Company setup costs in Australia: ASIC fees and a budget

Registering an ordinary Pty Ltd company with share capital costs $636 in ASIC fees from 1 July 2026. If you use a formation service, accountant or lawyer, their fee is additional unless the quote explicitly includes the government charge.

The registration fee is only part of a useful company budget. You also need to know what documents and advice you are buying, which registrations are free, and what the company will cost to maintain.

The government charges

ASIC's fee schedule lists the following amounts from 1 July 2026. These ASIC fees aren't subject to GST.

Check the current schedule before paying, particularly around July when fees may change. A special purpose company has different eligibility and review fees; don't select that classification just to reduce a bill.

The government ABN application is free for eligible applicants. A director ID is also free. If a package charges for handling these steps, ask the provider to identify the service charge clearly.

Direct registration or paid help?

You can use the government's registration service yourself. ASIC's company registration guidance sets out the information and decisions involved.

Doing the application yourself can reduce service fees, but the form won't decide whether the structure suits you, who should hold shares or what co-owners should agree. Resolve those questions before submitting details that may be costly to change.

An inexpensive package and a tailored advice engagement are different purchases. Compare the work, not just the headline total.

Build your own setup budget

Use actual quotes rather than assuming a market average applies to your company. This example is illustrative; the service amounts are made-up budgeting inputs, not advertised provider prices. All example service amounts are assumed to include any GST.

If the setup package already includes the advice or government fee, remove the duplicate line. If you don't need a separate business name, remove that too.

Ask for one final payable total and an itemised list. Keep the company registration component separate from working capital, insurance, equipment and launch marketing. Our startup costs guide covers the broader business budget.

Check the document package

Ask what you receive: registration certificate, records of consents, share records and any agreed governance documents. Confirm who prepares the records and where they will be stored.

A constitution isn't a universal extra that every owner must buy in the same form. ASIC explains the choices between company rules and constitutions. Replaceable rules don't apply to a proprietary company where the same person is the sole director and sole shareholder.

If more than one person owns the company, discuss voting, transfers, work expectations and exits before accepting generic documents. A registration package may not include advice on those arrangements.

Our company structure guide explains the wider responsibilities. If the company will act as trustee or form part of a more complex arrangement, get advice on that specific setup rather than using an ordinary trading-company budget unchanged.

Budget for the first annual cycle

Put ongoing costs in a second table. The $342 standard proprietary company annual review fee is one item; it isn't an all-inclusive government subscription for running the business.

Ask for quotes for bookkeeping, activity statements, year-end accounts and the company tax return according to the work you need. Add accounting software, registered agent services and any registered office service you choose to buy.

For the annual administration itself, use our ASIC annual review checklist. Keep reminders under the company's control even if someone else receives the statement.

Questions before accepting a quote

Check whether the provider's price includes GST and ASIC charges, what happens if an application needs correction, and which optional services renew automatically.

Also ask whether advice on the structure is included or whether the provider is simply lodging the details you supply. “Company setup” can mean either. Make the question specific: will someone advise on the proposed shareholders and governance, or only prepare the chosen documents?

If you intend to trade under another name, factor in business-name registration. If you're unsure why you need both company and business identifiers, read ABN vs ACN.

Key takeaways

• ASIC's standard share-capital company registration fee is $636 from July 2026.
• Separate government charges, paid assistance and optional documents.
• Use itemised quotes and remove anything counted twice.
• Budget for annual administration and accounting as well as incorporation.

Where to get help

Use ASIC's current fees and registration guidance for the official process. Our business registration hub puts the related guides in order.