A strong, attractive image is presented to your international customers and suppliers when setting up a company in Australia. Australia is a stable, well-regulated jurisdiction. If you are looking at partners to join you for investing in Australia, a local company is an excellent vehicle to attract financing.

Setting up a company in Australia is quick, licensing requirements are clear and obtaining credit is easy.

A resident director is required when setting up a company in Australia.

No minimum capital requirements are present when investing in Australia.

Australia company setup requires only one shareholder.

100% foreign ownership is permitted when setting up a company in Australia.

The Australian government offers a range of incentives to entrepreneurs investing in Australia. AUSTRADE, a Government-run agency, offers assistance with training, research & development (R&D) and export market development; streamlined immigration procedures; sales tax exemption for selected used equipment and introductions to relevant government agencies and professional service providers for business people both before and after Australia business set up has occurred.

An Australian company requires an annual audit after setting up a company in Australia, and must also submit annual accounts and a tax return.

Following Australia company setup, the company is required to pay corporate tax on all globally-sourced income.

Shareholders' and directors' details are available on a public register following Australia business setup.

A comprehensive guide to the procedures involved in setting up a company in Australia can be found on our Australia company setup page.

Several international entrepreneurs take advantage of Healy Consultants services after setting up a company in Australia. These include intellectual property protection (IP) and Australian trademark registration. The following information will help you decide whether these steps can support your plan to set up a company in Australia.

IP Australia is the federal government agency responsible for granting rights in patents, trade marks and designs to those who have set up a company in Australia.

Creators and investors who set up a company in Australia have certain exclusive economic rights for a limited time with IP laws favouring entrepreneurs.

A patent is suitable for someone who is setting up a company in Australia and wishes to have exclusive rights to any device, substance, method or process which is new, inventive and useful. The owner will then be able to commercially exploit the invention for the life of the patent.

A registered trade mark allows someone who is setting up a company in Australia the exclusive legal right to use, license or sell their goods or services in Australia. An Australia trade mark can be in the form of a letter, number, word, phrase, sound, smell, shape, logo, picture, packaging or any combination of the above.

The trademark registration period in Australia is initially 10 years and continues indefinitely as long as the renewal fees are paid every 10 years.

Registering a company name does not ensure property rights, only a trade mark regisration can give this protection.

Investors who are setting up a company in Australia and require legal protection to prevent the unauthorised use of their own original work by others, may utilise a copyright.

While registration for copyright is not necessarily required, it is advisable that owners place a copyright notice in a visible place at their work premises.

Back to Australia Company Incorporation page.