Registered Office Address Guide for Small Businesses
A registered office address is the official address of an Australian company recorded with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Understand the essentials. Explore the details. Keep track with the checklist.
A clear introduction to the address rules, choices and practical steps covered in this guide.
Registered office addresses
ASIC requirements
Written occupier consent
Principal place of business
Business and mailing addresses
Home address and privacy
Virtual office registration
ASIC Form 484 and address changes
Fees and ongoing costs
Legal notices and mail handling
Google Business Profile rules
Choosing an address provider
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THE SHORT VERSION
3-minute overview
Condensed from the complete guide. Start here, then explore the detail when you need it.
01
What it means
Australian registered companies, including Pty Ltd companies, must maintain a registered office in Australia. It is the official address recorded with ASIC for formal company correspondence and legal notices, not necessarily the place where the business operates. A sole trader does not automatically need a company registered office simply because they run a business. Start by checking your business structure rather than assuming every business needs this particular address service.
02
Address and permission
The registered office must be a genuine physical Australian street address, not a PO Box or an address that exists only for mail forwarding. Include the unit, suite or level details needed to identify the premises. If your company does not occupy the premises, obtain written consent from the actual occupier and retain it in company records. An accountant’s address or an advertised commercial address is not automatically authorised for your company’s use.
03
Using your home
A home address may be suitable where the requirements are met and the company has the necessary right to use it. However, registered office details can be obtained through ASIC company searches, potentially exposing your residential location. Consider privacy, reliable receipt of formal documents and what happens if you move. Check any relevant lease, strata, council or other restrictions affecting business activities at the property.
04
Using a virtual office
A suitable virtual office can provide a registered office, but the selected package must specifically authorise that use and provide written occupier consent where required. Do not assume a general business address or mail package includes registration rights. Your principal place of business must reflect where the business actually operates; a preferred virtual address is not a substitute for reality. Google Business Profile eligibility is separate: ASIC address permission does not automatically qualify a location for Google Maps.
05
Mail and public access
Establish a dependable process for receiving, monitoring and responding to official correspondence. Ask how formal documents are recorded, how you are notified and how quickly mail is scanned or forwarded. Unreliable handling can mean missed legal notices or annual review correspondence; failing to see a notice does not necessarily prevent legal consequences. Proprietary companies generally need not open their registered office to the public, but document inspection obligations remain. Public companies have different opening-hours requirements.
06
Changing the address
First confirm the new address and obtain any required occupier consent. Then use ASIC’s company services and Form 484 to lodge the change, reviewing the details carefully and checking and retaining the lodgement acknowledgement. Keep the address current and notify ASIC within 28 days of a change. Statutory timing rules determine when an address change takes effect on the register, so do not assume every update is immediate. Separately review relevant ABR, ATO, bank, insurer, supplier and other records; an ASIC update does not automatically change them all.
07
Costs and leaving
Provider charges are separate from ASIC fees. An ordinary on-time Form 484 registered office address change generally has no lodgement fee, although late fees may apply. Company registration and annual review fees are separate obligations. Compare the provider’s full service cost, including consent, official document receipt, notifications, scanning, forwarding and administration charges, plus contract terms. Before terminating an address service, arrange a replacement registered office and notify ASIC within the applicable timeframe. Do not cancel while the company still relies on that address.
08
Your next step
Review a short checklist: correct business structure, genuine street address, permission and consent, dependable mail handling, full costs, current ASIC details and other relevant records. Then read the full 15-minute guide for detailed steps and FAQs. This overview provides general information, not legal, taxation or financial advice, and does not determine whether your arrangement is compliant. Requirements can change; consult ASIC or obtain professional advice for your circumstances.
A registered office address is the official address of an Australian company recorded with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Under section 142 of the Corporations Act 2001, companies must maintain a registered office in Australia.
The registered office serves as a recognised location for formal company correspondence and legal notices.
