Launch your business in Australia with Lawpath's fixed price Resident Director Service.
All Australian companies are required to have at least one director who is a resident of Australia. Lawpath's Resident Director Service provides a resident director for your company. Our team consists of experienced legal and accounting professionals who have a deep understanding of the needs of international companies. We offer a comprehensive service that includes company set up (ACN), tax set up (ABN), bank account creation, domain registration, IP protection and all other necessary services to help you launch your business in the Australian market.
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Business and Tax Registration
Ongoing Compliance
Bank Account and
Domains Set Up
Legal and Accounting Help
Get in touch
Submit an enquiry and we'll assess your company's eligibility for our Resident Director Service. We review your business structure and compliance needs and get back to you within two business days.
Review Your Proposal
Once approved, you'll receive a tailored proposal outlining your service fees, timeline, and any available add-on services. No hidden costs. You'll know exactly what you're getting before you commit.
Sign & pay
Review and sign your Director Services Agreement and Deed of Indemnity, then confirm payment. This formally engages our services and kicks off your director appointment.
Let us take care of the rest
We take care of all ASIC filings to appoint your resident director, and from there, we're with you year-round with quarterly compliance check-ins, a mid-year review, and annual renewal support.
Communicating with your resident director is simple. Requests are submitted through our online portal and prioritised by our team, so matters are handled quickly, clearly, and with the right level of care.
Our directors have extensive backgrounds in various areas of commercial practice. They cater for issues both simple and complex, providing practical solutions tailored to the needs of your business.
No hourly rates or surprise costs. Our resident director service is offered on a fixed annual fee and includes business and tax registration, ongoing compliance support, bank account and domain setup, and trademark registration.
Manage your company, compliance, and documents in one place. You’ll also get access to industry insights, automated legal documents, and AI tools trained on Lawpath’s legal knowledge base.
In Australia, under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), proprietary companies (those with names ending in Proprietary Limited or Pty Ltd) require a minimum of one director, including one who ordinarily resides in Australia. This requirement applies even if the business is owned or operated from overseas.
Any person aged 18 or over can be appointed as a director, provided they are not:
Bankrupt
Subject to a personal insolvency agreement or composition under the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth)
They have been convicted of certain offences, including fraud and breaching officeholder duties.
Yes. Non-residents can be directors of Australian companies, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements (see above).. However, every proprietary company must still have at least one resident director at all times.
Our resident directors are qualified legal and accounting professionals with deep experience in Australian corporate compliance. As part of the service, we proactively manage your regulatory obligations, including ASIC filings, annual reviews, and government reporting. All formal documentation is prepared and lodged by our team within the required timeframes. We also conduct quarterly check-ins and a mid-year service review to catch any emerging requirements early. You’ll have visibility through our online portal at all times. No surprises, no missed deadlines.
It’s important to note that our resident director’s role is focused on compliance oversight and governance. They are not involved in the day-to-day operations of your business. The scope of the director’s responsibilities, along with clear liability boundaries, is formally documented in your Director Services Agreement and Resident Director Deed of Indemnity, which are signed before the appointment begins.
If a proprietary company does not have a resident director, it will be in breach of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). This can result in financial penalties and, in serious cases, deregistration by ASIC.
A resident director is someone who ordinarily resides in Australia. Although there is no official legal meaning for “ordinarily resides”, it generally means that they are a long-term resident of the country with strong social and economic ties.
Yes. All directors of Australian companies, not just resident directors, need a DIN. For information about how to apply, see the ABRS website.
Our team of resident directors are all well-versed compliance professionals who understand what international companies need. A director from Lawpath can add credibility to your business, whilst also offering assistance in making sure everything stays compliant within Australia.
Some businesses consider appointing a local friend or employee as their resident director. However, this can create risk if that person leaves unexpectedly or isn’t fully aware of the responsibilities and personal liabilities that come with being a director.
It can also be difficult to give a personal contact the level of access to company records and decision-making authority required of a director. Using an independent, professional resident director helps avoid these issues and keeps your business running smoothly.
Customer stories
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