Why do I need to register a business name?

If you intend to trade under a particular name it must be registered with ASIC. The consequences of trading under an unregistered business name are twofold:

It is an offence under section 18 of the Business Names Registration Act (Cth) to carry on a business under an unregistered business name. Failure to adhere to this provision will result in a penalty of 30 penalty units ($3300)

Chances are, if you haven’t registered the name, someone else may have. In fact, they may even have intellectual property rights in the name by way of trademark or copyright. If so, you may be liable under the Trade Marks Act 1995(Cth). If infringed, the trademark holder can enforce his/her proprietary rights in order to seek an injunction (to stop you from using the name), damages (monetary compensation paid by you) or an account of profits (you hand over all money earned under that name).

Aside from the strictly legal and financial ramifications of trading under an unregistered business name, your reputation will almost certainly take a hit too as your customers may view you as illegitimate

All information provided on this webpage is general information about our products and services. Nothing on this webpage is intended to be professional advice of any kind and should not be relied on as such. You should obtain specific financial, legal or other professional advice before relying on the content of this webpage. By not seeking such advice, you accept the risk that the information on this webpage may not meet the specific needs of your business. Our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law in accordance with our website terms and conditions.

Updated — Mar 13, 2019

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