A business name is the name your business operates under. You will need to register a business name if you carry on business within Australia and are not trading under your own name.

Exceptions to this include:

• if you are operating as an individual and your operating name is the same as your first name and surname
• if you are in a partnership and your operating name is the same as all the partners’ names, or
• if you are an already registered Australian company and your operating name is the same as your company’s name.

You will also need an ABN prior to registering a business name.