Check if a business or company name is available in Australia
See which names on the ABN register are identical to yours under the ASIC rules this site applies, for a business name or a Pty Ltd company name. ASIC's own availability check makes the final call, and the result links to it.
Your answer appears here
Can I register this business name?
- Yes
- Check first
- No
A plain answer first, then the ASIC rule behind it and the date it was read.
- Identical names
- Names identical under the ASIC tests this site applies (listed below)
- Similar names
- Business, company and entity names on the ABN register
- Each match
- Its ABN, status and state, one tap from the full record
Unofficial. Reads the Australian Business Register's public web services. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the ABR, the ATO, ASIC or the Australian Government. How it works.
Updated . Rules checked against asic.gov.au and abr.business.gov.au; each source below shows the date it was read.
How ASIC decides a name is taken
You can't register a name that is identical or nearly identical to another business name or company name, including names someone has applied for, names being transferred or reviewed, and names cancelled in the last 4 or 6 months (depending on whether the holder or ASIC cancelled them) (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)). ASIC compares names after ignoring (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)):
| ASIC ignores | Treated as identical | This site applies it |
|---|---|---|
| Singular or plural | The Child Garden / The Children Gardens | Yes |
| "The", "a" and "an" | A bird in hand / Bird in hand | Yes |
| Case, fonts, accents, spaces, punctuation | Australian Holiday Apartments! / australiaholidayapartments | Yes |
| Word order (against non-company names) | Green House / House Green | Yes |
| www, com, net, org (against non-company names) | www.myfirstbusiness.com.au / My First Business | Yes |
| Aust, Co, No, &, Inc, Corp (against company names) | Australian Garden Company / Aust Garden Co | Yes |
| Pty, Ltd, Limited, NL (against company names) | Smith Pty Ltd / Smith (our example; the others are ASIC's) | Yes |
| Words taken to be the same | Fresh Bread Bakehouse / Fresh Bread Bakery | No |
| Pronunciation | Dollar Shop / $ shop | No |
The last two rows are why a clear result here is a good sign rather than a guarantee: ASIC's check also uses its list of words taken to be the same, compares names that sound alike, and searches registers this site can't see (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)).
Business name search: who holds a name
To see who holds an existing business name, search ASIC's business names register. You can search by the business name, or by a person or organisation (including by ABN or ACN) to see every business name they hold (ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab)). The free result shows (ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab)):
- the holder, which can be a person or an organisation;
- the holder's ABN;
- the address for service of documents and the principal place of business (only the suburb, state and postcode when that is an individual holder's home);
- the date the name was registered and its next renewal date;
- whether the registration is current.
ASIC sells extracts with more detail: $10 for the current details of one business name, or $21 with its history. Extracts covering every business name a person or organisation holds cost $24 (current) or $50 (with history) and are ordered by mail (ASIC: Schedules of business names fees (opens in a new tab); ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab)).
Trading names aren't registered business names and aren't on ASIC's register; to search one, ASIC points you to ABN Lookup (ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab)). An ABN record lists the business names registered to that ABN (ABR: Your ABN details on the ABR (opens in a new tab)), which is what the search at the top of this page reads. Whether a name is free to register is a separate search on ASIC, its business name availability search (ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab)).
