How do I find a business name that is available in Australia?

NameCraftr checks .com, .com.au, and .au availability in real time. After finding a candidate, run it through the ASIC Business Names Register at asic.gov.au and search IP Australia's trade mark database at ipaustralia.gov.au. All three checks together confirm the name is legally and digitally available.

Do I need to register my business name with ASIC?

Yes, if you trade under any name other than your own legal name or your registered company name. ASIC business name registration costs $44 for one year or $102 for three years. Registration gives you the right to trade under that name - but it does not give you exclusive nationwide rights, which only a registered trade mark provides.

How does ASIC decide if a business name is too similar to an existing one?

ASIC applies a similarity algorithm that catches near-identical names - not just exact matches. Minor spelling variations, adding "the" or "a", and common plurals may not be enough to pass. Search the ASIC register and test plausible near-variants of your preferred name before committing to any branding spend.

Can I register a .com.au domain before registering my business name with ASIC?

No. To register .com.au, you need an ABN and the domain must closely and substantially relate to your registered business name, company name, or trade mark. Complete your ASIC business name registration or company incorporation first, then register the matching .com.au through an auDA-accredited registrar.

What is the difference between an ASIC business name and a trade mark in Australia?

An ASIC business name registration allows you to trade under that name and prevents duplicate registrations in the ASIC database. A registered trade mark through IP Australia gives you exclusive commercial rights to use the name - and is the only protection that stops competitors from legally trading under a similar name in your industry.

Business Name Finder

Use the generator below to find the perfect domain name ideas for your new business.

What makes a business name worth keeping?

A business name worth keeping is one that clears every layer of the Australian availability stack: .com.au domain, .au domain, ASIC business name register, and IP Australia trademark register. Most founders check one or two of these. The ones who skip the ASIC similarity check or the IP Australia trademark search often discover a conflict months into building their brand.

The .com.au is the primary trust signal for Australian customers. It tells visitors the business is locally based and meets the registration requirements tied to an ABN. NameCraftr checks .com, .com.au, and .au availability in real time for every suggestion - so you see names that are actually available across all three extensions simultaneously.

Quality signals for the Australian market: the name does not use a word ASIC will flag as restricted (words like “bank”, “university”, or “government” require special approval), it passes the verbal test in Australian English (common in referrals and word-of-mouth), and it does not constrain you to a city or a single service before you have validated whether you will stay in that city or service.

Distinctiveness also determines trademark protection. Purely descriptive names - “Melbourne Web Design” or “Australian Cloud Backup” - are near-impossible to trademark and easy for competitors to replicate. A name with an invented or unexpected element protects much more effectively under the Trade Marks Act 1995.

How to use the business name finder

Want more general options first? The business name generator might be a better fit, or if you’re set on “company” rather than “business”, try the company name creator.

Give the tool a specific brief. “Aged care software for regional Australian providers navigating NDIS compliance” will produce far better results than “healthcare software”. Include your industry, your buyer, the geography if relevant, and one word that captures the brand tone you want. The specificity directly determines the distinctiveness of what you get back.

Once you have candidates, run each through this four-step check:

The verbal test. Say it out loud at normal Australian conversational speed. If it sounds like two other words mashed together or requires spelling, it fails.
NameCraftr’s real-time domain check. Confirm .com.au and .au are both available, or run any shortlisted name through the standalone domain name checker to double-check. Names with all three (.com, .com.au, .au) available give you the strongest protection across local and international markets.
ASIC Business Name Register search. Go to asic.gov.au and run the name availability check. ASIC’s similarity algorithm catches near-identical names - not just exact matches. Minor spelling variations, the addition of “the” or “a”, and common plurals may not be enough to register. Test multiple variations before committing.
IP Australia trade mark search. Check ipaustralia.gov.au before investing anything in branding. Search for existing marks in your class. A registered trade mark in the same class means ASIC can process your business name registration, but you may still be legally blocked from using the name commercially.

Run two or three batches, adjusting the brief based on what does and does not appeal in earlier results.

After finding a name: making it yours

Once the name clears all four checks, execute the following steps in order. Do not announce the name publicly until the domain and ASIC registration are both locked in.

Step 1 - Register .com.au and .au first. Use an AUNIC-accredited registrar (Crazy Domains, VentraIP, Netfleet, and others all qualify). Both extensions require a valid ABN and the domain must closely and substantially relate to your registered business name. Register both in the same session. Cost is typically $15-$30/year per extension.

