Starting a Business: page 2
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Starting a Business library
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How to Trademark Your Business Name in Australia
Registering a business name gives you no ownership. Here's how to trade mark your business name with IP Australia, what it costs, and how long it takes.
12 min readHow to Choose a Business Name (and Check It's Available)
How to pick a business name people can say, spell and find, then check it's free on the ASIC register, ABN Lookup, IP Australia and .com.au before you commit.
9 min readASIC Business Name Registration: $47 Fee and 6 Steps (2026)
Register a business name direct with ASIC for $47 (1 year) or $108 (3 years), not $99 to $199 through a reseller. The 6 steps, timing and what to do after.
10 min readCompany Registration Cost Australia 2026–27: $636 ASIC Fee
ASIC charges $636 to register a Pty Ltd and $342 a year from 1 July 2026. Compare provider fees, late fees and timing, then build your first-year budget.
13 min readFamily Trust Setup and Running Costs in Australia (2026)
Family trust costs in Australia: deeds from $166, adviser setups from $660, stamp duty up to $750 and $1,000 to $5,000 a year to maintain (checked October 2026).
19 min readHow Much Does an ABN Cost? ($0 — and Who Charges You Anyway)
How much does an ABN cost? Nothing — ABN registration is free through the Australian Business Register, with no renewal fee. Here's who charges you anyway.
8 min readHow to Become a Sole Trader in Australia (Step by Step, in a Day)
How to become a sole trader in Australia in one day: register your ABN free, then business name, GST, bank account, licences, insurance and records.
7 min readFamily Trust vs Company in Australia: Tax, Costs, Which Fits
Family trust vs company in Australia, compared side by side: tax, asset protection, costs, losses, investors and succession — and which one suits you.
20 min readSetting Up a Company in Australia: Costs, Tax, Pros and Cons
What a Pty Ltd really costs to set up and run, how the 25% company tax rate works, director duties and liability, and when a company beats a sole trader.
12 min readFamily Trust for Business: How It Works, Costs and Tax
How a family trust runs a business in Australia: trustee and beneficiaries, distributing income to save tax, setup and annual costs, and the traps to know.
9 min readABN Registration: How to Register an ABN Free, Step by Step
ABN registration is free on the official ABR and most ABNs issue on screen. What you need, the current application steps, and the paid lookalike sites to avoid.
12 min readPartnership Agreements: Why a Handshake Will Cost You
A handshake partnership can cost you your house. What Australian partnership agreements must cover — liability, tax, exits, frozen PayPal accounts and more.
9 min read25 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Business
The definitive pre-startup checklist for Australians: 25 blunt questions on your idea, money, structure, market and mindset — before you spend a dollar.
8 min readSole Trader in Australia: Setup, Tax and When to Switch
The complete sole trader guide: setting up, how your income is taxed, what you can claim, liability and insurance, and the signals it's time to become a company.
9 min readHow Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Australia?
Real 2026 startup costs for an Australian small business — registrations, insurance, gear, software and the survival buffer — with three worked examples.
8 min readBusiness Contracts Explained: 9 Agreements You Actually Need
The nine business contracts small businesses actually use — service terms, contractor agreements, leases, NDAs and more — and the clauses that bite.
9 min readSole Trader, Company or Trust? Choosing Your Business Structure
Compare sole trader, partnership, company and trust for your Australian business — setup costs, tax, asset protection and when each structure makes sense.
7 min readHow to Write a Simple Business Plan (That You Will Actually Use)
Skip the 40-page document. Build a one-page business plan covering pricing, break-even and a 12-month forecast — with a worked Australian example.
7 min read