How to Register a Company in Australia (ASIC) | EntityFlo

How to Register a Company in Australia (ASIC) | EntityFlo

Registering a company in Australia costs $538, takes less than an hour online, and you'll have your Australian Company Number (ACN) the same day. You need at least one director with an Australian address, a registered office, and a basic share structure. Here's the full process.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the national regulator responsible for company registration. All Australian companies are registered under the Corporations Act 2001 and recorded on the ASIC register — Australia's publicly searchable company database.

ASIC registration gives your company: An Australian Company Number (ACN) — your permanent, unique 9 digit identifier Legal entity status with limited liability (for a Pty Ltd) The ability to enter contracts, own property, and employ people in its own name

Most small to medium businesses register as a Proprietary Limited Company (Pty Ltd) . Here's how the main types compare:

Type Description Best For Proprietary Limited (Pty Ltd) Private company, limited by shares, max 50 non employee shareholders Startups, SMEs, family businesses Public Company Limited (Ltd) Can raise capital from the public, ASX listing eligible Listed companies, large capital raises Company Limited by Guarantee No share capital, profits reinvested NFPs, charities, member associations Unlimited Company No liability limitation Rare — specific professional or trust structures

For 95% of founders, the answer is Pty Ltd . The rest of this guide assumes that's what you're registering.

Gather the following before opening the ASIC registration portal:

1. Company Name Check availability on the ASIC Name Availability Register The name must end in "Pty Ltd" (proprietary limited) or "Pty. Ltd." Cannot be identical or deceptively similar to an existing company or registered trademark Some words require consent (e.g., "Bank," "Trust," "Royal")

2. Registered Office Address Must be a physical address in Australia (not a PO box) This is the address where ASIC correspondence is sent Can be your accountant's, lawyer's, or a registered agent's address Must be open and accessible during business hours

3. Principal Place of Business Where the company actually conducts business Can be the same as the registered office

4. Director Details At least one director is required, and that director must: Be aged 18 or over Have a residential address in Australia (at least one director must have an Australian address if the company has multiple directors, one of whom may be foreign) Consent to act as director (Director Consent form) Not be bankrupt or disqualified from managing corporations

You'll need to provide: Full legal name Date of birth Residential address Consent declaration

5. Company Secretary (Optional) Proprietary limited companies are no longer required to have a company secretary (this changed in 2010). However, many appoint one anyway for governance discipline. If appointed, the company secretary must also have an Australian address.

6. Shareholder Details Full name and address of each shareholder Number and class of shares issued to each Total share capital (can be as low as $1 per share — the dollar amount is largely symbolic) Share class (ordinary shares are the default)

7. Share Structure Decide upfront: Number of shares: Many companies issue 100 or 1,000 ordinary shares. Some issue 1. The number doesn't matter as much as the percentage ownership it represents. Share classes: Ordinary shares (one vote per share, equal dividend rights) are the default. If you want different rights for different shareholders, you'll need multiple classes and potentially a shareholders' agreement. Paid/unpaid capital: Shares can be issued fully paid or partly paid.

8. Constitution ASIC provides replaceable rules as a default constitution under the Corporations Act. Most Pty Ltd companies adopt these unless they have specific governance requirements. If your company adopts its own constitution, you'll need to lodge it with ASIC.

Step 1: Log in to ASIC Connect Go to connectonline.asic.gov.au and create an account (or log in if you already have one). ASIC Connect is the online portal for all company registration and lodgement.

Step 2: Start a New Company Registration Select "Register a Company" and choose your company type (Proprietary Limited for Pty Ltd).

Step 3: Enter Company Details Input your company name, registered office, principal place of business, and choose whether to adopt replaceable rules or a custom constitution.

Step 4: Add Directors and Secretary Enter director details one by one. Each director will need to sign a Director Consent form (you can generate this through the portal).

Step 5: Set Up Share Structure Enter shareholder details and share allocation. Confirm the total number of shares and classes.

Step 6: Review and Pay Review all details carefully — errors can be costly to correct after registration. Pay the registration fee.

Current ASIC registration fee: $538 (as of 2025 — check ASIC's fee schedule for current rates).

Step 7: Receive Your ACN Successful applications are typically processed the same business day. ASIC will issue: Your ACN (Australian Company Number) A Certificate of Registration (available to download from ASIC Connect)

Your company is now legally incorporated.

This is where most founders switch off — and where most compliance problems start.

1. ASIC Annual Review Every year, on the anniversary of your company's registration, ASIC issues an Annual Review Statement . This is not optional. You must: Confirm your company details are correct Pay the Annual Review Fee (currently $310 for a Pty Ltd) Notify ASIC of any changes to directors, address, or share structure within 28 days of the change

Fail to respond and pay: ASIC will issue a late fee and, if persistent, may deregister your company.

2. Australian Business Number (ABN) Your ACN is your company identity number. Your ABN is your tax identity number. Register for an ABN through the Australian Business Register immediately after company registration. They're different numbers — don't confuse them.

3. GST Registration If your company's annual turnover is expected to exceed $75,000, you must register for GST. You can do this through the ATO or your tax agent.

4. PAYG Withholding If you'll employ people (including yourself as a director drawing a salary), register for PAYG withholding with the ATO.

5. Beneficial Ownership Register Under the Corporations Act , Pty Ltd companies must maintain a register of beneficial owners — the natural persons who ultimately own or control the company. ASIC has been tightening enforcement here. This is not just a box tick exercise; it's an ongoing obligation every time ownership changes.

6. Registered Address Changes Any time you change your registered office or principal place of business, you must notify ASIC within 28 days. This is a lodgement — there's a fee involved.

7. Director Changes Adding or removing a director? 28 days to notify ASIC. Failure to do so is a lodgeable offence.

8. Share Transfers Transferring shares to a new shareholder? This triggers stamp duty in some states (though most have abolished it for share transfers) and requires updating ASIC's register.

EntityFlo + ASIC: Compliance Without the Chasing

EntityFlo is an ASIC Digital Service Provider (DSP) — which means we have a direct integration with ASIC's systems.

Live ASIC Data Sync Your EntityFlo entity profile stays in sync with ASIC. Changes registered at ASIC appear in EntityFlo automatically. No manual data entry.

Auto Flagged Obligations Your annual review dates, director consent deadlines, and beneficial ownership obligations are tracked automatically. EntityFlo flags what's due — before it's overdue.

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