If you are searching for the cost to register a company in Australia, you will find plenty of pages quoting a number. That number is the problem: government fees change, and a figure published months ago may no longer be correct. This guide does not quote an amount. Instead, it shows you where the current amount is published, how to read it, and which adjacent registrations can add to what you pay before you can start trading.
The task is straightforward: registration fees are set out by the agencies that administer them, so the reliable way to budget is to read the fee at the source on the day you intend to apply. Two official pages matter here — the Australian Government Business Registration Service (BRS), where you actually lodge the application, and ASIC, which maintains the Australian companies register and processes the registration.
Why there is no single "registration fee"
The Business Registration Service addresses the question directly on its registration page, under the heading "What does it cost to register?" The answer it gives is that the cost depends on the type of company you register. That is the single most important thing to understand before you budget: there is not one flat price for "a company".
ASIC's position is consistent. On its "Register a company" page, ASIC states plainly that there is a fee to register a company, and that if you choose a company as your business structure you must register it on the Australian companies register, which ASIC manages. ASIC does not process your application directly through its own form in the first instance — the BRS is the lodgement point, and ASIC then processes the registration.
So the practical structure is: you apply through the BRS, ASIC processes it, and the fee depends on the company type you select inside that flow.
The two sources to check, and what each one tells you
| Source | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Australian Government Business Registration Service (register.business.gov.au) | The lodgement point; where you select your registration type and where the cost question is answered |
| ASIC "Register a company" | Confirms a fee applies, explains that ASIC processes the registration, and covers related obligations such as business names |
Neither page is a substitute for the other. The BRS is where the fee is contextualised against your selections; ASIC is the regulator confirming that a fee exists and what registration actually gives you.
How to verify the current fee, step by step
1. Start at the BRS registration type page. Go to register.business.gov.au/registration/type. This is the Australian Government Business Registration Service, and the first step is selecting which registrations you need.
2. Work through the registration selector. The BRS asks you to select registrations, including an Australian Business Number (ABN). Read the options rather than rushing them — your selections determine which fees apply.
3. Read the cost section before you commit. The BRS page addresses cost under "What does it cost to register?" and ties the answer to the type of company you register. Record what it says for the exact option you have chosen.
4. Confirm against ASIC. ASIC's "Register a company" page confirms that a fee applies to company registration and describes the BRS-to-ASIC process. Cross-checking gives you two official sources agreeing on the same process.
5. Note the date you checked. Government fees are revised from time to time. Writing down the date and the amount you saw means you can re-check quickly if your application is delayed, and you have a record if the amount changes between planning and lodgement.
6. Confirm what registration actually delivers. Registering a company gives you a unique Australian Company Number (ACN) and a Certificate of Registration. That is the outcome you are paying for, alongside entry on the Australian companies register.
Costs and steps that sit alongside registration
Registration is rarely the only administrative step. These are the items the official sources identify as connected:
- ABN. The BRS states that you need an Australian Business Number (ABN) in order to select additional registrations. The page refers readers to the Australian Business Register's "Applying for an ABN" guidance.
- GST. You must have an ABN in order to register for GST. If your expected turnover means GST registration is required, that is a separate decision from registering the company itself.
- Luxury car tax (LCT). ASIC's guidance directs readers to the Australian Taxation Office website to check whether they need to register for LCT. Whether this applies depends on your business activity, so verify it with the ATO rather than assuming.
- Business name. If you want to do business under a name that is different to your company name, you need to apply to ASIC to register a business name. This is a separate application from company registration, and you should confirm any associated cost with ASIC.
- Licences for regulated activity. ASIC publishes separate information on applying for an Australian financial services (AFS) licence. If your company will carry on a financial services business, treat licensing as a distinct workstream with its own requirements and costs.
One point worth emphasising: a company name and a business name are not the same thing. Registering a company does not automatically give you the right to trade under a different trading name.
Facts, interpretation, and what you should verify
It helps to keep three categories separate as you plan.
Fact (from the official sources): there is a fee to register a company; the cost depends on the type of company you register; you apply through the BRS and ASIC processes the registration; registration produces an ACN and a Certificate of Registration.
Practical interpretation: because the fee varies by company type, the useful planning step is deciding your structure first, then reading the fee. Budgeting before you know the entity type means budgeting against the wrong number. It is also sensible to list the adjacent registrations you may need — ABN, GST, business name, possibly LCT or a licence — because those are separate from the registration fee itself.
Questions to verify yourself: - Which company type am I actually registering, and is that the type the BRS is quoting a cost for? - Do I already hold an ABN, or does one need to be applied for as part of this process? - Do I need to register for GST, based on my expected turnover? Confirm this with the ATO. - Will I trade under a name different from the company name? If so, check ASIC's business name requirements. - Does the business activity require a licence, such as an AFS licence? - What is the exact amount shown today, and on what date did I check it?
After registration
Registration is not the end of the administrative work. ASIC's guidance refers to keeping company details up to date on the Australian companies register. Changes to directors, addresses or other registered details need to be maintained, and ongoing obligations apply. Check ASIC for what must be updated and when.
Your next step
Open register.business.gov.au/registration/type and read the "What does it cost to register?" section against the company type you intend to use. Then confirm ASIC's "Register a company" page for the process and the fact that a fee applies. If any of the adjacent items — GST, LCT, a business name, or a licence — might apply to your business, check those with the ATO or ASIC before you lodge, so you are not making a second application later.
This article is general information about how to locate and verify published registration costs. It is not legal, tax, financial, migration or business advice, and it does not account for your circumstances. Government fees and requirements change; always confirm the current amount, eligibility rules and any additional obligations with ASIC, the Australian Taxation Office and the Business Registration Service before applying.