ABN registration is free in Australia when you apply directly through the Australian Business Register. To register a business name with ASIC you need an ABN, or the reference number from an ABN application that is still being processed, and you can apply for both at once. You can also trade under your own legal name without registering a business name at all. Here is how the pieces fit together, and what I learned setting up my own companies.
The short answer
Applying for an ABN is free through the government’s Australian Business Register. ABN entitlement includes carrying on or genuinely starting an enterprise, not a hobby. To register a business name with ASIC, you need an ABN or an ABN application reference number; the government’s Business Registration Service lets you apply for both together. A sole trader using only their own legal name does not need to register a business name. Some private websites charge a fee to lodge the same free ABN application, so always apply through the official government site.
I have started and named more than one business, including WP Creative in 2016. WP Creative’s legal entity is Naphix Pty Ltd, trading as WP Creative. That one line shows the three things most new founders mix up: the company, the business name and the brand.
The registrations were never the hard part. I set up WP Creative in January 2016 on an $18,000 loan, then went nine months without a salary. The company, the ABN and the business name were paperwork; the money running out was what kept me up at night. So my advice to new founders is simple: do the free registrations properly, on the official sites, and spend your real attention on what the first year will cost.
Is ABN registration free?
Yes. Applying for an Australian Business Number is free when you apply through the Australian Business Register at abr.gov.au or through the government’s business.gov.au registration service. You do not need to pay an agent or a private website. Many applications are approved straight away online, while others need manual checks and take longer.
Private websites that look official sometimes charge to submit the same application on your behalf. Check the address bar. If it does not end in .gov.au, you are not on the government site.
Can you register a business name without an ABN?
Not without one on the way. ASIC’s guide to registering a business name asks for an ABN, or an ABN reference number if you are still applying. You can also apply for an ABN and a business name at the same time through the Business Registration Service. If your ABN application is refused, the business name cannot be registered, because the name is linked to the ABN of the person or entity that owns it. The national business names register run by ASIC replaced the old state and territory registers in May 2012, so the same rule applies everywhere in Australia.
| Registration | What it is | Who issues it | Free? | When you need it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABN (Australian Business Number) | Identifies your business to government and other businesses | Australian Business Register | Yes | When you carry on an enterprise and want to invoice, claim GST credits or register a business name |
| Business name | The name you trade under, if it is not your own legal name | ASIC | No, a fee applies | When you trade under any name other than your own legal name |
| Company (ACN) | A separate legal entity, such as a Pty Ltd | ASIC | No, a fee applies | When you choose a company structure |
| Trade mark | Legal protection for a brand name or logo | IP Australia | No, a fee applies | When you want to stop others using your brand |
| Domain name | Your website address, such as a .com.au | Accredited registrars | No, a fee applies | When you want a website and branded email |
Caption: ABN, business name, company, trade mark and domain compared. Based on guidance from business.gov.au, ASIC and the ABR, checked 26 October 2026. Fees change each year, so check the issuer’s current fee schedule.
When do you not need to register a business name?
You do not need to register a business name if you trade under your own legal name with nothing added. “Taylor Nguyen” needs no registration. “Taylor Nguyen Design” does, because a word has been added. A company trading under its exact registered company name also does not need a separate business name. Anything else you trade under must be registered.
Who can get an ABN?
ABN entitlement covers carrying on or genuinely starting an enterprise in Australia, supplies connected with Australia’s indirect tax zone, and Corporations Act companies. An enterprise can also include some activities beyond a for-profit business. A hobby does not qualify. An employer calling you a contractor does not make you eligible for an ABN for work that is actually employment.
If you are unsure whether your activity is a business or a hobby, the ATO has guidance on the difference. Getting this wrong matters, because an ABN brings obligations as well as benefits.
You can apply before your first sale, but keep evidence of genuine commencement steps, such as quotes, licences, insurance or equipment purchases. The ABR can review entitlement at any time against your stated start date. A reference number shows an application is being processed; it is not approval.
Will the ABR check whether you still need your ABN?
