When starting a business, it is crucial to understand your legal and accounting obligations, and to know how to meet them without giving your entire profit away to professional advisers. One of the fastest ways to set up a new business is to buy a pre-registered shelf company from an independent consultancy such as Director Corporate Services.
Our Australian shelf companies are registered in-house and maintained by our team, ready for you to buy, transfer and use with minimal cost and effort. They are available on enquiry: tell us what you need and we will match you with a suitable company. Depending on availability, a shelf company can come with an Australian Business Number (ABN) already registered in addition to its Australian Company Number (ACN), and we can add a registered office and registered agent service.
Why an ABN matters
Most suppliers and other businesses will want your ABN before they deal with your company. If you need to register for GST, you will also need an ABN first. Most ABN applications are approved online straight away, but when an application has to be processed manually it can take up to 28 days. A shelf company that already has an ABN can help if you are in a hurry to start trading.
Choosing your company name
One limitation of a shelf company is that it comes with an existing name. You can buy an ACN-only shelf company, which has no name registered, and use a business name instead. Or, after buying the company, we can register your preferred company name, subject to availability and ASIC approval, and link it to your ABN.
State and age of the company
Also consider which state or territory the company is registered in and how old it is. Your accountant can advise on what suits your tax position. We don't give tax or legal advice, but we work closely with professionals who do, so you can get advice specific to your needs.
To find out which shelf companies are available, see our Australian shelf company page or contact us.
Written by Richard Whyte for Director Corporate Services.