Examples of documents that may be sent or delivered to a registered office include:
Official correspondence from ASIC
Statutory notices and regulatory communications
Legal notices and court documents
Formal correspondence from shareholders or other parties
Documents requiring delivery to the company under applicable legislation
The registered office must be a genuine physical location. It cannot simply be a postal address that exists only for mail forwarding.
Importantly, the address does not need to be the company’s operational headquarters.
A company could operate primarily online, have employees working remotely and still maintain its registered office at a separate professional premises.
Is a registered office compulsory?
Yes, for Australian registered companies, including proprietary limited (Pty Ltd) companies.
However, not every business is a registered company.
For example, a sole trader generally does not need a company registered office because a sole trader is not a separate corporate entity registered with ASIC.
The distinction matters when considering whether you actually need this particular service.
CHAPTER 02
2. What Does ASIC Require for a Registered Office?
ASIC has several requirements relating to company addresses.
A physical street address in Australia
Your registered office must be a real street address in Australia.
It cannot be a PO Box.
The address must be sufficiently complete to identify the premises, including relevant unit, suite, level or office details.
Permission to use the premises
If your company does not occupy the premises, the actual occupier must provide written consent for the address to be used as the company’s registered office.
This is common when businesses use their accountant’s office, solicitor’s office or a commercial address service.
The consent should be retained as part of the company’s records.
Simply finding a commercial address online does not give you permission to register your company there.
The address must remain current
Companies must notify ASIC of changes to their registered office address within 28 days.
Failing to update the company’s registered details within the required period can result in late lodgement fees.
Receiving official correspondence
The registered office should provide a reliable way for notices and documents to reach the company.
Official communications may have important legal or financial consequences, so business owners should have arrangements to monitor correspondence and respond appropriately.
Registered office opening hours
Opening-hours obligations differ between company types.
A proprietary company is generally not required to open its registered office to the public. However, this does not remove statutory obligations to make certain company documents available for inspection.
Public companies are subject to more specific registered-office opening-hours requirements.
For public companies, the rules generally require the office to be open during specified business-day periods or for at least three hours between 9 am and 5 pm, subject to the relevant legislative requirements.
Important: Do not assume that every company needs a publicly accessible reception desk operating throughout the business day. Requirements depend on the type of company and its legal obligations.
CHAPTER 03
3. Registered Office vs Business Address vs Mailing Address
One of the most common sources of confusion is the difference between the addresses used by a business.
Although these addresses may sometimes be identical, they serve different purposes.
Address type
Registered office address
This is the official address recorded on the company’s ASIC registration.
For example, a company could maintain a registered office in Sydney while its employees work remotely from different locations.
Principal place of business
This is the main physical location where the business operates.
If a business is primarily conducted from a home office, that may be its principal place of business.
A virtual office address should not be nominated as the principal place of business merely because the owner prefers not to disclose their actual operating location.
Business address
A business address is a broader commercial term.
It may be used on websites, invoices, correspondence and marketing materials, subject to the relevant rules and how the address is represented.
Mailing address
A mailing address is primarily intended for receiving correspondence.
Businesses may use an accountant, serviced office or mail-handling provider for this purpose.
Example: A graphic designer operates from home, receives customer correspondence through a Sydney business address and occasionally rents a meeting room. If the business is incorporated, it may also use an authorised professional premises as its registered office. These arrangements can coexist without the addresses necessarily being the same.
CHAPTER 04
4. Can You Use Your Home Address as a Registered Office?
Yes, provided the address satisfies the relevant requirements and the company has the necessary right to use the premises.
However, there are practical considerations.
Privacy
A registered office address forms part of ASIC’s company records and can be obtained through company register searches.
Using your residential address may expose personal location information to customers, competitors or other parties who search those records.
Moving house
If you relocate, you may need to update your company details.
Depending on how extensively you use your address, you may also need to update business documents, banks, suppliers and online accounts.
Receiving official documents
Your home may become an address for formal legal notices.
You must consider whether you can reliably receive and manage that correspondence.
Residential restrictions
Your lease, strata arrangements, council requirements or other applicable rules may affect business activities conducted at the property.