Yes. The ABR’s 11 September 2026 reminder says it regularly checks inactive ABNs and contacts affected holders or their agents before cancellation. Report business income or losses and lodge the returns that apply to you, even when there is no profit. Update changed ABR details within 28 days. If you have stopped operating, follow the official cancellation process.
Can you run a business without an ABN?
In limited cases, but it is rarely sensible. If you supply goods or services to another business and do not quote an ABN, the payer is generally required to withhold 47% of the payment and send it to the ATO, unless an exception applies. Without an ABN you also cannot register a business name, register for GST or claim GST credits.
The ATO’s statement by a supplier not quoting an ABN covers the situations, such as a private hobby, where withholding does not apply. For a new business, confirm your entitlement and apply once you can support the start date.
How do you register an ABN and a business name?
Apply for an ABN through the Australian Business Register or business.gov.au, then register your business name with ASIC, or do both in one application through business.gov.au. Have your tax file number, business structure, address and business activity ready. The ABN application is free. The business name registration has a fee and can be taken for one or three years, with a renewal notice emailed before it expires.
- Choose your structure: sole trader, partnership, company or trust. It affects tax and liability, so talk to an accountant if you are unsure.
- Apply for an ABN at abr.gov.au or business.gov.au. It is free.
- Check the name is available on ASIC’s business name register and search IP Australia’s trade mark database.
- Register the business name with ASIC, for one or three years.
- Register for GST if your turnover will reach the GST threshold, or if you choose to.
- Secure the matching domain name before someone else does.
How do you choose a good business name?
Choose a business name that is available on the ASIC register, not already a registered trade mark, has a matching domain name, and is easy to say and spell. A name that describes what you do helps early on. A distinctive name is easier to protect and grows with you. Check all three registers before you print anything.
What I would do differently, looking back on naming my own businesses:
- Check the domain and trade mark at the same time as the business name. A registered business name does not stop someone else using a similar brand. A trade mark does.
- Do not lock the name to one service or city if you plan to grow. A name tied to “web design Sydney” gets awkward when you add new services or open in the US.
- Keep the legal entity and the brand separate in your head. Customers know the brand. Contracts, invoices and the ABN Lookup show the legal entity.
My guide to choosing a great domain name for your business covers the domain side in detail.
What should you do after registering your business?
After registering your ABN and business name, set up a business bank account, register for GST if needed, secure your domain and business email, and get a simple website live. Then estimate your running costs for the first year. Most early cash problems I see come from underestimating costs, not from the registration steps.
My breakdown of what it costs to start a small business in Australia helps with the budget, and my guide to why a small business needs a website covers the online side. If you are in Sydney, I have also written about the biggest challenges facing small businesses in Sydney.
What to do next
- Decide whether you are carrying on an enterprise or a hobby.
- Apply for your ABN on the official government site, for free.
- Check your preferred name on the ASIC register, IP Australia and a domain registrar.
- Register the business name with ASIC if you will trade under anything other than your own name.
- Secure the domain and set up a simple website. If you want help planning the site, see my approach to small business website design.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get an ABN?
Many ABN applications made online are approved immediately, as long as your details match government records. If the Australian Business Register needs to check something manually, it takes longer and may ask you for more information. Apply through the official government site and have your tax file number and business details ready.
Is a business name the same as an ABN?
No. An ABN is a number that identifies your business to government and other businesses. A business name is the name you trade under. You need an ABN, or an ABN application reference number, to register a business name, and one ABN can hold several business names.
Does registering a business name protect my brand?
No. Registering a business name with ASIC lets you trade under that name, but it does not stop someone else using a similar brand. To protect a brand name or logo, apply for a trade mark with IP Australia. Check the trade mark register before you commit to a name.
Do I need an ABN to sell online?
If you are carrying on a business selling online in Australia, you should have an ABN. Online platforms and payment providers often ask for one, and other businesses may withhold 47% from payments if you do not quote it. Occasional private sales of your own personal items are generally different from running a business; they are not automatically a hobby enterprise. Check the activity against the official business and ABN tests.
Can I have more than one business name under one ABN?
Yes. One ABN can be linked to several registered business names, as long as they are all owned by the same person or entity. This is common when one company runs several brands. Each business name is registered and renewed separately with ASIC.
