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Sole Trader

A sole trader is the simplest form of business structure and is relatively easy and inexpensive to set up. As a sole trader you will be legally responsible for all aspects of the business. You’ll generally make all the decisions about starting and running your business and you can employ people.

Advantages:

Simple to set up and operate.
You retain complete control of your assets and business decisions.
Fewer reporting requirements.
Any losses incurred by your business activities may be offset against other income, such as your investment income or wages (subject to certain conditions).
Allows you to use your individual Tax File Number (TFN) to lodge tax returns.
Relatively easy to change business structure if your business grows or if you wish to wind things up

Disadvantages:

Unlimited liability which means all your personal assets is at risk if things go wrong.
Little opportunity for tax planning – you can’t split business profits or losses with family members and you are personally liable to pay tax on all the income from the business.

Source(s): Small Business (WA)

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Partnership

A partnership is defined as being two or more persons (partners) engaging in business together with a view to make profit - this is sometimes referred to as a 'strategic alliance'. While partnerships don't legally have to be equal for the partners involved, all partners share the responsibilities and risks involved in running the business.

Advantages:

Simple and inexpensive to set up.
Minimal reporting requirements.
Shared control and management with other partners.
A partner’s share of the business’s tax losses may be offset against other personal income, subject to certain conditions.
More opportunities for tax planning (such as income splitting between family members) than that of a sole trader.
Relatively easy to dissolve the partnership or to resign and recover your share.
Partners are not employees. Superannuation contributions and workers’ compensation insurance are not payable for partners.

Disadvantages:

A partnership is not a separate legal entity. Each partner is fully responsible for debts and liabilities incurred by other partners – with or without their knowledge.
Potential for disputes over profit sharing, administrative control and business direction.
Changes of ownership can be difficult and generally requires a new partnership to be established.

Source(s): Small Business (WA)

Register an ABN Close

Company

A company is a separate legal entity and can incur debt, sue and be sued. The company’s shareholders (the owners) can limit their personal liability and are generally not responsible for company debts.

A company is a complex business structure and has high set-up and reporting costs. You can form a company as either a private (also known as proprietary) or public entity.

A registered company must have at least one director (and a company secretary unless it is a private company). A director is responsible for managing the company’s business activities.

Advantages:

Limited liability for shareholders.
Well understood and accepted structure.
Able to raise significant capital.
Can carry forward losses indefinitely to offset against future profits.
Easy to sell and pass on ownership.
Profits can be reinvested in the company or paid to to the shareholders as dividends.

Disadvantages:

Significant set-up and maintenance costs.
Limited or no control over company activities.
Complex reporting requirements.
Can’t distribute losses to its shareholders.

Source(s): Small Business (WA)

Register a Company Close

How will you structure your business?

Sole Trader

Proceed

Partnership

Proceed

Company

Proceed

Direct .au Contention Application

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We are currently accepting applications until the 20th September 2022 for priority access to .au direct domain names. The domain name you have searched for is required to go through the priority allocation process and can be registered today if you already own the domain name below. More info about the .au direct contention process.

One .au domain found with '':

If you currently own the domain name below, please follow the steps to secure the .au direct version.

Do you currently own this domain name?

Unfortunately, If you do not own the existing .au domain name for this keyword we cannot register the .au direct version for you. We recommend searching for an alternative .au direct domain name as you will not be able to proceed with this application.

We are currently accepting applications until the 20th September 2022 for priority access to .au direct domain names. The domain name you have searched for is required to go through the priority allocation process, if you already own one of the domain names below you will be able to submit an application for priority allocation. If your application is successful, the domain name will be registered for you. More info about the .au direct contention process.

Multiple .au domains found with '':

If you currently own the domain name below, please follow the steps to secure the .au direct version.

Do you currently hold any of the domain names shown above?

Unfortunately, If you do not own any of the existing .au domain names for this keyword we cannot register the .au direct version for you. We recommend searching for an alternative .au direct domain name as you will not be able to proceed with this application.

That's great! This means you'll be able to submit a priority allocation application to secure

Please select the domain name you currently hold below with the highest priority.

CATEGORY 1

Highest priority. Domain name licenses with a creation date ON OR BEFORE the cut-off date of 4th February 2018. Category 1 domains have the earliest registration date, giving you the best chance to secure the direct .au

CATEGORY 2

Lowest priority. Domain name licenses with a creation date AFTER the cut-off date of 4th February 2018. Category 2 domain names. Category 2 domains lose out to Category 1 in the contention process

Select Domain

We have prefilled the information based on information from your account, you may continue.

If the domain is registered with EasyCompanies please log in to EasyCompanies Dashboard to complete the registration process. Otherwise the information below can be generated on auDA's website.

