Your business name is your identity, so it is important to establish it in the early stages of your business. Most businesses are legally required to register their business name in order to operate in Australia.
You do not need to register your business name if you are:
- an individual and the business name is your name (first name and surname)
- a registered company and the business name is the company’s name
- a partnership and the business name consists of all of the partners’ names.
Important tip: If you choose to use your personal name for your business, it must be your exact name. For example, if your name is Jane Smith and you want to call your business 'Jane Smith & Co', this would need to be registered.
Read some helpful tips on choosing a business name.
Steps for registering a business name
1. Check if your desired business name is available for registration
- Search the business names register on the homepage of Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) Connect.
- Confirm that your business name is not already registered as a company name by searching company and other registers on ASIC.
- Check to see if your business name can be registered as a website (domain) name using MyWebname.
- Confirm that your business name is not already registered as a trade mark by searching the Australian Trade Marks Online Search System (ATMOSS).
2. Apply to register your business name
Before registering your business name, you need to have an Australian Business Number (ABN). You can apply for your ABN through the Australian Business Register.
- You need to sign up for an account with ASIC to register your business name on the ASIC Connect homepage. Watch a video on Signing up to ASIC Connect for more information.
- Once your account has been activated, follow the steps in the ASIC User Guide on How to apply for a business name.
Protect your business name
Your business name is only your identification. Registering your business name does not give you full rights over the name. Consider protecting your business name by trademarking it.
