If you run a Lawn Mowing service in Australia and you haven’t yet registered your Business name, you’ll need to as a legal requirement and to distinguish your business from competitors. It’s simple enough to apply, and in this guide, we’ll walk you through why you need a business name registered, and how you can go about doing so.
What is a business name?
A business name is the name or title under which a person or trading entity operates their business. It identifies a corporation to customers, making your business unique and recognisable.
Do I need to register my business name?
The registration for your Lawn Mowing Business is relatively straightforward – if you’ll be using your own name, you don’t need to register your business name. If you’ll be using a trading name, you will need to. As registered business names are recorded nationally, this means you’ll be able to trade in any state or territory of Australia.
What do you need before registering?
You must have an Australian Business Number (ABN), or have at least applied for one in order to register a business name as the two will be connected. Take a look at our guide on how to apply for an ABN for your lawn mowing business if you’re yet to do so. Thankfully, only one ABN is required, no matter how many business names you register.
Other information you’ll require includes business name holder details, addresses, and eligibility proof – essentially to demonstrate you’re not disqualified from managing a corporation, convicted of an offence involving dishonesty and imprisonment, or a person involved in the management of an entity. You’ll also need to check you’re not infringing someone else’s rights by checking your proposed business name via the Australian Trade Mark Search, and it would be a smart move to check your ideal website domain name is available in order to give your lawn mowing business the best marketing power possible.
How do you go about registering?
If you need to register your lawn mowing business, there are a few simple steps you can take to claim your business name. Firstly, head to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Connect and register. You can select the Licences and Registrations tab at the top of the page, and register a business name from the drop-down box. Once all the information has been read, simply tick the boxes and select the option to get started. You’ll then need to enter details of your ABN, as well as your proposed business name and select the period you’d like your lawn mowing business to be registered for. You’ll then need to review your application and make the appropriate payment.
How much does it cost to register?
For one year, the registration fee is $36, and $84 for three years – the same fees apply for business name renewal, and there are no fees to update your business name or to cancel or transfer a name. Payment can be made by credit card, invoice, or BPAY, although it must be made within 10 business days of application approval else you’ll be rejected and need to reapply for the name.
How do I choose a business name?
It’s important to choose a business name for your lawn mowing business that is memorable, one that people can search and spell, ideally something relevant to the lawn mowing field that indicates the services you actually offer. You want to make sure it creates the right look and feel for your business, so you should think about how your business is unique and easily understandable. It’s certainly worth checking business name availability beforehand, and making sure the business name you’re after is free and not already taken by a competitor.
Will my business name be trademarked?
Registration of your business name doesn’t automatically mean you have any legal rights as it’s there simply to identify your business, so you’ll need to apply for a trademark to gain this level of protection. Once you’ve picked a business name, you’ll want to ensure you can use it exclusively throughout the country so ensure it’s registered as a trademark – you can apply for your trademark via IP Australia.
How long does the registration application take?
The registration process only takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete online - if you already have an ABN and have provided the required information and paid, it should take around two business days for confirmation for any payments made by credit card, and up to five days for payment made through bank transfer or BPay.
What happens after my registration application has been submitted?
You’ll receive a record of registration via email once payment has been made, or an invoice if this is the payment method you chose, which will need to be made within 10 days. Your business name is officially considered registered once the name has been accepted and payment has been received. This means that a record of registration is no longer required and instead a business name can be used on all written communication. As for renewal, ASIC will notify you two months before your business name is due as a reminder.
