, after which you can't legally trade under it and someone else could eventually register it. Renew online through ASIC's Business Name Renewal Service or ASIC Connect for one or three years.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 7 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Register a business name — ASIC · accessed 7 October 2026
2. 2.How to register a business name with ASIC — ASIC · accessed 7 October 2026
3. 3.Fees for commonly lodged documents (fee data from 1 July 2026) — ASIC · accessed 7 October 2026
4. 4.Rules for acceptable business names — ASIC · accessed 7 October 2026
5. 5.People who cannot hold a business name — ASIC · accessed 7 October 2026
6. 6.Renew a business name registration — ASIC · accessed 7 October 2026
7. 7.Register your business name — business.gov.au · accessed 7 October 2026
8. 8.Difference between a business name and a trade mark — business.gov.au · accessed 7 October 2026