Register your Business Name etc.
Sorting the Legal Affairs
By always doing things by-the-book, you ensure yourself and your company protection from any future unexpected (and undesirable) situations, and most of all, you can sleep easy at night, knowing you're doing "the right thing". Just as morals and ethics are essential in business, being legally-sound is paramount. Australia has one of the most complex legal systems in the world, so it's important to start things off on the right foot, and consider the following boring but essential legal affairs:
1. Choosing an entity
Will you be a sole trader, partnership, company, or trust? Check out the government's website for details.
2. Register your business name
If you've got a particular company name you'd like, you'll need to register it so no-one else takes it. Click here for details on where to go to register your business name.
3. Register your company (Apply for an ABN number)
You need to make a trip to your local government office to register. Before you do so though, you'll have to consider where your office will be. These days, thanks to the Internet, many businesses don't need an office at all anymore! You can just register your company address, phone number, and email address, exactly the same as your personal details. Click here for details on where to go to register your company.
4. Get any required licenses
You'll need to check if any licenses are required for your business type - click here for details.
5. See an Attorney
Finally, depending on the kind of business you plan on running, it might be a good idea to sit down with an attorney to make sure you haven't forgotten anything - they'll be able to make sure everything is set up correctly, and you are off to a great start - click here for details on where to get advice.