Priority Contact ID

Priority AuthInfo

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Warning: Individual Already Exists!

It is strongly recommended that you do not ignore this message.

You have previously added to your company.
If you are looking to add positions or make changes to , you should edit the existing one as it can cause issues with ASIC and ABN applications. Please click "edit individual" below to make changes to .

Edit Individual

You may need to let ASIC know of changes

Incorrect details will result in your ABN application being rejected or marked for manual review. Therefore we will allow you to update these details for the purposes of your ABN application.

However, you may need to let ASIC know of changes to your company records if:

the Date of Birth of any director/shareholder is Incorrect or Outdated
the First/Middle or Last Name of any director/shareholder is Incorrect or Outdated

For more information you can contact ASIC on 1300 300 630

You cannot add a trust as an organisation, you need to add the trustee.

It is strongly recommended that you do not ignore this message.

Adding a Trust as a Shareholder:

Individual as Trustee:

You need to add an individual (with the individual's first and last name), and then put their role as a shareholder, at the bottom it will ask you "Will these shares be held on behalf of another trust, individual or organisation?", select "yes" and then enter the trust name, (i.e. The Smith Family Trust). Even if you have multiple trustees you should only add one of them.

Organisation as Trustee:

You need to add an organisation (with the organisation's ASIC name excluding ATF), and then put their role as a shareholder, at the bottom it will ask you "Will these shares be held on behalf of another trust, individual or organisation?", select "yes" and then enter the trust name, (i.e. The Smith Family Trust). Even if you have multiple trustees you should only add one of them.

You cannot add the organisation you are registering as a shareholder

It is strongly recommended that you do not ignore this message.

You are trying to add the company you are registering as it's own shareholder. We warn you that this is not technically possible and you may not proceed. Please go back to the entities step and add yourself as an individual.

Do not use ATF in the company name.

It is strongly recommended that you do not ignore this message.

Adding a Trust as a Shareholder:

Organisation as Trustee:

You need to add an organisation (with the organisation's ASIC name excluding ATF), and then put their role as a shareholder, at the bottom it will ask you "Will these shares be held on behalf of another trust, individual or organisation?", select "yes" and then enter the trust name, (i.e. The Smith Family Trust). Even if you have multiple trustees you should only add one of them.

What legal documents do EasyCompanies provide?

EasyCompanies will generate a set of documents based on the answers you provided throughout the company registration, these include:

ACN (Australian Company Number)
As provided by ASIC.
ASIC Certificate of Incorporation (Original)
As provided by ASIC. Suitable for bank account formation.
Member Consent Forms
To be signed by all shareholders.
Officer Consent Forms
To be signed by all directors and secretaries.
Registered Office Consent Forms
If applicable.
Share Certificates
Will be generated for each member and are given individual serial numbers.
Register of Members
Prepared and populated with the relevant member and share details.
Other Registers
Including Register of Option Holders, Register of Debenture Holders.
Blank Forms
Including Blank Share Certificates, Member Consents, Director Consents.
Constitution
Copy of Form 201

Documents will be provided via PDF format through email. They can also be bound and delivered in a folder for $79.

Many people struggle with assigning entities to their companies so we've organised some simple tips to help make it a breeze.

A company needs at least:

1 director that is located Australia (think: who will run the company?)
1 shareholder with at least 1 share allocated (think: who people own the company?)
1 applicant (the person submitting the company)

Where is my CVV?

VISA, MasterCard and Discovery

Your CVV number is a 3-digit number located in the signature strip on the back of your card.

American Express

Your CVV number is a 4-digit number located in front of your card, after your credit card number.

Required Information for Company Registration

Registered Office Address:
A registered office address is used by ASIC to send notices and updates to your company. This needs to be a physical address (no PO boxes) as in some cases, notices may be served in person by ASIC. If your registered office will not be occupied by the company but by, for example, your solicitor or accountant, then the occupier must give written consent for the company to use that address.

Place of Business Address:
In many cases most customers leave this as the same as their registered office. Similar to the registered office this needs to be a physical address (no PO boxes).

Director/Secretary Details:

Must have at least one director that resides within Australia (PTY LTD companies).
A secretary is not required, however if there are secretary roles assigned, at least one must reside in Australia.
First Name / Last Name / Previous Names
Residential Address
Date of Birth (must be at least 18 years old)
Place of Birth (and city/state if Australia)

Shareholder Details:

Must have at least one shareholder. But can have no more than 50 shareholders.
Can be either an individual or a company
First Name / Last Name / Previous Names (if individual)
Company Name
Residential Address
Type of shares (ORD is most common).
Dollar Value and Amount of Shares (1 share @ $1 is most common)