s
starttheapp
Launch Blueprint
asia pacific

Incorporate a Startup in AustraliaProprietary Limited (Pty Ltd)

Robust common-law jurisdiction with attractive R&D Tax Incentive and strong Asia-Pacific bridge.

Key incorporation facts for Australia

Time to incorporate
1 - 5 days
Estimated setup cost
A$540 - A$1,500
Corporate tax rate
25% (base rate) / 30%
Ease of remote setup
Limited
Annual compliance: ASIC annual review + ATO Company Tax Return + BAS \u00b7 Currency: AUD \u00b7 10 required materials / 19 total

12-step launch checklist

From pre-launch name reservation through first annual filing.

  1. 01
    Reserve company name through ASIC
    Pre-Launch
  2. 02
    Appoint directors (at least 1 Australian resident) and secretary
    Pre-Launch
  3. 03
    Register company via ASIC and obtain ACN
    Incorporation
  4. 04
    Adopt replaceable rules or custom constitution
    Incorporation
  5. 05
    Issue founder shares + sign shareholders agreement
    Incorporation
  6. 06
    Apply for ABN, TFN and (if applicable) GST via ABR
    Tax
  7. 07
    Register for PAYG and Single Touch Payroll
    Tax
  8. 08
    Open Australian business bank account
    Banking
  9. 09
    Implement Privacy Policy + Spam Act consent
    Compliance
  10. 10
    Take out Workers Compensation Insurance
    Compliance
  11. 11
    Lodge first BAS (Business Activity Statement)
    Compliance
  12. 12
    Apply for R&D Tax Incentive (if eligible)
    Tax

Legal & Incorporation

ASIC company registration plus the standard Australian Pty Ltd constituting documents.

ASIC Company Registration (Form 201)

PORTAL

Apply for an ACN (Australian Company Number) via ASIC Connect.

formREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Replaceable Rules (Corporations Act)

PORTAL

Default governance rules under s.141 Corporations Act 2001 - apply unless replaced by a constitution.

statuteREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Company Constitution Template

DOCX

Optional but recommended custom constitution for any company intending to raise capital.

templateOpen resource \u2192

Shareholders Agreement (AU)

DOCX

Founder/shareholder agreement covering vesting, transfer restrictions, and reserved matters.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Employee Share Scheme (ESS) Template

DOCX

Aussie startup ESS - critical for hiring; recent tax changes make this much easier than pre-2022.

templateOpen resource \u2192

Tax & Banking

ABN, TFN, GST registration, and ATO obligations.

ABN / TFN / GST Application

PORTAL

Single application through ABR for ABN, TFN, and (if applicable) GST and PAYG.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

R&D Tax Incentive Guide

PORTAL

43.5% refundable offset for eligible R&D (turnover under A$20m) - flagship Aussie startup benefit.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Single Touch Payroll (STP)

PORTAL

Mandatory real-time payroll reporting to the ATO for any employer.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Superannuation Obligations

PORTAL

Pay 11.5% (rising to 12%) of ordinary earnings into employees’ super funds each quarter.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

CommBank / Airwallex Business Account

LINK

Documents needed to open an Australian business bank or multi-currency fintech account.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Regulatory & Licenses

Privacy Act, Fair Work, and industry licensing.

Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)

PORTAL

Privacy Act 1988 - applies to any business with >A$3m turnover or handling health data.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Fair Work Employment Templates

PORTAL

Fair Work Ombudsman free contract templates, NES guidance, and award lookup.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Workers Compensation Insurance

PORTAL

State-by-state mandatory cover - icare (NSW), WorkCover (VIC), etc.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Spam Act 2003 / Marketing Consent

PORTAL

Express consent + unsubscribe + identification rules for any commercial electronic message.

statuteREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Local Infrastructure

Fintech banking, payments, accelerators, and major coworking.

Airwallex / Wise Business

PORTAL

Multi-currency neobank accounts headquartered in Melbourne.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Xero / MYOB Accounting

PORTAL

Domestic cloud accounting that handles STP, BAS, and super.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Startmate / Antler Australia

PORTAL

Leading Aussie accelerators with strong APAC investor networks.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Stone & Chalk / Fishburners

PORTAL

Premier fintech and tech coworking hubs across Sydney and Melbourne.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in Australia?
Setup typically costs A$540 - A$1,500, with a 25% (base rate) / 30% corporate tax rate.
How long does it take to incorporate in Australia?
Incorporation usually completes in 1 - 5 days.
Can I incorporate remotely in Australia?
Australia typically requires some in-person steps or a local agent.
What annual compliance applies to a Proprietary Limited (Pty Ltd)?
ASIC annual review + ATO Company Tax Return + BAS

Ready to incorporate?

Open the interactive launch blueprint for Australia: track your progress, compare with other jurisdictions, ask the AI Launch Copilot, and download a personalised PDF plan.

Open Interactive Blueprint