Getting Started
Introduction
We have set out our order page to meet the needs of most small businesses that want to register a business, get a web presence, and apply for an ABN. You may not need all of these and what follows may help you decide what you want and how to get it. You may find the Service Overview section of the website of value as well.
Register a Business
- If you trade (do business) under any name other than your personal name then you must register a business name. For example if you want to trade as “Joe’s Plumbing” you must register a business name.
- If you are a partnership trading together you must register a business name.
- If you are a sole trader (an individual) and you are going to trade under your exact name then you are not required to register a business name, although many people do. (Generally because it is good for marketing, and because it helps to separate your personal from your business life.)
To order click on the "order" link on the Business Registration bar on the order page of the website.
Domain registration
If you want a domain name for your business then click on the "order" link on the Domain registration bar.
Business Formation will register a domain name for you for a period of two years. The registration however does not enable you to use it but simply makes the name available to you for use for the registration period. To use the domain for email and/or a web page then the domain name will require to be hosted. The next section explains this.
If your market is only Australia most people use a domain name ending in ".com.au". For a wider market a ".com" may be appropriate. The Sevice Overview section of the website gives more detail. A domain name can consist of any alphabet characters (a to z), a hyphen (-) and numbers (0 to 9) and is limited to 64 characters including the extension (.com.au). A domain name is case insensitive.
With a Domain Name Registration you will receive a user name and password so you can access a control panel. This control panel gives you control of the domain for renewal and delegation. Delegation is the process of assigning it to a server so that you can receive emails and display a web page.
Domain Hosting
If you have a domain name most people want to make use of it either for their emails or a website or both. The first step after registering a domain is to delegate it. This means that you allocate a server to host your domain. Business Formation can arrange this for you at very competitive rates for any number of plans that would suit you. If you are unsure of your requirements then start small as it is a simple matter to increase your facility at a later date. Most people select a basic plan option which gives email and website presence. Hosting includes a control panel for adding email accounts, controlling spam and managing files and images. It does not include a web site, just the facility to have one. As most websites are personal and should relate to your business Business Formation will contact you to discuss your preferences. There is no reason why you cannot create one yourself or maintain a website once designed.
Australian Tax Office Registration
If you are an individual, or sole trader such as a sub-contractor or a single tradesperson you should complete the ATO Registration Individual order form.
If you are registering on behalf of a company or a business partnership then you should complete the ATO Registration Business application form.
Our Service Overview page gives more detail on the requirements