How to Register a Company in Australia (2026 Guide)

Want to register a company in Australia? It’s more straightforward than most people expect. If you have your details ready, a proprietary limited (Pty Ltd) company can be registered with ASIC and issued an Australian Company Number (ACN) on the same day. This guide walks you through exactly what you need to register a company in Australia, each step of the process, and what it costs in 2026.

Do you actually need a company?

A Pty Ltd company is a separate legal entity from you personally. That separation is the main reason people set one up: it limits your personal liability, can be more tax-effective than operating as a sole trader, and looks more established to clients, lenders and suppliers. Companies are also required for certain structures — for example, acting as the corporate trustee of a self-managed super fund (SMSF). If you are simply freelancing on the side, a sole trader ABN may be enough; if you are building a real business or protecting personal assets, a company is usually the right call.

What you need before you register a company in Australia

Have this information ready before you start — it makes registration a five-minute job rather than a stop-start afternoon:

A company name (or you can trade under your ACN).
Director details — full name, date of birth, place of birth and residential address for each director. At least one director must ordinarily reside in Australia.
A director ID for every director (see Step 3).
Shareholder (member) details and how many shares each will hold.
A registered office address and principal place of business in Australia.

Step 1 — Choose and check your company name

Your company name must be unique and must not be identical to an existing company or registered business name. Certain words (like “bank”, “trust” or “university”) are restricted and need approval. Before you commit, check that the name is available — you can do an instant availability and restricted-word check using the company name search on our homepage. If you do not want a name at all, your company can simply use its ACN.

Step 2 — Decide your directors, shareholders and share structure

A proprietary company needs at least one director and at least one shareholder (they can be the same person). Decide who the directors are, who the shareholders are, and how the shares are split — for a simple single-owner company this is often just one ordinary share. Getting the share structure right at the start saves paperwork later, especially if you plan to bring in business partners or investors.

Step 3 — Get a director ID

Every company director in Australia must have a director identification number (director ID). It is free, you keep it for life, and you must apply for it yourself — no one can do it on your behalf. New directors are required to have their director ID before they are appointed, so sort this out early. You apply online through the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) using your myGovID. It usually takes only a few minutes if your identity documents are ready.

Step 4 — Nominate your registered office and address

You will need an Australian registered office address (where official ASIC and ATO mail is sent) and a principal place of business. These can be the same address, and it can be your home address if you run the business from home. If you occupy someone else’s address as your registered office, you need their written consent.

Step 5 — Register with ASIC and get your ACN

Registration is done by lodging an application (Form 201) with ASIC. You can lodge it yourself, or use an ASIC registered agent who lodges it for you and prepares your company documents. Once approved, ASIC issues your ACN and a Certificate of Registration — often within minutes for a standard name when lodged electronically. Using a registered agent is the popular route because you get the certificate, company constitution, member register and consent forms prepared and bundled, without touching an ASIC portal.

How much does it cost to register a company in 2026?

There are two separate costs, and it is worth understanding both:

The ASIC government fee — $636 (from 1 July 2026). This is set by ASIC, is the same no matter who you register through, and goes to the government, not to the agent. It rises with indexation most years.
A service fee if you use a registered agent to prepare and lodge everything for you. This varies widely between providers.

At Cheap Company Setup our service fee is $60, so your all-in cost is $60 + $636 = $696, with the company constitution and all documents included. There are no ongoing subscriptions. After the first year, the only recurring cost is ASIC’s annual review fee ($342 for a standard proprietary company in 2026-27), which every Australian company pays.

What to do after your company is registered

Registration gives you the company itself. To actually trade, most businesses then:

Apply for an ABN (Australian Business Number) — this is free through the Australian Business Register.
Register for a TFN for the company, and for GST if your turnover is (or will be) $75,000 or more.
Open a business bank account in the company’s name using your ACN and certificate.
Keep your ASIC details current and pay the annual review fee each year to keep the company registered.

Register a company in Australia the cheap, fast way

You do not need an accountant or a lawyer to register a company — you need your details, a director ID, and a few minutes. If you would rather have it done for you, all documents prepared and lodged by an ASIC registered agent, you can register your company online for $60 + the ASIC fee. It is 100% online, the constitution and all documents are included, and there is no subscription.

Keep reading:

This article is general information only and is not legal, financial or tax advice. Fees quoted are current as at July 2026 and are set by ASIC; check current amounts before you rely on them.

Register your company for $60 + ASIC

Ready to go? Register a company in Australia for a flat $60 service fee plus the $636 ASIC fee. Constitution, ACN certificate, share certificates and register are all included — usually in your account the same day for standard names.

How to Register a Company in Australia: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)