Registering a business name in Australia costs $47 for one year or $108 for three years when you register directly with ASIC, as of 1 July 2026. That fee is the same for everyone, and it is the anchor figure every registration service prices around.
What the fee buys is narrower than many founders expect. A business name registration lets you trade under a name. It does not create a company, it does not protect your brand, and it does not give you an address. This guide explains the cost, what you get for it, and the gaps you may need to fill.
ASIC indexes its fees each July. Confirm the current business name fees at asic.gov.au before registering.
The ASIC business name fee
Registration period |
ASIC fee (from 1 July 2026) |
Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $47 | $47 |
| 3 years | $108 | $36 |
The fee is the same whether you apply through ASIC directly or through a private service. A private service adds its own charge on top. ASIC fees are not subject to GST.
Before ASIC will register a name, you need an Australian Business Number (ABN) or an ABN application in progress. The ABN is free.
Who needs a business name
You need to register a business name if you carry on business in Australia under a name that is not your own legal name. That means:
- A sole trader trading as anything other than their own name ("Priya Shah" does not need one; "Shah Design Studio" does).
- A partnership trading under a name other than the partners' names.
- A company trading under a name other than its registered company name.
- A trust trading under any name other than the trustee's name.
If you trade under your exact legal name, no registration is needed.
What the registration gives you
A registered business name:
- lets you lawfully trade, advertise and invoice under that name
- links the name to your ABN on the public register
- stops another business registering an identical name on the Business Names Register
That is the whole of it. The rest of this guide covers what it leaves out.
Gap 1: no company and no ACN
A business name is not a legal entity. If you register "Harbour Coffee Roasters" as a sole trader, you are still a sole trader. Business debts remain your personal debts, and there is no Australian Company Number (ACN).
Many people searching for a "cheap business name" actually want a Pty Ltd. If limited liability, taking on investors or appearing as a company to larger clients matters to you, check whether a company registration is what you actually need before you pay for anything.
Gap 2: no brand protection
A business name registration gives no ownership of the name. Another business can hold a trademark over it and stop you using it, even though your business name is registered.
Brand protection comes from a trademark registered with IP Australia, which charges from $250 per class of goods or services for a standard online application. Search the trademark register before you commit to a name, not after you have printed signage.
Gap 3: no address
When you register a business name, ASIC asks for a principal place of business and an address for service of documents. ASIC requires a physical address; a PO box is not accepted for these fields.
These details are public: the address for service is shown in full, and a home-based principal place of business shows its suburb, state and postcode. For home-based founders, that usually means a home address appears on the register.
If you would rather not publish your home address, or if you are based overseas, see ASIC vs ATO Address Requirements: Where Founders Get It Wrong for the options.
What a bare registration covers
What you might need |
Included in the ASIC fee? |
Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Right to trade under the name | Yes | ASIC business name registration |
| ABN | No (free separately) | Australian Business Register |
| Limited liability / ACN | No | Registering a Pty Ltd company |
| Brand ownership | No | Trademark with IP Australia |
| Address for ASIC | No | Your own premises or a commercial address |
| Renewal reminders | Yes, from ASIC | ASIC |
How to register, step by step
1. Get an ABN. Apply through the Australian Business Register. It is free.
2. Check the name. Search the ASIC business names register and the company register. ASIC won't register a name that is identical to an existing one, and some words are restricted.
3. Check trademarks. Search the IP Australia trademark register so you don't build a brand you can't keep.
4. Prepare your addresses. You'll need a physical principal place of business and an address for service in Australia.
5. Apply and pay. Choose one or three years and pay the ASIC fee.
6. Keep the details current. Tell ASIC if your addresses or other details change.
Most applications are processed quickly once the ABN is active, but allow time if ASIC needs to review the name.
Is a business name worth it?
For a sole trader who wants a brand, yes: it is inexpensive and lets you trade lawfully under that name. What it isn't is a substitute for a company or a trademark. If you're paying for a business name because you want protection or a more established image, check whether a company or trademark is what you actually need.
Direct or through a service?
Going direct through ASIC is the cheapest way to register a business name on fee alone. Services charge more for things like name checks, reminders or bundled extras. If all you need is the name, go direct.
Renewal
ASIC sends renewal notices before a registration expires. If you don't renew, the name lapses and someone else can register it. Watch for look-alike renewal letters from private companies; renew only through ASIC or a provider you chose.
Watch out for renewal look-alikes
Private companies send letters that look like ASIC renewal notices. They are not from ASIC. Check the sender before paying any renewal invoice. ASIC's website is asic.gov.au.
Related reading
- Cost to Register a Pty Ltd in Australia (2026) - full itemised breakdown of company registration costs
- ASIC vs ATO Address Requirements: Where Founders Get It Wrong - what each body requires from your business address
- ABN vs ACN vs Business Name
About the author
Alisha Aneja is a co-founder of Space Penguin and leads technology and product. She writes about company setup, registration and compliance for Australian founders.