Step 2 - Also register .com. Particularly important if you plan to attract international customers, raise investment from outside Australia, or eventually expand globally. Do this in the same session - the cost is minor compared to the risk of a squatter taking it once you go public.

Step 3 - Register the business name with ASIC. If you are trading under any name other than your own legal name or registered company name, you must register it. Cost is $44/year or $102 for three years at asic.gov.au. For companies (Pty Ltd), the company name is registered during incorporation - business name and company name registration are two separate ASIC processes.

Step 4 - Apply for a trade mark through IP Australia. Cost is $330 per class at ipaustralia.gov.au. Class 35 covers business services and retail. Class 42 covers software, technology, and AI services. Rights date from the application date. An ASIC business name registration does NOT give you exclusive rights to use the name commercially - only a registered trade mark does.

Common mistakes when searching for a business name

Relying on exact-match ASIC searches. ASIC’s similarity test is more aggressive than most founders expect. A name like “Stryde” will be flagged as similar to an existing “Stride” registration. Run the name and its plausible near-variants before committing to any branding spend.

Assuming ASIC registration equals legal protection. An ASIC business name registration establishes identity for trading and compliance purposes. It does not grant exclusive commercial rights to the name. If you trade under a name without a registered trade mark and a competitor later trade marks the same name, you may be required to rebrand even with years of prior use.

Ignoring .com.au eligibility requirements. To register .com.au, your domain must closely and substantially relate to your ASIC-registered business name or your company name. If you operate publicly under a shortened brand name and your ASIC name is the full legal form, register both or ensure the domain maps clearly to the registered name.

Choosing a name tied to a specific city or region. “Brisbane Digital Marketing” limits national brand equity from day one. If you plan to operate nationally within two years, start with a name that works at national scale. Rebranding is expensive - it costs more than getting the name right initially.

Not claiming social handles the same day as the domain. Australian business identity is increasingly built on LinkedIn and Instagram. Claiming handles costs nothing. Losing them to a namesake business or a squatter after you have built brand awareness is a genuine problem with no clean solution.

How the Business Name Finder Works

1

Describe your idea

Enter a short description of your business concept - what it does, who it's for, or the feeling you want it to evoke.
2

Generate name ideas

NameCraftr's AI instantly creates unique, brandable name suggestions tailored to your description.
3

Check domain availability

Each suggestion includes real-time domain availability so you can register your favourite name straight away.

Tips for Choosing a Great Name

✓ Keep it short. One to three words is ideal - easier to remember, type, and say aloud.
✓ Check the .com first. Even if you plan to use another extension, a taken .com can cause brand confusion down the line.
✓ Avoid hyphens and numbers. They're hard to communicate verbally and look less professional.
✓ Say it out loud. If you have to spell it out every time you say it, reconsider the name.
✓ Search before committing. Google the name and check your country's trademark database to avoid conflicts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a business name that is available in Australia?: NameCraftr checks .com, .com.au, and .au availability in real time. After finding a candidate, run it through the ASIC Business Names Register at asic.gov.au and search IP Australia's trade mark database at ipaustralia.gov.au. All three checks together confirm the name is legally and digitally available.
Do I need to register my business name with ASIC?: Yes, if you trade under any name other than your own legal name or your registered company name. ASIC business name registration costs $44 for one year or $102 for three years. Registration gives you the right to trade under that name - but it does not give you exclusive nationwide rights, which only a registered trade mark provides.
How does ASIC decide if a business name is too similar to an existing one?: ASIC applies a similarity algorithm that catches near-identical names - not just exact matches. Minor spelling variations, adding "the" or "a", and common plurals may not be enough to pass. Search the ASIC register and test plausible near-variants of your preferred name before committing to any branding spend.
Can I register a .com.au domain before registering my business name with ASIC?: No. To register .com.au, you need an ABN and the domain must closely and substantially relate to your registered business name, company name, or trade mark. Complete your ASIC business name registration or company incorporation first, then register the matching .com.au through an auDA-accredited registrar.
What is the difference between an ASIC business name and a trade mark in Australia?: An ASIC business name registration allows you to trade under that name and prevents duplicate registrations in the ASIC database. A registered trade mark through IP Australia gives you exclusive commercial rights to use the name - and is the only protection that stops competitors from legally trading under a similar name in your industry.