Starting a Business in the ACT: Registrations, Licences and Where to Get Help

Turning an idea into a registered business in the ACT is more straightforward than many first-time owners expect, but it pays to know the order of operations. Canberra sits across two systems: national registrations handled by the Commonwealth, and territory licences and approvals handled by the ACT Government. Get those in the right sequence and you can be trading legally without paying for help you do not need. Here is how it fits together.

Start with your structure

Before you register anything, decide how the business will be set up. The common options are sole trader, partnership, company and trust, and each has different tax, cost and liability consequences. Your structure affects which registrations you need next, so it is worth a short conversation with an accountant or adviser at this stage. The ACT Government's Start a business in Canberra guide walks through the decision and the steps that follow.

Get your ABN and business name

An Australian Business Number (ABN) is a free, unique 11-digit number that identifies your business to government, other businesses and customers. You apply through the Australian Government Business Registration Service at register.business.gov.au, which bundles several Commonwealth forms in one place. In the same session you can register a business name (this is handled nationally by ASIC and carries a small renewable fee), apply for a Tax File Number for the business where relevant, and sign up for tax registrations such as GST and PAYG withholding. Registering for GST is generally required once your turnover reaches the Commonwealth threshold, and optional below it.

Work out your ACT licences

Most industries are regulated, so the next question is which licences and permits apply to you specifically. The simplest way to find out is the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS), a free national tool that returns a tailored list based on your business type and location. In the ACT, Access Canberra administers most occupational licences, registrations and permits, so many of the approvals on your ABLIS list will be lodged with them.

Some activities have their own clear pathway. Food businesses, for example, must be registered before they trade, and home-based and mobile businesses follow specific rules around approvals and where they can operate. If you are leasing premises, factor in that Canberra land is held under Crown lease, which can affect what a site may be used for and whether development or building approval is needed.

Where to get help, for free

You do not have to navigate this alone, and you should not have to pay to understand the basics. The Access Canberra Business Assist Team helps Canberra businesses understand the permits, licences and approvals they need to start or grow, and the service is free. The broader Canberra Business Advice and Support Service connects owners with guidance as they establish themselves.

For founders building something new or scalable, the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) is the hub worth knowing. An ACT Government initiative founded in 2014, CBRIN is backed by the city's major universities and the Canberra Institute of Technology, and it runs incubator and accelerator programs, mentoring, co-working space and a busy events calendar. Its long-running First Wednesday Connect evening, held on the first Wednesday of each month, is an easy, no-pressure way to meet other founders, mentors and investors.

A simple checklist

• Choose a business structure and get advice if you are unsure
• Apply for your ABN and register your business name at register.business.gov.au
• Add tax registrations such as GST and PAYG withholding where they apply
• Run your details through ABLIS to find every licence and permit you need
• Lodge ACT licences and approvals with Access Canberra
• Tap free help through Access Canberra and connect with CBRIN if you are scaling

Canberra is a compact, well-supported place to start something. The registrations are mostly online and the local support is genuinely free, so the main task is doing them in the right order. Start with the official ACT Government business pages, and lean on the Business Assist Team early rather than after a problem appears.