Trends & Research

Lawpath New Business Index • October 2025

112,489 New Businesses in October. The data driving Australia’s latest boom

Breaking down founder ages, business origins, and the industries driving Australia forward

January 2024 - October 2025 • Monthly ABN Registration Trends and Insights

78,377

85,018

84,200

79,556

83,332

80,054

103,780

80,856

79,790

86,768

82,526

67,629

104,333

106,157

113,069

103,236

106,017

107,231

126,952

108,841

109,538

112,489

Jan'24

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan'25

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

112,489

ABN registrations this month

+29.6%

Growth Rate (YoY)

94,989

Monthly Average

January 2024 – October 2025 • Monthly ACN Registration Trends and Insights

19,920

26,419

26,194

25,494

29,766

33,175

29,549

27,071

26,399

27,617

25,852

20,694

20,475

26,971

29,465

27,431

31,990

38,555

35,844

31,642

33,429

32,805

Jan'24

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan'25

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

32,805

ACN registrations this month

+18.8%

Growth Rate (YoY)

28,489

Monthly Average

January 2024 - October 2025 • GST Registration Trends and Insights

31,232

23,803

22,022

33,794

24,786

20,472

62,886

24,111

22,513

34,131

23,826

17,702

34,332

26,323

25,288

35,604

27,288

23,996

59,751

26,962

25,152

30,268

Jan'24

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan'25

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

30,268

GST registrations this month

-11.3%

Growth Rate (YoY)

29,829

Monthly Average

What is the
New Business Index?

We launched the Lawpath New Business Index to answer a simple but important question: how is entrepreneurship in Australia really evolving? For too long, conversations about small business have relied on lagging reports or isolated anecdotes. We wanted to give founders, policymakers, and industry leaders a clear, timely view of what’s actually happening.

Each month, the Index brings together verified data from the Australian Business Register (ABR) and ASIC with anonymised insights from thousands of registrations on the Lawpath platform. The result is a unique picture of who is starting businesses, where they are based, and which industries are driving growth.

Our goal is to make this information useful. Not just as a snapshot, but as a way to spot trends, challenge assumptions, and inspire action. When we understand the shifts happening in entrepreneurship, we can help shape a stronger, more resilient business landscape for Australia.

Statistics for October 2025

Key growth signals from the ABN registry and Australia’s latest new business registrations.

+29.6% YoY

NEW BUSINESS REGISTERED

112,489

Total ABN registrations this month

(vs 86,768 in October 2024)

Source: Australian Business Register – ABN Bulk Extract (data.gov.au, accessed 7 October 2025)

+18.8% YoY

NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED

32,805

Total ACN registrations this month

(vs 27,617 in October 2024)

Source: ASIC – Company registration statistics (monthly new company registrations), accessed 7 October 2025

-11.32% YoY

GST Status

30,268

Business Registered for GST

(vs 34,132 in October 2024)

Source: Australian Business Register – ABN Bulk Extract (data.gov.au, accessed 7 October 2025)

Summary

October felt like a month of quiet acceleration. More than 112,000 new businesses came to life, up 29.6% on last year, yet fewer chose to register for GST. It suggests a shift in mindset, with founders starting lean and testing their footing before committing to scale.

Most of this activity is still centred in the cities, but what’s happening inside them is changing. Around seven in ten new ventures are sole traders, people building from their homes, laptops and co-working spaces rather than offices or shopfronts.

The youngest founders are also shaping this story. Business registrations from 18 to 24-year-olds rose 65%, proof that the next generation isn’t waiting for experience to begin. They’re learning by doing, and their energy is quietly reshaping what entrepreneurship looks like.

October’s data shows both momentum and maturity. Australians are no longer chasing the big launch. They’re building smaller, smarter and earlier, creating a new rhythm of growth that feels more intentional than explosive.

Australia’s business formation at a glance

A closer look at how Australia’s new businesses are taking shape, from the structures they choose to the regions driving growth.

Business Structures

82,268

Sole Traders

Category

Value

YoY
Growth

States & Territories

35,772

NSW

State

Value

YoY
Growth

Suburbs

1,142

2000

Postcode

Value

YoY
Growth

Source: Australian Business Register – ABN Bulk Extract (monthly new company registrations), accessed 7 October 2025

Most Popular Structure

Sole Trader

+44% YoY, leading driver of growth

Growth Leader

Tasmania

+44% YoY, fastest growth

Metro Dominance

68.48%

in major metropolitan areas

Business formation breakdown by suburbs in Australia

Explore our interactive map to see where new businesses are forming across Australia, suburb by suburb.

Business Formation Rate

1000+

500-999

300-499

200-299

0-199

Australia Business Statistics

Total Active ABNs: 8,892,882

New Businesses (YTD): 1,098,610

Growth Rate (YTD): 30.24%

Australia Business Statistics

Total Active ABNs: 8,892,882

New Businesses (YTD): 1,098,610

Growth Rate (YTD): 30.24%

Business Formation Rate

1000+

500-999

300-499

200-299

0-199

Source: Australian Business Register – ABN Bulk Extract, accessed 7 October 2025

Lawpath Platform Insights

Key metrics and trends from companies registered through our platform

Data sourced from Lawpath platform. See methodology for full details on data collection and analysis.

Age Distribution of Founders

20%

35–39 years

Age Group

YoY
Growth

Countries of Birth

43%

Australia

Country

YoY
Growth

Industry Distribution

20%

Personal Services

Industry

YoY
Growth

Sharpest Age Rise

18-24 yrs

+65% YoY Growth

International Diversity

57%

born outside Australia

Personal Services

+20%

+67% YoY Growth

Methodology

Each month, the Lawpath New Business Index captures how entrepreneurship in Australia is evolving.

Using verified data from the Australian Business Register (ABR) and ASIC, combined with anonymised insights from thousands of registrations processed through the Lawpath platform, we deliver a verified, month‑by‑month view of who is starting businesses, where they are based, and the industries they are choosing.

October has emerged as Australia’s launchpad month for entrepreneurs. Coming off tax season, we’re seeing a surge in founders moving from ideas to registered businesses - fuelled by AI-driven tools and the growing demand for flexible income streams.

Tom Willis

Chief Marketing Officer, Lawpath

October 2025

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