Starting a Small Business in Melbourne: The Practical Steps

Melbourne is the economic engine of Victoria, and a large share of local employment sits in service sectors such as professional, scientific and technical services, financial and insurance services, and health care and social assistance. Industries including construction and health care are often cited among the state's stronger areas of employment growth. The process of formally setting up a business follows a broadly similar path across sectors. This is a general guide to that process. It is information only, not financial, tax or legal advice, and the official sources linked below carry the current detail.

Step 1: Choose a business structure

The structure you operate under shapes your legal obligations, how you are taxed, and your personal liability. The four most common structures in Australia are:

• Sole trader: the simplest form, where one individual runs the business and is personally responsible for it.
• Partnership: two or more people or entities carrying on business together.
• Company: a separate legal entity registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
• Trust: an arrangement where a trustee holds and operates the business for beneficiaries.

Each carries different costs, paperwork and consequences. Plain-English explanations of the options sit on the Victorian Government's business portal at business.vic.gov.au and on the federal business.gov.au. Many people discuss structure with an accountant or business adviser before deciding, because changing later can be involved.

Step 2: Register for an ABN and a business name

An Australian Business Number (ABN) is the unique identifier most businesses use to deal with government, suppliers and the tax system. You can apply for one free through the Australian Business Register, and there is no charge for the ABN itself. If you trade under a name that is not simply your own personal name, you generally need to register that business name with ASIC.

If you set up a company, ASIC registers the company and its name. Registering a company or business name gives some protection against another business using an identical or nearly identical name, but it is not the same as a trade mark and does not by itself give exclusive rights to the words used; ASIC explains the difference on its site. Many of these steps can be completed together through the Australian Government's Business Registration Service at register.business.gov.au, which bundles ABN, business name and other registrations into one process. Guidance on choosing and registering a name is at business.vic.gov.au, and ASIC's own business-name pages are at asic.gov.au.

Step 3: Sort out tax registrations

Beyond the ABN, several tax registrations may apply depending on how the business operates:

• GST: registration with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) becomes mandatory once turnover reaches the GST registration threshold. That threshold is published by the ATO at ato.gov.au; check the current figure there rather than relying on a remembered number.
• Tax File Number (TFN): businesses operating as companies, partnerships or trusts need their own TFN.
• PAYG withholding: if you employ staff, you generally register to withhold tax from their wages.

Victorian businesses that employ people also need to consider two state-level obligations. WorkCover insurance through WorkSafe Victoria is generally required once you pay above a rateable-remuneration threshold, and payroll tax may be owed to the State Revenue Office (SRO) once wages exceed the payroll-tax threshold. These thresholds change, so confirm the current ones with the issuing agency.

Step 4: Identify the licences and permits you need

Licences and permits vary widely by industry and by local council. A cafe, a builder, a beautician and a software consultant face very different requirements. Rather than guess, you can use the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) at ablis.business.gov.au, which lets you search by activity and location to produce a list of the federal, state and local approvals that may apply. The Victorian portal's licences page at business.vic.gov.au covers the same ground for Victorian operators. Local councils set many planning, food-safety and signage permits, so the relevant council is often a necessary second stop.

Step 5: Know where to get help

Several official, free resources support new business owners. The Victorian Government's business.vic.gov.au and the federal business.gov.au both run through structures, registration and obligations step by step. ASIC at asic.gov.au regulates companies and business names. For money matters, the government's MoneySmart service at moneysmart.gov.au offers general financial guidance aimed at small business owners. The ATO at ato.gov.au covers tax, and the SRO at sro.vic.gov.au covers state taxes such as payroll tax.

None of these steps is a substitute for tailored advice from a qualified accountant, lawyer or registered business adviser, particularly when choosing a structure or working out your tax position. The value of the official portals is that they hold the current thresholds, fees and forms, so the figures you act on stay up to date.

Sources: business.vic.gov.au, register.business.gov.au, business.gov.au, asic.gov.au, ato.gov.au, ablis.business.gov.au, moneysmart.gov.au, sro.vic.gov.au

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.