Business Registration
Business Name Registration
Prepare the details commonly needed to register a business name and keep the registration connected to the right holder.
Overview
Business Name Registration explained
Business name registration is the step where you formally record a trading name with ASIC and connect it to the entity that holds it. With your details ready, the lodgement itself is quick, and you can choose a one-year or three-year term.
The most important part is accuracy: the name must attach to the correct ABN and the right holder, whether that is you as an individual, a partnership or a company. Getting the holder wrong causes headaches when you renew or transfer it.
Cockatoo helps you assemble the details for business name registration in one place, so you lodge it correctly the first time and keep it linked to the right party.
What to check
Key points
- You must hold an active ABN before the name can be registered.
- You can register for one year or three years and renew before expiry.
- The name must be linked to the correct legal entity as its holder.
- ASIC checks the name is not identical or nearly identical to an existing one.
Before you start
What you'll need
- Your active ABN, or proof an application has been submitted.
- The exact name and spelling you want to appear on the register.
- The holder details: individual, partnership members, or company.
- A contact address and email for ASIC correspondence and renewals.
- Your preferred registration term of one or three years.
- Confirmation the name is available and not too similar to another.
Process
How it works
- Check the name is available and not nearly identical to a registration.
- Confirm the ABN and the exact holder the name will sit under.
- Choose a one-year or three-year registration term.
- Lodge the registration and save the confirmation and expiry date.
- Set a reminder to renew before the term ends to avoid losing the name.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Registering the name under the wrong holder or an unrelated ABN.
- Letting the registration lapse and risking someone else taking the name.
- Misspelling the name on the register so it differs from your branding.
- Forgetting that registration alone does not protect the name as a brand.
Common questions
Business Name Registration FAQs
What do I need before business name registration?
You need an active ABN, the exact name and its spelling, the correct holder details, a contact address and your preferred term of one or three years. Confirming the name is available with ASIC beforehand avoids a rejected lodgement.
How long does a business name registration last?
You can register a business name for either one year or three years. Before it expires, ASIC sends a renewal notice and you must renew to keep it. If you let it lapse, the name can become available for someone else to register.
Who should be listed as the holder of the business name?
The holder should be the legal entity that actually trades under the name, such as you as an individual, the members of a partnership, or your company. Listing the correct holder matters for renewals, transfers and keeping the ABN link accurate.
Can I register a business name without an ABN?
You need an ABN, or at least an ABN application reference, to complete the registration, because the name is attached to that ABN. Many people apply for the ABN and the business name together so the two are linked from the start.
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