Company name availability (Pty Ltd)
A company name follows ASIC's company name rules, which are close to the business name rules but not the same (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab)):
| Rule | What ASIC says |
|---|---|
| Can't match | A company or business name someone else has registered or reserved (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab)) |
| Ignored or treated as the same | "The" and "a"; Proprietary, Pty, Limited, Ltd, No Liability and NL; plurals; case, fonts, accents, spaces and punctuation. Pairs such as Australian and Aust, Company, Co and Coy, Number and No, And and &, Australian Company Number and ACN, and Australian Business Number and ABN count as the same word (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab)) |
| Must show | The legal status. A proprietary company includes "Pty", and a company with limited liability ends with "Ltd". Most Australian companies are both, so their names end in "Pty Ltd" (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab)) |
| No name at all | Allowed. The company is known by its ACN and legal status, for example "ACN 123 456 789 Pty Ltd" (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab); ASIC: Register a company (opens in a new tab)) |
| Hold it first | Reserve the name for up to 2 months with Form 410 for $65, and reapply to extend (ASIC: Register a company (opens in a new tab); ASIC: Schedules of corporations fees (opens in a new tab)) |
| Restricted words | Written consent before you apply, from ASIC, the relevant minister or APRA depending on the word. ASIC says this can take 2 months or longer (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab)) |
| ASIC fee to register the company | $636 with a share capital, $524 without, as listed on 22 October 2026 (ASIC: Schedules of corporations fees (opens in a new tab)) |
ASIC's company name list doesn't mention word order or web terms such as www and com, which its business name rules ignore only when comparing against names that aren't company names (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab); ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)).
If you already hold the business name, a new company can take it as its company name. When the holder is an individual, that person must become a director or shareholder of the company; when it's a company, that company must become a shareholder; for a partnership or trust, each partner or trustee must become a director or shareholder (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab)).
Type a company name above with or without Pty Ltd. When the check here compares it with a company name on the ABN register, it ignores Pty, Ltd, Limited and NL, as ASIC does. ASIC's company register is the final check. For the rest of company registration, see how to get an ACN.
If the name is taken
- Don't rely on a small change. ASIC treats plurals, "the" and "a", punctuation, spacing and words on its list of words taken to be the same as identical, so "The Saltbush Bakeries" counts as "Saltbush Bakery" (our example) (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)).
- See who holds it. Search the register for the holder and whether the registration is current (ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab)).
- Take it over, if the holder agrees. When a business is sold, the current holder starts a transfer on ASIC Connect and gets a transfer number for the new owner. The new owner registers the name with that number, entering the name exactly as it appears on the register. The number is valid for 4 months and 28 days, ASIC cancels the old registration within 28 days, and the renewal period starts again (ASIC: Transfer a business name (opens in a new tab)).
- Wait out a cancellation. A name cancelled in the last 4 or 6 months stays unavailable, depending on whether the holder or ASIC cancelled it (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)).
- For a company, skip the name. A company can be known by its ACN alone (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab)), and it can register a business name later if it trades under a different name (ASIC: Register a company (opens in a new tab)).
- Check trade marks for the new name too. A registered business name doesn't protect you if you use someone else's trade mark (ASIC: Business names vs trademarks (opens in a new tab)).
Names and words with restrictions
Some names are "undesirable" and can't be registered: for example, a name suggesting a connection that doesn't exist with any level of Australian government, a foreign government, the Royal Family, a charity or the United Nations, or one that uses "Commonwealth" or "Federal" other than as a place name (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)).
Other words are "restricted" and need consent: from ASIC for some, from the relevant minister for others, and from APRA for a third group (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)). State and territory laws also limit professional terms such as architect, builder and veterinarian, which ASIC doesn't check (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)).
Names can only use English letters, numbers, spaces, common punctuation and a few symbols; accented letters aren't allowed (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)).
Do you need to register a business name?
You must register a business name if you run a business in Australia and don't trade under your own name. You don't need to if you trade as an individual under your first name and surname, as a partnership under all the partners' names, or as a company under the company's own name (ASIC: Register a business name (opens in a new tab)).
ASIC's examples: John Smith doesn't register "John Smith" but does register "John Smith Gardening" or "John Smith & Co"; partners Peter Nguyen and Helen Lee register "Nguyen & Lee Plumbing" but not their own names (ASIC: Register a business name (opens in a new tab)).
