This is a question that many business owners ask, as they look to expand their organisation in a foreign land and in this short article, we aim to answer that question. Australia is most definitely a land of opportunity, of that there is no doubt, and the Australian Federal Government actively promote foreign investment, plus you can 100% own a foreign company, which is not something that many nations allow.

Engage the services of a reputable Australian law firm

This is the first step for any foreign company doing business in Australia and there are a number of business registration options, which we outline here.

• Registered Foreign Company – A company that is registered abroad can register with ASIC and can open an office in Australia, which is an ideal long-term option that enables trading. Other requirements include appointing a Resident Public Officer and a Local Agent and filing an annual tax return. It takes approximately 3 months to complete the registration.
• Private Limited Company – The most popular of all the registration options, setting up a PLC allows you to trade and with limited liability, many entrepreneurs choose this option. You will need a Resident Director and a Resident Public Officer, plus you need to file a tax return every year. You must register with ASIC and the registration process takes about 1 month. Click here for tips when redesigning your office.
• Representative Office – This type of business registration is suitable for a foreign company that wishes to carry out market research in Australia. A short-term solution with liability by the parent entity, no company officers are needed and no yearly tax returns need to be filed. The RO does not require ASIC registration and takes approximately 1 month to set up. If you would like to learn more about setting up a Representative Office, search online for a leading Australian law firm and the experts can explain the many options.

If you make contact with an international law firm that has offices in Australia, they would be happy to assist you by giving advice and when you are ready to register, they can process your application. 

The need to remain compliant

As you would expect, it is paramount that a foreign business is compliant with the many rules and regulations of the Australian government and the best way to ensure 100% compliant is to work with a leading Australian law firm. They have many years of hands-on experience helping foreign companies to stay compliant and they can guide you through the complex procedure of registering your business Down Under.

Free advice

If you would like some free advice, a leading international law firm would be happy to share a Zoom call with you in order for you to get a clearer picture of what lies ahead. Registering a business is much easier when you use an established international law firm.