ACN Registration Fees: How Much Does It Cost To Register A Company?

If you’re starting (or scaling) a business in Australia, you’ll quickly come across the idea of setting up a company. And with that comes one of the most common questions we hear from founders: how much are the ACN registration fees?

The short answer is that registering a company has a government fee component, plus (sometimes) extra costs depending on how you set things up - like whether you need a tailored constitution, a shareholders agreement, business name registration, or ongoing compliance help.

In this guide, we’ll break down what ACN registration fees are, what they cover, what else you might need to budget for, and how to avoid getting caught out by hidden costs later.

What Is An ACN (And When Do You Need One)?

An ACN is an Australian Company Number. It’s a unique 9-digit number issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) when a company is registered.

You generally need an ACN if you want to operate through a company structure (for example, “ABC Pty Ltd”). That’s because a company is a separate legal entity, and the ACN is part of how it’s identified in the Australian corporate system.

ACN vs ABN: What’s The Difference?

This is a common point of confusion. In simple terms:

• ACN is for companies (issued by ASIC when the company is created).
• ABN is for businesses (issued by the Australian Business Register). Many companies also have an ABN, but they are not the same thing.

If you incorporate a company, you’ll receive an ACN automatically as part of the registration process. You can then apply for an ABN (and register for GST, PAYG withholding, etc) if needed.

Do You Need To Register A Company To Run A Business?

Not always. Many small businesses start as sole traders or partnerships, then incorporate later as they grow.

But a company can make sense if you’re planning to scale, bring on co-founders or investors, take on higher-risk work, or want clearer separation between personal and business liability.

If you’re weighing up structures, it’s worth thinking ahead about ownership, decision-making, and what happens if someone wants to exit - that’s where documents like a Shareholders Agreement can become important once you’re operating through a company.

ACN Registration Fees: The Government Cost To Register A Company

When people search for ACN registration fees, they’re usually asking about the government fee charged by ASIC to register a company and issue the ACN.

In Australia, the ACN itself doesn’t have a separate “ACN fee” - it’s bundled into the company registration fee. In other words, you pay to register the company, and the ACN is issued as part of that registration.

How Much Does It Cost To Register A Company (ASIC Fee)?

ASIC charges a one-off company registration fee to register a proprietary company and issue the ACN. ASIC updates its fees periodically, so you should always check the current amount on ASIC’s website at the time you apply.

As a general guide, ASIC’s fee to register a proprietary company is $597 (current as at 1 January 2026).

So, What Are You Paying For?

The ASIC company registration fee covers the administrative and regulatory process of creating a company on the register, including:

• issuing the ACN
• recording the company’s details (name, type, registered office, directors, shareholders)
• making the company searchable on the ASIC register

These fees can change over time (ASIC updates fees periodically), so it’s important to check the current ASIC fee schedule at the time you register.

Why ACN Registration Fees Matter For Small Businesses

For a lot of founders, company registration is one of the first “real” startup costs that feels unavoidable. But it’s also a cost that can be wasted if you incorporate too early or set it up incorrectly (for example, registering the wrong company name, misunderstanding share structures, or creating a company with unclear ownership terms between founders).

So while ACN registration fees might look straightforward, it’s worth thinking about the bigger picture of what your company setup needs to achieve.

What Else Might You Need To Pay For When Registering A Company?

The ASIC fee is only one part of the story. Depending on your business, there are a few other costs that commonly come up at the same time as company registration.

1. Company Name vs Business Name Registration

Registering a company gives you a company name (for example, “ABC Pty Ltd”). But you might still want to trade under a different name (for example, “ABC Studio”).

If you plan to use a trading name that’s different to your legal company name, you’ll usually need to register a business name as well. That comes with its own separate government fees and renewal periods.

Many founders do both at the same time because it keeps branding consistent and avoids confusion with invoices, websites, and marketing materials.

2. A Company Constitution (Or Replaceable Rules)

When you register a company, you usually choose between:

• Replaceable rules (a default set of rules under the Corporations Act), or
• a constitution (a tailored document that sets out how your company is governed).

Replaceable rules can work for simple setups, but many growing businesses prefer a constitution because it can be tailored to how you actually plan to run the company - especially if you have multiple founders, different share classes, or plans to raise capital.

Putting a Company Constitution in place early can save you a lot of friction later, particularly when ownership changes or you bring in investors.

3. A Shareholders Agreement (Especially With Co-Founders)

One of the biggest “hidden costs” of incorporating isn’t money - it’s the cost of not having clear agreements between owners.

If you have more than one shareholder (even if it’s you and a family member, or you and a co-founder), a shareholders agreement is often the document that prevents disputes from escalating later.

