How to start a business in Australia

Get matched instantly

Compare your matches and get the funding your business needs.

$

Totally free process and will not affect your credit rating.

Tina

The borrowing process was very smooth and efficient.

Daniel

Very good service and had the approval within a day.

Maxine

Professional, simple and excellent service. Thanks

Instant Results

See how much you can borrow and with which lender, instantly

Up to $500k

For business loans, you could qualify to borrow up to $500,000

150+ Products

We offer over 150 products from more than 39 different lenders

How to start a new business in Australia

There are so many things to consider and so many steps to take before you can get your business off the ground.

Luckily, we’ve created this this step-by-step guide to help you get your business up and running and well on the path to success.

Start Business

Step 1 – Choose your structure

First and foremost, you need to choose the right business structure. There are four main business structures to choose from for an Australian business:

Sole Trader

As a sole trader you are registered as the sole owner of the business, which means that you become legally responsible for all areas of the business, including the actions of your employees during the course of their work.

Partnership

A partnership is when two or more people work together to run the business, but they are not set up as a legal company.

Company

A company is its own legal entity, which is separate from its shareholders.

There are lots of advantages of using a legal company structure, but it is also much more complicated and may not be ideal for a small, simple business, especially if you want to stay in full control.

For a useful overview of the differences in the tax structures, liability, legalities and administrative burden, check out this guide from the Australian Government.

Trust

A Trust is an entity that essentially holds property or income for the benefit of others.

If you are unsure about what business structure to use, this useful decision tool will help you.

Business Structure AU

Check out this very handy video from the ATO to help you understand which structure would best suit your needs.

Sole trader Partnership Company Trust
Rules and administration Simple Medium Complex Complex
Expense – set up and ongoing Low Low High High
Protection against personal liability No No Yes Some
Tax benefits No No Yes Yes

Step 2 – Decide on your business model

Once you’ve chosen the structure that best fits your business needs, the next step is to choose your business type. There are many different options, but these are these most common.

Franchise

If you choose to buy a franchise then you’ll be stepping into a business where most of the important issues have already been worked out, including the business model, product sourcing and marketing. You’ll have strict guidelines to follow but you’ll have the advantage of instant brand recognition and customer goodwill.

Independent Business

As the owner of an independent business you’ll have complete control – but you also won’t have the luxury of a ready-made brand, existing supplier contracts and a pre-warmed customer base. Most independent businesses start up in a single location and only expand as the business and reputation grows – unlike a franchise which customers may be used to seeing everywhere they go (think Maccas, Gloria Jeans, Bing Lee).

Online Business

More and more businesses – both product and service based – are setting up online rather than operating from a physical office or retail outlet. There are a multitude of benefits to handling your business online, including:

Of course, you don’t have to run your entire business online. You could still have a shop or office and operate online as a supplementary sales channel – or simply offer services via your website or social media platform that help benefit your target audience.

  • If your business is based on appointments, you can enable clients to make them online, with no fuss.
  • Communication with customers and clients becomes much easier with the aid of online chat features, social media and email.

Step 3 – Get your ABN

Once you’ve made the fundamental decisions about your business, you’ll need to apply for your Australian Business Number (ABN). Without this 11-digit legal identification number you cannot legally start your business.

It is very easy to apply for an ABN and it usually takes just 15-20 minutes for the whole application process. This is what you’ll need to provide in order to get

Personal Info

Your personal information

Business Info

Information about your business

Business Associates

Details on any associates who will be establishing the business with you

ABN Reason

The reason why you are applying

Business Activities

Details about your planned business activities

Correct Info

Your confirmation that information you have provided them is true

Click here to get started: Apply for ABN.

Step 4 – Register your business name

Once your application has been approved and your ABN has been issued, the next thing is to register your business name. Before doing so, you’ll need to check that the name you want hasn’t already been taken.

Business Name Availability AU
LEND TIP

There are some words that you won’t be allowed to use in your business name without the approval of a government minister: Trust, Bank, Royal, and Incorporated.

If your chosen name is not available, just keep searching until you find something you like that isn’t yet in use. Check that your chosen name hasn’t been trademarked by someone else, to avoid the risk of a potential lawsuit down the track.

Business Trademark Check

It’s also a good idea, too, to get the same domain name as your business name, so make sure the domain name is also available (if you want the same name). More on this in step 5 below.

Once you’ve settled on a name, you’ll have to set up an account with the Australian government’s Business Registration Service to register it. Once you are all set up, it will take you about 15 minutes to complete the application process, and then you will get an email with confirmation.

You can even apply your ABN and register your business name at the same time.

Applying for your business name will cost you $34 AUD for a year or $75 AUD for three years.

You may also want to consider trademarking your business name if you want to protect full rights to it.

Step 5 – Register your domain name

If you’re planning to set up a website (and let’s face it, pretty much any business needs a website these days) then it’s a good idea to register your domain name as soon as you’ve settled on your business name, before someone else gets in and squats on your prime online real estate!

There are lots of sites where you can buy domain names – you’ll find a list on the .au Domain Administration Ltd (.auDA) website.

Domain Name List Australia
LEND TIP

If you want to buy a ‘.com.au’ or ‘.net.au’ web address you will need to be a commercial entity and already have either an Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN).

Step 6 – Fund your business

Once you have taken care of all the administration, your next step is to get hold of the funds you need to run your business.

If you don’t already have capital set aside, you could apply for a small business grant, seek a small business loan (although this may be hard to secure until you’ve been trading for at least 6 months) or look for investors.

You can also check out our guide for startup funding.

Going forward

There is a lot of legal and financial administration involved in running a business, especially if you’re going to hire employees.

Be sure to engage a good accountant and legal advisor to help you manage your PAYG and superannuation obligations, not to mention your business taxes.

You’ll also need a good accounting package such as Quickbooks or Xero to manage your expenses, invoices, financial administration and payroll.

Quickbooks and Xero

And make sure you have all the permits or licences you need to operate in your chosen field.

Finally, ensure you have public and product liability insurance and/or professional indemnity insurance in place to protect both you and your business against damage or negligence claims – plus general business insurance to protect you against theft, disaster, or business interruption.

Conclusion

Starting a new business in Australia can seem overwhelming at first, that’s why I set out to make you this handy guide.

From choosing your business structure to selecting business insurance, we covered off each of the steps you need to take to get your new business up and running.

Once you’ve setup your new business you can focus on what you do best - being an expert in your space and supplying your product or service to your first customers!

I wish you the best of success!

Let me know what type of business you’ll be starting or ask a question by leaving a comment below.

Grow the business you want.

See if you qualify
x
Lend Specialist
Prefer to talk to a business finance expert?
Our team can assist you in finding the right finance for your business.