Register and set up

Understand the company registration process. Learn the key steps, checks and requirements involved in registering a company and getting it ready to operate.

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Register your company

Prepare key information first

Before you start the registration process, make sure you have made the key decisions and have the information covered in the Plan and prepare section of this roadmap.

This includes confirming:

who the directors and, if relevant, who the company secretary will be
that each officeholder is eligible and has given written consent
that each director has applied for a director identification number (director ID)
who the shareholders will be
how shares will be issued and structured
what company name you will use
what addresses the company will use
whether the company will rely on replaceable rules, adopt a constitution, or use a combination of both
whether you need professional advice before registering.

Having this information ready before you start helps the registration process run more smoothly and reduces the risk of errors.

Decide whether to use a registered agent

Registered agents are people or businesses, registered with ASIC, that can help you with ASIC-related tasks, such as lodging documents and keeping your details up to date.

You do not have to use a registered agent. If you do, you can choose to use them for some or all of your lodgement obligations.

Using a registered agent is optional, and you and your company may choose to deal directly with ASIC instead.

If you choose to use a registered agent, they may do some or all of these on your behalf:

register your company
receive official notices from ASIC
lodge documents with ASIC
communicate with ASIC on your behalf
maintain company records
help your company meet its compliance obligations.

Registered agents must be registered with ASIC and meet certain eligibility requirements. They usually charge fees for their services, in addition to ASIC fees.

A company can appoint or remove a registered agent by notifying ASIC.

Register your company online

You can register your company online through the Australian Government Business Registration Service (BRS).

In order to register the company, you will need the details outlined under Make key decisions before you register the company which is listed under Plan and prepare. You will also need a credit card ready to make payment.

Online registration through the Business Registration Service is not available if you want to hide the residential address of an officeholder.

Plan and prepare
Register a company
Hide a residential address on the companies register
Register a company through the Australian Government Business Registration Service.

Register your company through a registered agent

If you have decided to use a registered agent, they will be able to assist you with registering a company. You will still need to provide them with all the details in Prepare key information first.

Register your company by paper

Paper registration is only available in very limited situations, such as where information needs to be suppressed from public view.

If you think you need to register your company by paper, you will need to contact ASIC and provide us with the details at the bottom of Register a company. We will then send you a paper form to register your company.

Pay registration fees

You must pay a registration fees when registering a company. Your fee amount will depend on the type of company you are registering.

Read more: Information Sheet 30 Fees for commonly lodged documents (INFO 30) for current fees.

What happens after registration

Once your company is registered:

it will appear on ASIC's companies register
ASIC will issue an Australian Company Number (ACN)
ASIC will provide a certificate of registration
if you completed registration through ASIC's Business Registration Service, we will send confirmation by email.

ASIC will also send a corporate key to the company’s registered office. The corporate key is important because it is used to access ASIC’s online systems and manage your company details.

Reduce the risk of registration problems

Avoid common errors

Common issues ASIC sees during company registration include:

missing or incomplete information
not having a director ID
not having written consent from officeholders
incorrect officeholder, shareholder or share details
incorrect registered office or business addresses
not checking whether the proposed company name is available.

These issues can delay registration, result in inaccurate information on the companies register, or create legal and practical problems later.

Before starting the registration process, make sure the key information is finalised and accurate.

Fix mistakes in your registration application

If you identify an error after submitting a registration application, you should contact ASIC as soon as possible.

Early correction is important because mistakes can be more time-consuming or costly to fix later on. It is also important because company information appears on the public register. If information is wrong, it may cause confusion for the company, officeholders, shareholders, creditors, customers or others who rely on the register.

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Access ASIC systems and information

ASIC corporate keys

A corporate key is a unique 8-digit number linked to your company.

You need your corporate key to access ASIC’s online systems and update company details.

Your corporate key helps protect company information by making sure only authorised people can make changes.

You should keep your corporate key secure and make sure it is only used by people who are authorised to act for the company.

ASIC's company officeholder portal

As a company officeholder, you can use ASIC’s online systems to manage company information and complete certain tasks.

This may include:

updating company details
managing company officeholder details
updating share and shareholder information
meeting annual review requirements
lodging certain forms.

You will need your company’s corporate key to register for the company officeholder portal.

ASIC Connect

ASIC Connect is used for some interactions with ASIC registers.

For example, ASIC Connect can be used to:

search for companies and business names
register, renew, cancel, transfer or update a business name.

Company registration and business name registration are separate. If your company uses a business name, you may need to manage that business name separately through ASIC Connect.

ASIC registers

ASIC maintains several public registers, including:

companies register
business names register
professional registers
banned and disqualified persons register.

These registers are the official sources of information about companies and individuals who operate in the Australian economy.

Use the Organisation and Business Names option in ASIC Connect to check whether a company or business name is registered, view certain public information, and confirm whether a person or organisation appears on certain registers.

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Set up your company after registration

Important steps after registration

Once your company is registered, your focus should shift from setting up the company to running it and managing it properly.

As a director, you are responsible for overseeing the company and making sure it meets its legal obligations.

At this stage, you should:

understand your ongoing obligations as a director
check that the company’s registered details are correct
keep company information up to date with ASIC
set up financial and business records
keep company registers and records
put systems in place to meet legal, tax and reporting obligations
seek professional advice if you are unsure about your responsibilities.

Being a director is an active role. You are responsible for overseeing the company and ensuring the company meets its legal obligations.

It is important to take time to understand what the role involves and seek professional advice if you have any questions about your director obligations.

Other required registrations

Depending on the nature of your business, your company may need other registrations or accounts before it starts operating.

For example:

applying for an Australian Business Number (ABN)
registering for a Tax File Number (TFN)
registering for goods and services tax (GST)
registering for PAYG withholding if employing staff
applying for licences or permits required for the business.

These requirements are separate from registering a company with ASIC.

You should check what applies to your business before you start trading. The Australian Government website business.gov.au provides practical guidance and tools to help you understand what you may need to do before starting trading.

Display your business name and company details

If your company operates under a business name, you must display that name clearly wherever the business is open to the public – for example, on your shopfront or premises.

Your company must also display its:

full legal name, and
ACN or ABN.

on certain documents, such as invoices, letters and forms lodged with ASIC.

These requirements help customers, suppliers and regulators clearly identify your business and who they are dealing with.

Register a business name
Australian Company Number (ACN)
Information Sheet 201 Failure to display a business name (INFO 201)

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Set up your financial systems

Financial records

As director, you are responsible for ensuring the company keeps proper financial records.

Your company must:

maintain appropriate banking records
record transactions clearly
monitor cash flow and upcoming obligations
keep invoices and receipts
keep the company’s tax returns.

Setting up good financial systems from the start helps you:

understand the company’s financial position
manage cash flow
track income, expenses, debts and liabilities
meet legal and tax obligations
make informed business decisions
identify financial problems early.

Accounting or legal advice

You should consider getting professional advice (for example, an accountant or lawyer) if you need help with:

setting up accounting and record-keeping systems
understanding the licenses and permits required for your business
understanding tax and other legal obligations
managing financial risks
reviewing contracts or finance arrangements
responding to early signs of financial difficulty.

Using an adviser can help, but it does not remove your responsibilities as a director.

You are still expected to:

understand the company’s financial position
review financial information regularly
ask questions when something does not look right
make informed decisions
act early if the company is under financial pressure.

The Australian Government website business.gov.au provides practical guidance and tools to help you set up and manage your company’s finances.

Plan and prepare Next step: Run your company