Register Your Company with a Head Start

Anyone can register a company in Australia. The only requirements are that company directors are at least 18, at least one director resides in Australia, and the company has a physical registered office with an Australian address (i.e. no PO Box).

We offer company registration starting from $499 (including GST and the $469 government fee).

Note: You can register with ASIC directly. However, they will not provide you with the documentation you are legally required to have to ensure you’re compliant. The process also takes several days (as opposed to our process, which takes minutes).

If you application is error-free, and does not require manual review, it will usually be approved within 2-3 minutes. You will then receive an email including your Australian Company Number (ACN) and all your accompanying documentation.

If your application requires manual review, it will usually take around 2 hours (although could be as long as 24 hours).

When your application is approved, you will receive:

• Your Australian Company Number (ACN) (via email)
• The following 13 legal documents (Certificate of Company Registration, Company Constitution, Share Certificates, Blank Application for Shares, Share Journals, Office Holder Consent forms, Public Officer letters to Commissioner of Taxation, Occupier Consent Form, Member Register, Blank Consent Forms and Share certificates, Registers of Charges and Debentures, Resolution of Members, Share Transfer Journal) (via email)
• ASIC Corporate Key (via mail to the registered office address from ASIC)
• Tax File Number (TFN) (optional)
• Australian Business Number (ABN) (optional)
• Domain Name Registration (optional)
• Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Registration (optional)
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) Registration (optional)

Although an ABN is not compulsory, it is required to:

• submit most applications, including when applying for a business bank account
• register for GST - this is mandatory if your company has a turnover of over $75,000;
• register for PAYG withholding; and
• register a business name;

Listing an ABN on invoices makes your business look more legitimate, as it provides a degree of accountability.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a broad-based tax of 10% on most goods, services and other items sold or consumed in Australia. You are legally required to register for GST if your business has an expected turnover of over $75,000. Registration allows you to include GST in sales prices and claim GST credits.

If you are already registered as as sole trader, you will need to register again. GST registration is required every time you receive a new ABN.

A tax file number (TFN) is a unique nine-digit number issued by the Australian Government to help them administer tax. Your company must use a separate TFN to your personal TFN.

Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) is a system whereby payments made to employees and businesses are partially withheld in anticipation of their tax liability. You will be subject to withholding obligations if:

• you have employees; or
• you have other workers, such as contractors, with whom you have voluntarily agreed to withhold payments from; or
• you make payments to businesses that don’t provide you with their ABN.

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