How to Register a Company in Australia: A Step-by-Step Guide

Registering a company in Australia is more straightforward than most people expect — but there are steps that trip people up, requirements that must be done in the right order, and compliance obligations that begin the moment registration is complete.

This guide walks through the entire process from choosing your company name to your first annual obligations, with current ASIC fees and the details that matter for getting it right the first time.

Before You Register: Decisions to Make First

Company registration is a 15–20 minute online process once you have made the key decisions upfront. Rushing those decisions — or getting them wrong — is what causes delays, rejected applications, and costly restructures later.

The decisions you need to make before lodging your application:

• Company type: For most Australian small businesses, this is a proprietary limited company (Pty Ltd). If you are unsure whether a company is the right structure at all, see our guides on sole trader vs company and types of companies in Australia
• Company name: Your proposed name must be available (not already registered by another company), must not be identical or deceptively similar to an existing name or trademark, and must end with ‘Pty Ltd’ for a proprietary limited company. You can check name availability for free on ASIC’s website before lodging.
• Directors and shareholders: Who will be appointed as directors and shareholders, how many shares each will hold, and at what issue price. You must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Australia.
• Registered office address: Must be a physical Australian street address (not a PO Box) where ASIC can send official notices. This address appears on the public register.
• Constitution vs replaceable rules: You can either adopt a custom company constitution or rely on the replaceable rules set out in the Corporations Act 2001. Most single-director companies can rely on replaceable rules; companies with multiple shareholders should consider a custom constitution that governs shareholder rights, share transfers, and dispute resolution.

Step 1: Get Your Director ID (Before Anything Else)

Every company director in Australia must hold a Director Identification Number (Director ID) before being appointed to any company. As ASIC confirms, all directors of Australian companies need a director ID — and you must apply before you are appointed, not after.

Key facts about the Director ID:

• It is a free, permanent 15-digit identifier issued by the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS)
• You apply via the myID app (formerly myGovID) — you will need a myGov account and identity documents to verify through the app
• You only ever need one Director ID — it stays with you for life regardless of how many companies you are a director of, and it does not change if you change your name or move
• No one can apply on your behalf — it is a personal identity verification process that must be completed by the director themselves
• Failure to obtain a Director ID when required is a criminal offence under the Corporations Act 2001

If you are setting up a company with multiple directors, every director must obtain their own Director ID before the company can be registered with them named as directors. Build this step into your timeline — for most Australian residents it takes minutes online, but delays occur when identity records don’t match cleanly.

Step 2: Register the Company With ASIC

Once your Director ID is in hand and your pre-registration decisions are made, you register the company directly with ASIC. As ASIC’s registration guidance states, if you choose a company as your business structure, you must register it on the Australian companies register, managed by ASIC.

You can register through:

• ASIC Connect: ASIC’s own online portal, using Form 201 (Application for Registration as an Australian Company)
• Business Registration Service: The Australian Government’s combined registration portal at business.gov.au, which allows you to register your company, ABN, and other tax registrations simultaneously
• A registered ASIC agent: An accountant or agent who lodges on your behalf using their agent portal, which often results in faster processing and fewer errors

Information required for the application:

• Proposed company name (or ACN-based name if you are not yet choosing a name)
• Registered state or territory — you must choose one, even if you operate nationally
• Registered office address and principal place of business address
• Full details of all directors: legal name, residential address, date of birth, place of birth
• Full details of all shareholders: legal name, address, number of shares held, and share issue price
• Whether the company will adopt a constitution or rely on the Corporations Act replaceable rules

Once lodged and payment is made, ASIC typically issues the ACN and Certificate of Registration within one to two business days. In many cases when lodged through a registered agent with complete information, approval comes through on the same day.

ASIC Registration Fees: Current Costs (2025–26)

Here are the current ASIC fees applicable from 1 July 2025:

The registration fee is a one-off payment. The annual review fee of $329 is payable each year on the anniversary of the company’s registration date to keep the company active on the ASIC register. Missing this payment triggers late fees — the penalty for late payment is significant and increases the longer the payment is delayed. ASIC sends a notice to your registered office address prior to the due date.

Note that this does not include an accountant’s fees – at KSH TAX, we pride ourselves in having the most cost effective company registration service fees at just $180+GST. Get in touch with us to help you register your company.