For these reasons, some company directors prefer to use a separate professional registered office address.
CHAPTER 05
5. Can You Use a Virtual Office as Your Registered Office?
Yes, a suitable virtual office service may provide a registered office address, provided the arrangement meets ASIC requirements and the provider permits that specific use.
Not every virtual office package automatically includes registered office rights.
Before signing up, confirm the following:
The provider permits the address to be registered with ASIC.
The company can obtain written occupier consent where required.
The premises are a genuine Australian street address.
Official documents can be appropriately received.
The provider explains how correspondence is handled.
The arrangement can remain active while the address appears on the company’s records.
What about using a virtual office as your Google Business Profile address?
This is a separate issue.
ASIC registration and Google Business Profile eligibility are governed by different requirements.
Permission to use a virtual office as a registered office does not automatically make it eligible as a public Google Maps business location.
Google applies its own criteria concerning genuine business operations, customer contact, staffing and signage.
Businesses should assess those requirements separately.
CHAPTER 06
6. How to Register or Change Your Registered Office Address
If you are establishing a new company, you generally nominate the registered office when completing the company registration process.
If the company already exists, you can update the registered office through ASIC.
1
Step 1: Confirm your new address
Make sure the address is accurate, complete and permitted for company registration.
If the company does not occupy the premises, obtain the occupier’s written consent.
2
Step 2: Access the ASIC company services portal
Sign in through ASIC’s relevant online service using your authorised company access.
3
Step 3: Select the company address change
ASIC Form 484 is used for several changes to company details, including registered office and principal place of business addresses.
4
Step 4: Enter the new address
Provide the correct street address and other required details.
You may need to state whether the company occupies the premises, identify the occupier and confirm that consent has been provided.
5
Step 5: Review and submit
Review the address information carefully before submitting the change.
Keep your lodgement acknowledgement for future reference.
6
Step 6: Update other records
Changing your registered office with ASIC does not necessarily update every other organisation.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to update records with the Australian Business Register, ATO, bank, insurer, suppliers or other relevant organisations.
Important: Notify ASIC within the applicable 28-day period. An address change can take effect on the ASIC register according to the statutory timing rules, so do not assume that lodging the notification makes every change immediate.
7. What Happens if Your Registered Office Address Is Incorrect?
An incorrect or outdated registered office can create problems beyond administrative inconvenience.
Missed legal notices
Certain legal documents can be served on a company by delivering or posting them to its registered office.
Failing to monitor that address does not necessarily prevent legal consequences from arising.
For example, if proceedings are properly served and the company does not respond, it may face procedural consequences, including a possible default judgment.
ASIC late fees
Companies must keep required address details current.
Failure to notify ASIC within the prescribed period can result in late lodgement fees.
Late fees can increase depending on how overdue a required notification becomes.
Regulatory consequences
Failure to comply with registered office obligations may constitute a breach of the Corporations Act.
In some circumstances, ASIC may take steps relating to an unauthorised registered office, including changing the address recorded for the company to an Australian resident director’s address under the relevant statutory provisions.
Missed annual review correspondence
Companies also have obligations relating to annual reviews, payments and checking company details.
An unreliable correspondence arrangement can increase the risk of missing important communications.
Practical recommendation: Check the company’s ASIC record periodically, confirm that the registered office arrangement remains authorised and establish a reliable process for handling formal mail.
CHAPTER 08
8. How Much Does a Registered Office Address Cost?
There is a difference between the ASIC fee for changing company details and the commercial cost of using an address provider.
ASIC fees
ASIC generally does not charge an ordinary lodgement fee to update an Australian company’s registered office using Form 484.
However, late fees may apply when the change is notified outside the required timeframe.
Company registration and annual review fees are separate obligations.
Professional registered office services
The cost of a professional registered office service depends on the provider, location and services included.
Some providers offer a registered office as a standalone service. Others include the functionality within a business address, address-and-mail or virtual office package.
