Register a domain name

You don’t have to register a domain name to start or grow your business. But you should register one if you plan to create a website for your business.

Even if your business website isn’t ready yet, you can still register a domain name. This ensures you have the domain you want when you're ready to use it.

Different types of domain name have different requirements. Visit the .au Domain Administration Ltd (.auDA) website for a list of Australian domain types (such as .com.au and .net.au)

Most Australian businesses use .com.au domains. The .au shows customers that you are located in Australia.

If you want to buy a .com.au or .net.au domain, you need to:

• be a commercial entity
• have either an Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN).

When picking a website domain for your business it's best to go with a name that:

• represents your business or brand
• is short
• is easy to remember, pronounce and spell
• is unique and won't be confused with another business.

Use our business name check tool to find out if your proposed domain name is available. You can also use the tool to check if your business name is available.

Registering a domain name doesn’t give you any IP protection for that name. It just means you own the website address. You should register your business name first and consider protecting it with a trade mark.

If you use a business name or domain name that someone else has trademarked, you could face legal action.