Register it: cost and steps
| Registration | ASIC fee from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47 |
| 3 years | $108 |
Fees rise with CPI each July (ASIC: Schedules of business names fees (opens in a new tab)). To register (ASIC: How to register a business name with ASIC (opens in a new tab)):
- Have an ABN. Or the reference number from your ABN application. You can also apply for both together through the Business Registration Service (ASIC: Register a business name (opens in a new tab)).
- Log in to ASIC Connect. Start a business name registration.
- Enter the name exactly as you want it on the register. ASIC says business names are case-sensitive, so check your capital letters. When it tests whether two names are identical, it ignores case.
- Choose 1 or 3 years. Add the holder's details and address, and confirm the holder is eligible.
- Pay within 10 business days of approval. If you don't, ASIC refuses the application. ASIC says the name should be registered within 48 hours of payment.
Once registered, show the name wherever the business is open to the public, and put the name and your ABN on invoices and purchase orders (ASIC: Register a business name (opens in a new tab)).
A business name isn't a trade mark
Registering a business name lets you trade under it and stops anyone else registering an identical or nearly identical name. It doesn't give you exclusive rights to the name, and it won't protect you if you use someone else's trade mark. Only a registered trade mark, through IP Australia, gives exclusive rights, and ASIC suggests checking trade marks before you register a name (ASIC: Business names vs trademarks (opens in a new tab)).
Questions people ask
How do I check if a business name is taken in Australia?
Search it here first to see identical and similar names already on the ABN register. Then run ASIC's business name availability search on ASIC Connect (opens in a new tab): select "check business name availability" and it shows green (available), amber (ASIC will assess it after you apply) or red (unavailable) (ASIC: Register a business name (opens in a new tab)).
Can two businesses have the same name?
Not for a new registration. ASIC can't register a name that is identical or nearly identical to another registered business or company name (ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab)). A registration doesn't stop others using similar words, though; only a trade mark gives exclusive rights to a name (ASIC: Business names vs trademarks (opens in a new tab)).
Do I need an ABN to register a business name?
Yes, or an ABN reference number if your ABN application is still being processed (ASIC: Register a business name (opens in a new tab)). See how to get an ABN.
Why did ASIC's search give me amber?
Amber means ASIC needs to assess the name after you apply. It can be because the name is close to another one, or because a word is "unknown" to ASIC's system, such as a made-up word, an unusual spelling or words joined together (ASIC: Register a business name (opens in a new tab)).
How do I find out who owns a business name?
Search ASIC's business names register by the name. The free result shows the holder, the holder's ABN, the date the name was registered, its next renewal date and whether the registration is current (ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab)). The search here shows the matching ABN records, with each one's ABN, status and state.
Is a company name checked the same way as a business name?
Mostly. A company name can't be identical to a registered or reserved company or business name, and ASIC ignores "Pty", "Ltd", "the", plurals, case and punctuation when it compares (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab)). The differences are that the name must show the company's legal status, such as Pty Ltd, and that a company can skip the name and use its ACN (ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab); ASIC: Register a company (opens in a new tab)). See company name availability.
Is a trading name the same as a business name?
No. Trading names are not registered business names and don't appear on ASIC's business names register (ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab)). The ABR stopped collecting them in 2012 and shows old ones only as history (ABN Lookup: Glossary (opens in a new tab)).
Sources
Every rule on this page comes from the official pages listed here. Each was read on the date shown, and the Updated date at the top is when this page was last checked against them.
- ASIC: Rules for acceptable business names (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ASIC: Rules for acceptable company names (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ASIC: Register a business name (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ASIC: How to register a business name with ASIC (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ASIC: Business names register (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ASIC: Schedules of business names fees (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ASIC: Transfer a business name (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ASIC: Register a company (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ASIC: Schedules of corporations fees (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026, fees from 1 July 2026.
- ASIC: Business names vs trademarks (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.
- ABR: Your ABN details on the ABR (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026, page updated 5 August 2024.
- ABN Lookup: Glossary (opens in a new tab) Read 22 October 2026.