How to Register a Pty Ltd Company in Australia and Get an ACN

What do you need to register a Pty Ltd company in Australia?

To register a proprietary limited company, commonly called a Pty Ltd company, you need to decide the company name, registered office, principal place of business, directors, members or shareholders, share structure and internal governance arrangements. You must also obtain the required written consents before the relevant people are appointed or become members.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission regulates Australian companies. The Australian Government Business Registration Service provides the online company registration route and allows applicants to register a company and obtain an Australian Company Number.

At a glance: Pty Ltd company registration in Australia

How much does it cost to register a Pty Ltd company in Australia?

From 1 July 2026, the government fee to register a proprietary limited company is $636. The Australian Government confirmed that this fee increased from $611 as part of ASIC's 2026 fee indexation.

This is the government company registration fee. It does not include optional costs for accountants, lawyers, company formation providers, trade mark applications or separate business name registrations.

A proprietary company also has an ongoing ASIC annual review fee. From 1 July 2026, the standard annual review fee for a proprietary company is $342. Different fees can apply to special purpose companies and other company types.

How do you choose a Pty Ltd company name?

A company can register under an available company name or use its Australian Company Number as its name. You can also use a company name that has previously been reserved with ASIC.

If you choose a company name for a proprietary limited company, the name must indicate its legal status using an approved form such as Proprietary Limited or Pty Ltd.

How do you check if a company name is available?

ASIC provides a name availability search that can be used before registration. Company names are subject to legal restrictions, including restrictions on names that are identical to existing registered names and certain words or expressions that require approval.

Registering a company name does not create exclusive intellectual property rights over the brand. Trade mark registration is a separate procedure.

What addresses are required to register a company?

ASIC requires a registered office address and a principal place of business address when a company is registered.

The registered office must be a physical street address in Australia and cannot be a PO Box. It is the address ASIC uses for official notices and correspondence. The principal place of business is the main physical address where the company conducts business and also cannot be a PO Box.

If the company does not occupy its registered office, for example if the registered office is an accountant's premises, the company must obtain and retain the occupier's written consent to use the address.

What directors does a proprietary limited company need?

A proprietary company must have at least one director, and at least one director must live in Australia. Directors must be individuals who are at least 18 years old.

A person cannot act as a company officeholder if they are disqualified from managing corporations. ASIC also identifies bankruptcy, personal insolvency agreements and certain convictions as circumstances that can prevent a person from acting as an officeholder.

Does every director need a director ID before company registration?

A person who plans to become a director must apply for a director identification number before being appointed. The individual must apply for their own director ID and cannot have an accountant, lawyer, tax agent or other representative apply on their behalf.

A director ID is free. It is a permanent identifier and the individual generally keeps the same director ID even if they later become a director of other companies, change their name or move.

Australian Business Registry Services states that a person can apply for a director ID up to 12 months before they are appointed as a director.

Does a proprietary company need a secretary?

No. A proprietary company does not have to appoint a company secretary. If it does appoint one, at least one secretary must normally live in Australia. A secretary must also satisfy the requirements that apply to company officeholders.

What shareholder and share details are required?

Every Australian company must have at least one member. A proprietary company must have no more than 50 members who are not employees of the company.

A member can generally be an individual, another company or another legal entity capable of owning property. A business name is not a legal entity and cannot itself be a shareholder.

When shares are issued, the company must maintain its own register of members, also called a share register. The register records information including each member's name and address, the date they became a member and the shares they hold.

What written consents must you obtain before registration?

The company must obtain written and signed consent from people who will become directors or company secretaries. Written consent is also required from proposed members.

These consent documents generally do not need to be submitted to ASIC with the standard registration application, but the company must keep them with its records.

If the company will use a registered office that it does not occupy, written consent from the occupier must also be retained.

Does a Pty Ltd company need a constitution?

A company must have rules for its internal management. A proprietary company can generally rely on the replaceable rules in the Corporations Act 2001, adopt its own constitution or use a constitution that changes some of the replaceable rules.

If the company uses all of the replaceable rules, it generally does not need its own constitution. The replaceable rules do not apply to a proprietary company where the same person is both the sole director and sole shareholder. Special statutory rules apply to that structure.

If a constitution is adopted before registration, each member must agree to it in writing.

How do you register a Pty Ltd company online?

The Australian Government Business Registration Service allows you to register a proprietary limited company online. It identifies a proprietary limited company, also known as a private company, as the most common company structure used by small businesses.

The registration process collects the company details needed for incorporation. The service can also be used for a number of other government business registrations, but company registration remains separate from registrations such as an ABN, business name and GST.

How long does it take to register a company?

Business.gov.au states that completing a company registration using the Business Registration Service takes around 15 minutes.

If all required information has been provided and the registration fee has been paid, you should generally receive confirmation within 2 business days. Applications that require additional information or cannot be completed through the standard process may take longer.

What do you receive after registering a company?

A successfully registered Australian company receives an Australian Company Number. The ACN is the identifier ASIC uses for the registered company.

The company is also recorded on the Australian companies register. The ACN is different from an Australian Business Number and should not be confused with an ABN.

Is an ACN the same as an ABN?

No. An ACN identifies a company registered with ASIC, while an ABN is a separate identifier used for dealings with government and the business community.

A newly registered company may need an ABN depending on its activities and eligibility. The Business Registration Service provides access to company and other business registrations, but each registration has its own legal requirements.

Does a registered company also need a business name?

A separate business name is generally relevant when a company trades under a name other than its registered company name. Business name registration is different from company registration and has separate ASIC rules and fees.

What happens at the ASIC annual review?

For most companies, the annual review date is the anniversary of the company's registration. ASIC issues an annual statement showing information it holds about the company, including its addresses, share structure, officeholders and members.

The company must review and update its details where necessary, pay the annual review fee and address the required solvency resolution. From 1 July 2026, the standard annual review fee for a proprietary company is $342.

ASIC states that a late payment fee applies if an annual review fee is not paid by the required due date. Continued non-compliance can have further consequences, including possible deregistration in applicable circumstances.

What ongoing records must a Pty Ltd company keep?

Company directors are responsible for making sure the company meets its legal obligations. These include keeping proper company records, maintaining accurate information about members and shares and keeping ASIC information current.

Companies must maintain a register of members. ASIC also requires companies to notify it about specified changes to company details, officeholders, shares and shareholders within the applicable timeframes.

The company should retain the written consents obtained from directors, secretaries, members and the registered office occupier where applicable.