It can cover things like:

• who owns what (and whether shares are vested over time)
• who makes decisions and how voting works
• what happens if someone wants to leave or stops contributing
• whether shareholders can sell shares to outsiders

It’s not “mandatory” in the same way as the ASIC registration fee, but it’s one of the most common documents we recommend once your company has multiple owners.

4. Setting Up Other Registrations (ABN, GST, PAYG, etc.)

Once your company is registered and you’ve got your ACN, you may still need to apply for:

• an ABN
• GST registration (if required for your turnover and business type)
• PAYG withholding (if you’ll have employees)

These aren’t “ACN registration fees” as such, but they’re part of the overall cost and time of setting up your company properly.

Please note: the ABN/GST/PAYG points above are general information only and aren’t tax advice. Your circumstances may be different, so it’s a good idea to check the ATO guidance and/or speak to an accountant about what registrations you need.

5. Ongoing ASIC Annual Review Fee (Every Year)

This is the cost many business owners don’t realise they’re committing to.

Once your company is registered, ASIC charges an annual review fee each year to keep the company on the register. That fee is separate from the initial ACN registration fees and must be paid annually as long as the company exists (unless it’s deregistered).

As a general guide, ASIC’s annual review fee for a proprietary company is $321 (current as at 1 January 2026). ASIC updates fees periodically, so it’s important to confirm the current fee each year.

It’s important to budget for this as an ongoing cost of operating a company - similar to domain renewals, insurance, or accounting fees.

Common Mistakes That Can Make ACN Registration More Expensive

Registering a company is meant to be a straightforward process, but we often see small businesses spend more than they need to because of avoidable missteps.

Choosing A Structure That Doesn’t Match Your Business Plans

If you register a company but later realise you should have set up a different structure (for example, a different share split, different directors, or a different company type), “fixing it later” can involve more fees and more complexity.

It’s worth taking a beat upfront to map out:

• who will own the business (now and potentially later)
• how profits will be distributed
• whether you’ll hire staff soon
• whether you’ll raise investment

Planning early often saves money later - even if the ASIC fee is the same either way.

Not Protecting Your Brand Early

Many founders assume registering a company name means they “own” the name. In practice, company name registration is not the same as trade mark protection.

If branding is important to you (and for most small businesses, it is), consider whether you need to protect your name and logo with a trade mark. That can help prevent costly rebrands or disputes down the track.

Forgetting About Contracts And Compliance

A company structure can reduce personal risk in some situations, but it doesn’t eliminate risk. You still need proper contracts and compliance processes - especially once you start trading.

For example:

• If you sell products or services to consumers, the Australian Consumer Law still applies.
• If you employ staff, you’ll want a clear Employment Contract in place from day one.
• If your business collects personal information (even just through a website contact form), you’ll likely need a Privacy Policy.

These aren’t part of ASIC’s fees, but they’re part of setting up a company that can actually trade safely.

Do You Register An ACN Yourself Or Get Help?

In Australia, you can register a company yourself through ASIC (or via an online service). For some founders, that DIY approach works fine - especially if the company is simple and there’s only one owner.

But there are situations where it’s worth getting legal help early, such as:

• you have co-founders and need to set out clear ownership and roles
• you’re issuing shares to multiple people (or planning to raise investment)
• you want a tailored constitution instead of default replaceable rules
• you want to make sure your setup supports growth and reduces future disputes

What “Getting Help” Usually Means (Practically)

It doesn’t necessarily mean making the process complicated. It usually means making sure:

• your company structure reflects how the business will actually run
• ownership is documented properly (and not just agreed verbally)
• your key legal documents are ready before you start trading

For example, if you’re setting up with co-founders, having the right foundational documents (like a constitution plus a shareholders agreement) can be far more valuable than shaving a small amount off the initial ASIC fee.

Key Takeaways

• ACN registration fees generally refer to the ASIC company registration fee, because your ACN is issued as part of registering a company.
• As a guide, ASIC’s fee to register a proprietary company is $597 (current as at 1 January 2026), but you should check ASIC’s current fees when you apply.
• The initial ASIC registration cost is only one part of your setup budget - you may also need business name registration, an ABN, and other registrations depending on how you operate.
• Owning a company means budgeting for ongoing costs too, including ASIC’s annual review fee each year (for proprietary companies, $321 as at 1 January 2026, but confirm the current fee with ASIC).
• For many small businesses, the bigger “cost” risk is setting up incorrectly - especially around ownership, share splits, and missing foundational documents.
• Having the right legal documents (like a Company Constitution, Shareholders Agreement, Employment Contract and Privacy Policy) can help protect your business once you start trading.

If you’d like a consultation on registering a company and getting your legal setup right from day one, you can reach us at 1800 730 617 or team@sprintlaw.com.au for a free, no-obligations chat.