Cost breakdown
What does registering a company in Australia actually cost?
The short answer: $611to ASIC, plus a service fee if you don't want to do every step yourself. The long answer has a few layers — here's the honest breakdown.
| What you pay for | DIY (ASIC direct) | Structly | Accountant |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASIC statutory fee | $611 | $611 | $611 |
| Service fee | $0 | $88 | $700–$1,200 |
| Company constitution | Self-drafted | Included | Included |
| Share certificates + member register | Self-prepared | Included | Included |
| ABN, TFN, GST setup | Separate process | +$99 (ABN Package) | Usually included |
| Business name (3 years) | $102 ASIC fee, you lodge | +$89 all-in | $150–$300 |
| Time cost | Full day + | 15 minutes | 2–3 weeks |
| Typical total (year 1) | $713 | $887 | $1,500–$2,000 |
| Year 2 ASIC annual review | $329 (you lodge) | $329 + $39.90/mo Assist (optional) | $329 + hourly |
Figures based on current ASIC schedule (2025–26 financial year) and publicly advertised Australian small-firm accountant rates. Your accountant's pricing may differ.
What you always pay
Every Australian Pty Ltd registration goes through the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the statutory fee is currently $611. That figure is indexed each 1 July, so it nudges up slightly each financial year. The fee is identical whether you lodge yourself, use a registered agent like Structly, or pay an accountant — ASIC charges the same amount regardless of who delivers the paperwork.
You also need a Director Identification Number (Director ID) for every director of the company. Director IDs are free and you apply directly to the Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS) at abrs.gov.au using myID. Structly can't do this step for you — directors must verify their own identity — but it takes about five minutes per director.
What you choose to pay for
Beyond the ASIC fee, every other line is optional. Each represents a choice about how much time and risk you take on yourself versus paying someone to handle.
- Service fee. Companies like Structly charge a service fee on top of the ASIC statutory fee. Ours is $88, included in the Company Registration product at $699 total. Accountants charge $700–$1,200 because they bundle advice, structure recommendations, and sometimes a trust deed alongside the registration itself.
- Constitution + member register. Required for every company. Generic templates exist online; a properly prepared constitution that suits your share structure is part of every Structly registration.
- ABN, TFN, GST, PAYG setup. The ABN, TFN, and tax-side registrations sit on a different portal (the ABR + ATO) and need a separate application. Our ABN Package handles all four together for $99. Most accountants include this in their package.
- Business name (trading name). If you trade under a name different from the company's legal name (e.g. company is “Smith Pty Ltd” but you trade as “Northside Plumbing”), register it separately with ASIC. $89 all-in via Structly for three years.
Where the hidden costs hide
The published price isn't always the full price. Things people don't budget for at registration time:
- Annual review fee.Every company pays $329 to ASIC each year on the anniversary of registration (or $67 if it's a special-purpose company like an SMSF corporate trustee).
- Late fees. ASIC charges $98 for payments 1–28 days late and $411 if you go beyond 28 days. They can deregister the company if you ignore them.
- Address changes. Move offices? Change directors? Add a shareholder? Each requires an ASIC lodgement (Form 484). Structly Assist ($39.90/month, first 30 days free) handles all of these for you.
- Your own time. DIY looks cheap until you spend a Saturday reading ASIC explainers, three more hours preparing the constitution, and another two hours fixing the rejection email from ASIC.
Structly Company Essential
Everything you need, in one price.
Company Registration + ABN Package + Business Name (3 years) = $887 total. ASIC fee included. Service fee transparent. Lodged with ASIC in minutes, not weeks.
Common questions about cost
- What is the cheapest way to register a company in Australia?
- Filing directly with ASIC through the Online Services portal. You pay only the $611 statutory fee and do every step yourself — pick a name, draft a constitution, prepare consent forms, lodge Form 201, issue share certificates, set up the member register. It's genuinely possible and Structly will be the first to tell you so. The catch is the time cost: most first-time founders spend a full day on this, plus the risk of getting a step wrong and having ASIC reject the application.
- Is the $611 ASIC fee refundable?
- No. Once ASIC accepts the application, the statutory fee is consumed regardless of what you do next. If they reject it — usually because the name is unavailable or a director declaration is incomplete — you'll need to fix the issue and lodge a corrected application. Structly's service fee is refundable in full if we can't deliver; the ASIC portion never is because ASIC doesn't refund it to us.
- Why do accountants charge so much more for company registration?
- Accountants typically charge $1,500–$2,000 for a Pty Ltd registration because it sits inside a broader engagement — initial advice, structure recommendation, tax setup, sometimes a trust deed, plus the registration itself. They're not making margin on the registration line specifically; they're billing time. For a straightforward Pty Ltd with no complex tax planning required, Structly does the registration component for $699 and you can engage an accountant separately for the advice if and when you need it.
- Are company registration fees tax deductible?
- The Australian Taxation Office generally treats company setup costs as immediately deductible 'blackhole' expenses for small businesses (under section 40-880 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997), but the exact treatment depends on your situation. Confirm with your accountant before claiming.
- What about ongoing costs after registration?
- Every Australian company pays an ASIC annual review fee — $329 per year for a standard company, or $67 per year for special-purpose companies like SMSF corporate trustees. You also need to keep your registered office and director details current with ASIC. Structly Assist ($39.90/mo, first 30 days free) handles the review, address changes, and any other ASIC paperwork that crops up during the year.