Add or remove a business partner from a business name registration

If your business name is registered to a partnership, you must tell us if you add or remove a partner. You can do this online.

Before you start

You can only add or remove a partner from a partnership if it’s possible under your partnership agreement.

When you cannot add or remove a partner

You cannot add or remove a partner to a business name registration if it changes the business structure. This includes when:

two sole traders become a partnership
a partnership ends and one person continues as a sole trader
there is a change of partners in a joint venture
there is a change of business structure from a partnership to a company.

In these cases, you will need to transfer the business name to the new entity.

To use ASIC Connect

You will need to sign up for an ASIC Connect account and have your business name linked if you haven’t already. Find out how to do this:

ASIC Connect information for business name holders

Steps to add a partner

Log in to your account

Start transaction

Select the ‘Lodgements and notifications’ tab.
Select the business name you want to change.
Select ‘Change partner details’.
Select the ‘Go’ button.

Make the changes

The business name partners and details will be displayed. Select ‘Add a partner’.
Read the eligibility requirements of a business name partner and declare the person is eligible.
Fill in the partner details in the next 4 screens.
Select the ‘Next’ button at the bottom of each screen to continue.

Review and confirm

Check the partner details are correct. If they are not correct, you can select the ‘Back’ button to make changes.
Select the ‘Submit’ button to continue.

Declare and submit

Read the declaration to make sure you agree with it. You will also need to tell us that you are authorised. If you agree and are authorised, tick the boxes by selecting them.
Then select the ‘Next’ button.
You’ll get a message that confirms your request has been submitted.
Select ‘Print the transaction’ to download a PDF version of the document. You can print or save the PDF for your records.

Steps to remove a partner

Log in to your account

Start transaction

Select the ‘Lodgements and notifications’ tab.
Select the business name you want to change.
Select ‘Change partner details’.
Select the ‘Go’ button.

Make the changes

The business name partners and details will be displayed. Choose the partner by selecting the ‘Remove partner’ link next to the partner name.
Enter the date when the partner will leave the partnership. Complete other details as required.
Select the ‘Next’ button.

Review and confirm

Check that the details are correct. If they are not correct, you can select the ‘Back’ button to make changes.
Select the ‘Submit’ button to continue.

Declare and submit

Read the declaration to make sure you agree with it. You will also need to tell us that you are authorised. If you agree and are authorised, tick the boxes by selecting them.
Then select the ‘Next’ button.
You’ll get a message that confirms your request has been submitted.
Select ‘Print the transaction’ to download a PDF version of the documents. You can print or save the PDF for your records.

Next steps

You may also need to update your partnership name

After you add or remove a partner, you will probably need to update the partnership name that is recorded as the business name holder. This will not happen automatically.

You can do this by changing details of a business name holder on the business names register.

Most partnerships hold a business name in the names of the partners. For example, the business name holder for Delightful Flowers might be A Smith, N Liu and V Nguyen. If V Nguyen leaves the business, the new business name holder is the partnership A Smith and N Liu. This will need to be reflected in the name of the business name holder recorded on the business names register.

If your partnership name does not change (because you did not use the name of your partners as the business holder name) you will not need to update the partnership name.

If the holder details for your ABN also need updating, you'll need to contact the Australian Business Register (ABR).