Step 3: Understand Your ACN and Apply for Your ABN

When your company is registered, ASIC issues an Australian Company Number (ACN) — a unique 9-digit identifier that belongs to the company entity itself. Your ACN must appear on specific company documents including invoices, contracts, and official correspondence.

An ABN (Australian Business Number) is a different 11-digit identifier issued by the Australian Taxation Office — not ASIC — and is used for tax, GST, and business dealings. Most companies have both. A company’s ABN is often the same as the ACN but with two extra digits at the front (so an ACN of 123 456 789 becomes ABN 36 123 456 789).

If you registered via the Business Registration Service, you may have applied for an ABN simultaneously. If not, apply through the ATO or ABR after receiving your ACN. You will also need to apply for a company Tax File Number (TFN) separately through the ATO. For a full explanation of the difference between an ABN and ACN, see our guide on ABN vs ACN in Australia.

Step 4: Post-Registration Obligations to Set Up Immediately

Company registration is the starting line, not the finish line. The following must be in place before the company starts trading:

• GST registration: Mandatory if annual turnover is expected to reach $75,000 or more; register through the ATO or your accountant
• PAYG withholding registration: Required if the company will employ staff or pay contractors from whom tax must be withheld
• Superannuation setup: Employers must contribute 11.5% of eligible employees’ ordinary time earnings to a complying super fund (2024–25 rate)
• A dedicated company bank account: Company finances must be kept completely separate from personal finances from day one
• Share register: The company must maintain a current register of members (shareholders) as a legal requirement
• Industry licences and permits” Depending on your business activity and state, specific licences may be required before trading can commence (for example, building registration, financial services licensing, or food handling permits)

Ongoing ASIC and ATO Obligations After Registration

Once registered, the company has ongoing compliance obligations that must be managed to avoid penalties:

• Annual ASIC review: Each year on the anniversary of registration, ASIC issues an annual statement and invoice for the $329 review fee. Directors must pass a solvency resolution within two months of the review date, confirming the company can pay its debts as they fall due
• Notify ASIC of changes within 28 days: Any changes to directors, shareholders, registered office address, or principal place of business must be reported to ASIC within 28 days of the change. Late notification attracts penalties
• Annual company tax return: Lodged with the ATO each year; small companies with a tax agent generally have until 15 May of the following year
• BAS lodgement: If registered for GST, Business Activity Statements are due monthly or quarterly
• Financial records: Companies are legally required to keep accurate financial records for at least seven years

Working with a registered tax agent and ASIC agent from the start keeps these obligations on track and means you are notified of deadlines before they become penalties. At KSH Tax, as both a registered tax agent (TPB Reg 26329205) and ASIC registered agent (Reg Agent No. 52195), we manage all of this for our clients.

Company Registration vs Business Name Registration: Not the Same Thing

A registered company name (ending in Pty Ltd) is a legal entity. A business name registration is different — it is simply the trading name your business uses, registered with ASIC, but it does not create a separate legal entity. Many business owners confuse the two.

If you operate your Pty Ltd under a trading name different from the company’s legal name, you will need to register that trading name as a business name separately. See our guide on business name registration in Australia for the full process and current ASIC fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to register a company in Australia?

Once your Director ID is in place and your application details are complete, ASIC typically processes a company registration within one to two business days. Applications lodged through a registered ASIC agent with complete information are often approved on the same day. Delays almost always result from incorrect details, name conflicts, or issues with director or shareholder information — not ASIC processing times.

Can one person be both the sole director and sole shareholder of an Australian company?

Yes. It is entirely common and legally permissible for a single person to be both the sole director and the sole shareholder of a Pty Ltd company in Australia. There is no minimum number of shareholders beyond one. The director must be ordinarily resident in Australia, hold a valid Director ID, and meet all ongoing director duty obligations under the Corporations Act 2001.

Do I need a company constitution or can I rely on replaceable rules?

Both are valid options. The replaceable rules in the Corporations Act 2001 provide a default framework for how a company is internally managed — covering things like director appointments, voting, and share transfers. For a simple single-director, single-shareholder company, replaceable rules are often sufficient. For companies with multiple shareholders, a custom constitution is strongly recommended as it gives you the flexibility to set specific rules around share transfers, pre-emptive rights, and dispute resolution that the replaceable rules do not address.