The basics

The Australian Business Number (ABN)

Every business operating in Australia needs to apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) uses it to identify your business.

Business name registration

You are legally required to register your business name, unless your business is in your name (in its entirety) – BL & MA Brown, Ms Ann Smith etc, or you're operating as a company. Beware the potential for business name/trade mark overlap. See the Registering Your Business checklist in the Resources section of the Toolbox for more details.

Australian company registration

Australian company registration provides an applicant with an Australian Company Number (ACN). This, together with the name and the status of the company, serves to identify it.

Mutual recognition

A person who is registered to carry on an occupation in another Australian State or Territory is entitled, after notifying the appropriate registration authority in Queensland, to be registered and carry on the equivalent occupation in Queensland.