Australian Business Name Registration: How to, Costs & Steps

Registering a business name is one of the first steps many Australian business owners take — but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. A business name is not a company. It doesn’t create a separate legal entity, it doesn’t give you brand ownership, and it doesn’t replace your ABN.

This guide explains exactly what a business name registration does and doesn’t do, who needs one, how to register, and what it costs.

What Is a Business Name?

A business name — sometimes called a trading name — is the name under which you conduct business, when that name is different from your own legal name (for individuals) or your registered company name (for companies).

As ASIC explains, you must register a business name if you run a business in Australia and are not trading under your own name. For example, if your name is Sarah Chen and you operate as ‘SC Consulting’, you need to register ‘SC Consulting’ as a business name. If you simply trade as ‘Sarah Chen’, no registration is required.

A business name links to your legal identity — whether that’s an individual (sole trader), a partnership, a company, or a trust. It tells the public who is behind the business, but it does not change your legal structure or create a separate entity.

A Business Name Is Not a Company — and Not a Trademark

This distinction matters and catches many new business owners off guard:

• A registered business name is not a separate legal entity. It is a trading name that sits on top of your existing legal structure. The legal entity behind the name — you as an individual, your company, your partnership — remains the same.
• Registering a business name does not give you exclusive ownership of that name or brand. ASIC will not register an identical name to an existing one, but similar names in different contexts can coexist. If you want enforceable rights to your brand name or logo, you need a trademark registration through IP Australia — that is a separate process entirely.
• A business name is different from a company name. A company name (ending in Pty Ltd or Ltd) is registered with ASIC and creates a separate legal entity. A business name registration does not.

For a full explanation of company registration and what it actually creates, see our guide on how to register a company in Australia. If you’re unsure whether you should be registering a business name or a company, our sole trader vs company guide covers the structural decision in full.

Who Needs to Register a Business Name?

You need to register a business name if all of the following apply:

• You are carrying on a business in Australia
• You are trading under a name that is not your own legal name (for individuals) or your exact registered company name (for companies)

You do not need a business name if you are a sole trader operating under your own full legal name, or a company trading exclusively under its registered company name.

Common scenarios that require a business name registration:

• A sole trader named James Wong trading as ‘Perth Garden Services’
• A partnership of two individuals trading as ‘Coastal Electrical’
• A Pty Ltd company named ‘Smith Holdings Pty Ltd’ that wants to market under the brand ‘The Coffee Corner’
• A family trust operating a retail business under a trading name

What You Need Before You Register

To register a business name in Australia, you must have:

• An ABN — you cannot register a business name without one. The ABN identifies who the business name belongs to. If you don’t yet have an ABN, apply through the Australian Business Register at abr.gov.au — it’s free and takes around 15 minutes online.
• A proposed name that is not already registered — check availability on ASIC’s business name register before lodging. ASIC will not register a name that is identical or nearly identical to an existing one.
• An email address for ASIC correspondence and renewal notices

You do not need a company, a lawyer, or any formal documents to register a business name. The process is straightforward and entirely online.

How to Register a Business Name in Australia

You can register through the Business Registration Service at business.gov.au (which lets you register a business name and apply for an ABN simultaneously if needed), or directly through ASIC Connect. The process:

• Log in via myGovID or create an account
• Search for your proposed business name to confirm it is available
• Link the name to your ABN
• Choose your registration period — 1 year or 3 years
• Pay the registration fee by credit card or BPAY
• Receive confirmation — your name is live on the register immediately upon payment

Registration is processed instantly in most cases. Your business name will appear on the public ASIC register and the Australian Business Register, linked to your ABN.

Business Name Registration Fees (2025–26)

ASIC business name fees are set nationally and are the same regardless of which state or territory you operate in. They are indexed annually to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and updated from 1 July each year. Fees are GST-free.

The 3-year option is generally better value if you intend to continue operating under the name. Renewal fees are the same as initial registration fees for the chosen period.

Do note that above prices do not include the accountant fees which can vary from one accountant to the other – check our pricing to get our latest prices.

Renewing Your Business Name

ASIC sends a renewal notice to your registered email address before your business name expires. You can renew for 1 year or 3 years at the same fee. Renewal is done through ASIC Connect using your account number or ABN.

If you miss the renewal window, late fees apply. If the business name remains unpaid and unrenewed, ASIC can ultimately cancel the registration. Once cancelled, the name becomes available for anyone else to register — including a competitor.

One practical warning: scam operators frequently send letters and emails that look like official ASIC renewal notices, directing you to pay a marked-up fee to a third party. Always renew directly through ASIC Connect or via a registered ASIC agent. Legitimate ASIC correspondence will come from an @asic.gov.au email address.

Updating or Cancelling a Business Name

If your business details change — including the ABN linked to the name, your address, or your contact details — you must update ASIC within 28 days. Updates are made through ASIC Connect and are free.

If you stop trading under the name, you should cancel the registration. Cancellation is free and can be done through ASIC Connect. You are not entitled to a refund of the registration fee if you cancel early.

Business Name vs ABN vs ACN: Quick Reference

These three identifiers are frequently confused:

• Business name: your trading name, registered with ASIC, linked to your ABN — does not create a legal entity
• ABN (Australian Business Number): 11-digit number issued by the ATO, identifies your business for tax and invoicing purposes — required before registering a business name
• ACN (Australian Company Number): 9-digit number issued by ASIC when you register a company — only companies have ACNs

For a complete explanation of the ABN and ACN and when each applies, see our guide on ABN vs ACN in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a business name if I’m a sole trader?

Not always. If you operate under your own full legal name — for example, ‘Jane Smith’ provides consulting services as ‘Jane Smith’ — no business name registration is required. If you trade under any other name, such as ‘JS Consulting’ or ‘Perth Business Solutions’, you must register that name with ASIC. Most sole traders choose to register a trading name for branding purposes even when not strictly required.

Does registering a business name give me ownership of that name?

No. Business name registration is a disclosure mechanism — it tells the public who is behind the business. It does not give you exclusive rights to that name or brand. Two businesses in different industries can legally operate under similar names. For enforceable brand protection, you need to register a trademark through IP Australia — a separate process from business name registration with ASIC.

Can a company register a business name?

Yes. A company can register one or more business names if it wants to trade under names different from its registered company name. For example, ‘Smith Holdings Pty Ltd’ might operate a café under the registered business name ‘The Morning Grind’. The business name is linked to the company’s ABN. The company remains the legal entity behind all transactions conducted under the trading name.

How long does business name registration take?

Business name registration is typically processed instantly online through ASIC Connect or the Business Registration Service. Once payment is received, your name is live on the public register immediately. There is no waiting period in the normal course of registration.