Change a company name

Check the name you want is available

A company name must not be identical to any other registered company or business name, or a company name someone has reserved. Use our name availability checker to see whether the name you want is available.

The name must also meet all the other requirements for a company name. See the rules for acceptable company names.

We also suggest that you check your proposed name does not infringe a registered trade mark. Find out more about trade marks, and search and register them, at IP Australia.

Using your business name as a company name

In some cases, your company can register a business name it already holds as its new company name. See the rules about using your business name as a company name.

Reserve the name (optional)

If you have chosen a new company name but are not ready to apply to us to make the change, you can apply to reserve the name. Use this form:

Form 410: Application for a reservation of a name

If we approve your application, we will reserve the company name for 2 months. If you are still not ready, you can apply to have the reservation extended for another 2 months. After this, you will need to make another application. However, we will not keep doing this indefinitely.

Pass a special resolution

To change the company name, your company’s members (shareholders) must meet and pass a special resolution changing to the new name.

Apply to ASIC and pay the fee

Apply by submitting a ‘Notification of resolution’ form and sending us a copy of the special resolution. You can do this online or by mail.

Form 205: Notification of resolution

There is a fee to apply to change your company name. The current fee is {R04}.

The company must lodge the form and pay the fee within 14 days of the special resolution being passed or a late fee applies.

Make sure you do not make any errors when you tell us the new name. We cannot update it once it has been registered. If you want to correct any errors, the company will need to pass another special resolution and apply again to change the company name.