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How Do I Change My Business Name?

If you’re thinking of setting up a new business or changing your business name, there are several important legal and commercial considerations to take into account.

Here is some helpful advice to help you register your business name or change your business name and how to protect your interests when doing so.

What is a business name?

A business name is a name used to identify a business and what will be used to promote the business.

A business name is not required if the legal entity (a sole trader, partnership, or company) that owns the business wants to trade as its own name. However, a business name is legally required if it wants to trade as anything else. For example, if the ‘Audio-Visual Copyright Society Limited’ trades as ‘Screenrights’, then the business name ‘Screenrights’ is required. This even applies to similar names, such as, if your company name is ‘Mike’s Mechanic Pty Ltd’ and you wish to trade as ‘Mike’s Mechanics’, you would need to register the name ‘Mike’s Mechanics.

You cannot register a business name that is identical or too similar to the registered name of another Australian business or company.

What is a trademark?

A trademark differs from a business name because it is used to identify and distinguish your brand, a product, or service from other products and services in the market.

Trademarks can cover things like brand names, logos, slogans etc. Registering your business name as a trademark gives you exclusive rights to the name in the same sector in Australia. However, it is not a legal requirement to have a trademark.

How do I register my business name?

You must register your new business name with ASIC or use a Business Registration Service. This registration is linked to your entity’s Australian Business Number (ABN).

You must register a business name for each business you own if their trading name differs from your company name. Registering your business names to the correct entity is essential, especially if you have a group of companies or holding companies.

Remember, any business that trades under a different name to its company name, even if it is linked to a parent company, requires a business name.

How do I change my business name?

You cannot change your business name once it’s registered. If you want to trade under a new or different name, you must register a new one under the same ABN. You can, however, request a correction of business name details if there is a typographic error.

Remember, updates must be made to ASIC within 28 days of any changes to your information.

How To Check If a Business Name Is taken?

Before you launch your new business, you’ll want to check that your desired business name is available. You can do a free search for available names on Namecorp Business Name Check Tool.

A name may not be available because another entity has already registered the same name or is too similar to someone else’s. If the name you want is already taken, you’ll need to brainstorm some new options for your business.

Other Name Checks You Should Make

When considering business names, you should check the availability of your potential name’s website domain name and social media channels before registering the name. You might find it challenging to promote the name of your business if your desired website or social media handles have already been taken. Having a consistent name across your business, website, and social media channels will also help build trust with your customers.

Domain name: Namecorp can check if a domain name has been taken, and help you buy your desired one if it’s available.
Social media: You can search for the desired name on the social media platform directly or work with Namecorp to find available ones

Need help naming your business?

Download our free guide to naming a business with useful tips for creating a great name and registering it.

Key Take Outs

Any business that trades under a different name to its company name, even if it’s similar, requires its business name to be registered with ASIC.
You cannot change a business name; you can only set up a new one linked to the same ABN.
Check whether your desired business name’s domain and social media names are available before registering.

You might find it easier to use a business name registration service – they can help you register a business name, set up ABNs, register your tax obligations in one easy application and meet any required deadlines.

Disclaimer: All information provided on this webpage is general information about our business in Australia, and products and services. Nothing on this webpage is intended to be professional advice 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.