Article
Your Essential Guide to Starting a Business in Australia: How to Register Your Company with a Virtual Office
Why a Virtual Office Could Be the Smartest First Step for Your Business
Starting a business is an exciting venture—but navigating the steps to register a company in Australia can raise a number of questions. Where will your registered business address be? Do you really need to commit to a physical office lease before you’ve even signed your first client?
The good news is: you don’t need a physical office to register a company in Australia. A virtual office provides a legitimate business address—often in a prestigious CBD location—without the high costs of renting physical space. This solution allows entrepreneurs to meet legal registration requirements while staying flexible and cost-effective.
By choosing a Virtual Office with The Executive Centre, you gain more than just an address. You also gain access to a comprehensive suite of business support services—from mail handling and seamless call answering to state-of-the-art meeting facilities and administrative assistance. These aren’t just helpful extras; they are the foundations that allow you to project a polished, professional image and focus your resources on growth.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to register a company in Australia—and how using a virtual office, alongside premium business services, can help you do it smarter.
Read More: How Flexible Workspaces Are Reshaping Australia's Corporate Real Estate Market
Step-by-Step: How to Register Your Business in Australia Using a Virtual Office
1. Understand Your Business Structure
Before you can register your business, you need to decide what kind of entity you are setting up. Your choice will affect your legal responsibilities, tax obligations, and personal liability. In Australia, the main options are:
- Sole Trader: The simplest structure, where you operate as an individual.
- Partnership: Two or more people running a business together.
- Company: A separate legal entity registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
- Trust: A structure where a trustee operates the business on behalf of beneficiaries.
If you’re unsure which structure is right for your goals, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a qualified accountant or business advisor. You can also use the business.gov.au tool to work out your business structure and basic registrations here.
2. Choose and Secure Your Business Name
Once you’ve decided on your structure, your next step is to choose a business name. This name should reflect your brand identity and resonate with your audience.
- Check availability: Use the ASIC Business Name Register to ensure your desired name isn’t already taken in Australia.
- Check domain availability: Secure your matching website domain if possible.
- Register your name: If you’re a sole trader, partnership, or trust, register your business name through the Australian Government Business Registration Service. If you’re setting up a company, the company name is registered automatically when you register with ASIC business registration.
3. Choose Your Business Address — Why a Virtual Office Works
Once you have completed your business name registration, you are required to provide a legitimate physical business address in Australia (not just a PO Box). This is where official correspondence from the government and ASIC will be sent.
A virtual office allows you to use a real, premium business address for company registration—without the cost and commitment of leasing an actual office space. By choosing a virtual office in Australia with The Executive Centre, you can list a prestigious business address at one of their premium centres located across Australia’s major cities:
1. Melbourne
2. Sydney
3. Perth
These addresses fully comply with ASIC’s business registration requirements and add instant credibility to your company.
But this is more than just an address. Establishing a Virtual Office with The Executive Centre offers access to a full support ecosystem:
- Mail and package handling
- Professional call answering and forwarding
- A dedicated phone number
- Access to Meeting Rooms at Members rates
Notably, our Virtual Office Packages also include a set amount of complimentary coworking hours at these premium centres—giving you the flexibility to work onsite when required, meet clients in person, or simply enjoy a high-quality workspace when needed.
These elements aren’t mere conveniences—they form the very foundation of projecting a polished and professional image while streamlining your operations.
You Might be Interested: Maximising Tax Deductions for Flexible Workspace Users in Australia
4. Register Your Company with ASIC (for Companies)
If you are setting up a company (as opposed to a sole trader or partnership), you will also need to complete ASIC business registration. This involves:
- Choosing the company type (usually proprietary limited, or “Pty Ltd”)
- Appointing at least one director and one shareholder
- Providing your registered office and principal place of business (your virtual office address can be used here)
- Paying the registration fee
Once registered, ASIC will issue your company with an Australian Company Number (ACN), which you can then use to apply for an ABN.
5. Apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN)
An ABN (Australian Business Number) is required for most business structures in Australia. It allows your business to:
- Operate legally within Australia
- Register for Goods and Services Tax (GST) if your turnover exceeds $75,000
- Interact with other businesses and government agencies
You can apply for your ABN online via the Australian Business Registration Service. During this process, you will be asked for your registered business address—this is where your virtual office address can be used.
6. Register for GST, PAYG, and Other Taxes (if applicable)
Depending on your business activities, you may also need to register for:
- Goods and Services Tax (GST) — required if your annual turnover is $75,000 or more.
- Pay As You Go (PAYG) Withholding — if you employ staff.
- Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) — if you provide certain benefits to your employees.
Make sure to check whether your industry requires any additional licences or permits, which can vary by state or territory.
7. Build Your Business Presence with Virtual Office and Call Handling Services
While registration sets the legal foundation for your business, the way you present yourself day-to-day can significantly influence your success.
Your company’s initial point of contact—whether through phone calls, emails, or meetings—shapes how your brand is perceived. Rather than a generic voice or missed calls, imagine a seamless, professional greeting that reassures every caller they are in capable hands.
The Executive Centre’s call handling services, as part of our Premium Package mean that not only do you get a business address for company registration, but you are also provided with professional receptionists to exemplify the pivotal impact that first impressions can have on customer perceptions.
These services include:
- Professional receptionists answering calls in your company name
- Message taking and call forwarding
- Dedicated phone numbers
Studies indicate that effective customer communication can significantly boost retention rates—an essential factor for any business aiming to build long-term relationships.
By combining virtual office solutions with call handling services, you ensure that every touchpoint with your business reflects reliability, professionalism, and care—without the overhead of managing a full office team.
What’s Next: Australia Digital Nomad Requirements: Visa, Tax and More
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. ASIC business registration accepts virtual office addresses as long as they are physical locations (not just PO Boxes) where official correspondence can be delivered. The Executive Centre’s Virtual Office meet these requirements across multiple Australian cities.
Premium Virtual Office packages typically include:
- Business Address for company registration and mail handling
- Professional call answering and forwarding services
- Complimentary coworking hours and Member rate access to Meeting Rooms
If all your information is ready, registering a business through the business.gov.au site should take around 15 minutes. From there, they estimate you to receive confirmation within 2 business days, assuming there are no issues with your application.
Yes. ABN registration with a virtual office is accepted in Australia as long as the address is a real, physical location (not a PO Box).
