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How to Register a Business Name |
The Business Names Act in each State and Territory in Australia regulates the use of Business Names. If you wish to carry on a business under a business name it must either be in your personal name, without any addition, or a business name which is registered under the Business Names Act. |
If you wish to register a business name in New South Wales you can apply to the Department of Fair Trading (or the relevant Government department in the other States and Territories of Australia). The application for registration (Form 4) can be obtained from the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs at Level 21, 227 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. The registration fee in NSW is $122.00. |
If the application for registration of the desired business name is rejected by the Department, the applicant is given the option of receiving an $85.00 refund or lodging a further application with an alternative name forgoing any refund of monies. |
It should be noted that the Department will not register a business name if it considers the proposed business name:
- is misleading or offensive
- is already registered
- is in the opinion of the department undesirable
- is too similar to a name already registered
- is restricted by State or Federal laws
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| Business names last for 3 years and therefore must be renewed. One month before the renewal of the business name the Department of Fair Trading will send a renewal form to the principal place of business advising renewal and appropriate fees. |
From 10 January 2003 you can re-new your business name registration and record certain changes on-line at www.licencedft.nsw.gov.au. |
