Register your company
If you decide that a company structure best suits your business, then you need to register as a company. One of the benefits to registering as a company is being able to register a company name. With a company name you have the advantage of holding exclusive rights to that name in Australia, without having to register in each state.
You can only choose a company name not already registered to a company or business. Special approval is also required to use certain words.
If your company carries on business in a name different to your registered company name, then you must register the business name in the appropriate state or territory.
What to do...
- Find out how to register a company and a company name on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website.
- Search ASIC's National Names Index to see if your proposed name already exists.
- Use IP Australia's Trade Mark Databases to ensure your proposed company name isn't already being used as a trademark.
- To register your company name, complete and lodge Form 201 - application for registration as a company, together with the prescribed fee. You can lodge it in person at any ASIC Service Centre or by mail to: ASIC, PO Box 4000, Gippsland Mail Centre, VIC 3841.
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