How to register an Australian company with ASIC

Source review: 2026-11-06. General procedural information, not legal or tax advice. Check the linked ASIC instructions before lodging; forms, fees and portal screens can change.

Before you start

• Decide whether the company will be proprietary or public and where it will be registered.

• Choose an available name, registered office and principal place of business.

• Identify directors, any secretary and members, and agree the initial share structure.

• Obtain written consents and ensure incoming directors apply for a director ID before appointment.

How to complete the process

• Review ASIC’s company registration checklist and choose replaceable rules, a constitution, or both.

• Use the Business Registration Service or an authorised registration service provider for the Form 201 transaction.

• Enter company, address, officer and initial shareholding information accurately; review the declarations.

• Confirm the current registration fee in the official service, pay and submit. If you cannot lodge online, contact ASIC for the permitted alternative.

After lodgement or completion

• Keep the registration certificate and Australian company number with the company records.

• Set up the members register, retain officer consents and record the annual review date.

Important limits and exceptions

A corporate trustee is registered as a company; this does not create the underlying trust, obtain its tax registrations or settle its deed.

Official ASIC sources

• ASIC company registration

• Form 201

Related ASIC how-to guides

• How to reserve a company name with ASIC

All ASIC guides and official forms

Keeping the company record complete

Keep approvals, consents, submitted documents and lodgement receipts with the entity record. EntityFlo can help organise records and supported workflows; guidance about a form does not mean EntityFlo supports direct lodgement of that form. Website FloSec cannot sign, lodge or access your private company records.