Company Registration & Annual Review

Anyone over 18 can apply to register a company in Australia. At least one director must ordinarily reside in Australia, and the company must have a physical registered office address.

Registry Australia can assist with preparing and submitting your company registration application to ASIC.

Registering a company in Australia does not need to be complex. Registry Australia assists by helping you prepare and submit your company registration application to ASIC.

1. Apply for a director ID if you have not already done so
2. Complete our online company registration form
3. Review your details and pay the registration fee
4. Registry Australia submits the company registration application to ASIC
5. ASIC processes the application and, if approved, registers the company

We are here to help if you need assistance. If ASIC rejects the application or there is an issue with the proposed company name, our local team will contact you.

Companies do not renew their registration each year. However, ASIC requires companies to complete an annual review process.

This generally involves:

• reviewing the company's details;

• directors considering and passing a solvency resolution where required; and

• paying the applicable ASIC annual review fee.

A solvency resolution is a resolution made by the directors about whether, in their opinion, the company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due.

Registry Australia can assist with annual review reminders, document preparation, ASIC annual review fee payment and compliance resources. Directors remain responsible for considering and passing any solvency resolution.

Once ASIC registers the company, you will receive confirmation containing the company's ACN and Certificate of Registration.

Registry Australia will provide these documents to you after ASIC has processed and approved the application.

ASIC may also send a Corporate Key by mail. This can be used to access ASIC's online services if you need to update company information directly with ASIC.

Completing Registry Australia's online form usually takes around 5–10 minutes.

After the application is submitted, ASIC must process and approve the company registration. Many applications are processed quickly, although timing can vary depending on ASIC processing times and whether any application details need to be reviewed.

Registry Australia charges a company registration fee of $895, which includes:

• the applicable ASIC company registration fee;
• Registry Australia's service and processing fee;
• support from our Australian customer service team; and
• assistance with preparing and submitting the application to ASIC.

Yes, provided your preferred company name is available and meets ASIC's company name availability and acceptability rules.

A company name is different from a business name. A company name usually ends in "Pty Ltd" or "Proprietary Limited" and identifies the registered company. A business name is a name used to trade under and can be registered separately.

Registry Australia can assist with applications to register proprietary companies limited by shares, where the company name usually ends in "Pty Ltd" or "Proprietary Limited". This is the most common company structure for many small to medium businesses.

Applications to register companies in Australia are submitted to ASIC. Registry Australia is a private company services provider that assists customers with preparing and submitting company registration applications.

If you need assistance with another structure, such as a trust, partnership, co-operative, incorporated association or Indigenous corporation, our team can help explain the relevant options or direct you to the appropriate process.

A company is its own legal entity with an ACN. A business name is only a trading name and does not create a separate entity. If you only want to trade under a name, a business name may be enough.