Sole 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.
Practical reading guides
Business registration: ABNs, names and companies
An ABN, a business name and a company registration do different jobs. Before paying for a package, decide which entity will carry on the business and which registrations it actually needs.
This reading guide follows that sequence. Start with structure and identifiers, then move to applications and costs. If you're already trading, the renewal and annual review guides help you keep the records current. A change from sole trader to company needs its own transition plan; changing the name on an invoice doesn't complete the legal or tax work.
Keep a registration sheet with the legal entity, issued numbers, official contact email and relevant dates. Separate application references from completed registrations. If an adviser handles a step, ask for the resulting record and confirmation of who will receive future notices.
Decide what you're registering
Choose the structure before completing applications. The legal holder matters when you use a name, sign a contract or open an account, even if customers see the same brand throughout.
ABN vs ACN: the difference and which one you need
Understand the difference between an ABN and ACN, which business structures use each number, and how to avoid mixing up company and sole trader details.
Setting 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.
Apply and compare the costs
Separate government charges from optional assistance. Check the spelling, holder and contact details before submitting, then save the confirmation rather than relying on a payment receipt alone.
How to Register an ABN for Free (It Costs $0) — Step by Step
ABN registration is free and takes 15 minutes on the official ABR site. What you need, how long it takes, and the paid lookalike sites to avoid.
How 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.
Register a business name with ASIC: fees and steps
Register an Australian business name with ASIC for $47 a year or $108 for three years from July 2026. Check the holder, availability and next steps.
Company setup costs in Australia: ASIC fees and a budget
A Pty Ltd costs $636 to register with ASIC from July 2026. Compare direct registration, paid setup help and ongoing costs with an itemised budget.
Director ID: What It Is and How to Get One (Free)
A director ID is free and takes about 15 minutes online, and you must have one before you're appointed. How to apply, and the penalties if you don't.
Keep the registrations current
Business-name renewal and a company's annual review are separate obligations. Allocate the tasks and check which documents an adviser retains so an approaching deadline doesn't depend on one person's memory.
Renew your business name: ASIC fees and a simple checklist
Renew an Australian business name directly with ASIC, compare one and three-year fees, check renewal notices and keep the right records after paying.
ASIC company annual review: fees and director checklist
Work through your ASIC annual review: check the statement, pay the correct fee, assess solvency and keep a record of what the directors have completed.
Sole Trader to Company: How and When to Restructure
How to change from sole trader to company in Australia: the profit level that justifies it, the step-by-step process, CGT rollover relief, costs and timing.