Before comparing providers, check whether the advertised fee includes:
Written occupier consent
Receipt of official documents
Mail notifications
Scanning and forwarding
Document handling or administration charges
Access to physical meeting spaces
Any minimum contract term
An inexpensive advertised address may not provide the document-handling arrangements a company actually requires.
Is a registered office address tax-deductible?
Costs incurred for legitimate business purposes may be deductible, subject to Australian taxation rules and the circumstances of the business.
Seek professional taxation advice if the treatment is unclear.
CHAPTER 09
9. Choosing the Right Registered Office Provider
A registered office is more than an address printed on a registration form.
The provider should offer a dependable service suited to the company’s requirements.
A real and identifiable location
Make sure the address represents genuine premises.
Clear registration permissions
Confirm that the service specifically allows registered office use, rather than only general business correspondence.
Reliable document handling
Ask how the provider identifies, records and notifies you of incoming formal documents.
Transparent charges
Understand the monthly or annual cost and whether additional fees apply for scanning, forwarding or special deliveries.
Flexible arrangements
Consider whether the provider offers practical services such as mail handling, meeting rooms or workspace access as your business grows.
An established provider
A provider with a consistent physical presence and clear operating procedures may be preferable to an arrangement with uncertain premises access or unreliable communications.
CHAPTER 10
10. How Anytime Offices Can Help
At Anytime Offices, we provide professional business address and virtual office services from established Sydney business centres.
Our virtual office solutions are designed to help businesses establish a professional commercial presence without committing to a full-time office lease.
Depending on the selected package and approved address use, services can include:
Professional business address
Receipt and handling of correspondence
Mail management services
Virtual receptionist services
Access to meeting rooms and flexible workspaces
Registered office address arrangements where specifically authorised
Businesses requiring a registered office should confirm the appropriate arrangement and written occupier consent before lodging their ASIC details.
Whether you are establishing a new company, separating your residential and business addresses or changing your existing company address, selecting the right service can simplify ongoing administration.
Explore Anytime Offices business address and virtual office services to find a solution suited to your company.
Ready to set up your registered office? Our registered office address service gives your company a compliant Sydney street address, written occupier consent and reliable handling of ASIC and legal correspondence.
Before registering or updating your company address, make sure you have completed the following.
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Frequently Asked Questions
15 of 15 FAQs shown
Does every Australian business need a registered office address?
No. Australian registered companies must maintain a registered office, but a sole trader is not required to have a company registered office merely because they operate a business. The requirements depend on the legal structure.
Can a registered office address be a PO Box?
No. ASIC requires an Australian physical street address for a company’s registered office.
Can I use my accountant’s address as my registered office?
Yes, provided the arrangement meets the legal requirements and the occupier provides the necessary written consent. Using an accountant’s address does not automatically authorise registration without permission.
Can I use my home address?
Yes, where permitted and legally appropriate. However, your home address may become available through company searches, which can raise privacy concerns.
Can I use a virtual office as my registered office?
Yes, provided the provider specifically authorises the use, the premises satisfy the legal requirements and any necessary written consent is obtained.
Does a registered office need to be staffed?
A proprietary company is not generally required to keep its registered office open to the public, but it remains subject to legal obligations relating to company documents and notices. Public companies and registered foreign companies have additional requirements.
Can my registered office and principal place of business be different?
Yes. The registered office is the company’s official address for legal and corporate communications, while the principal place of business is the location where the company’s main operations take place.
Can I register my business name at my registered office address?
Business name registration and company registered office requirements are different. You must provide the relevant addresses required by the business name registration process, and each address must be accurate and permitted for its stated purpose.
Can multiple companies share the same registered office address?
Yes, provided each company is properly authorised to use the premises and the relevant statutory requirements are satisfied.
How do I change my registered office address with ASIC?
An Australian company can generally update its registered office through ASIC’s online company services using Form 484. The required information includes the new address and applicable occupier consent details.
How long do I have to notify ASIC when my address changes?
Australian companies generally must notify ASIC of registered office and principal place of business address changes within 28 days.
How much does ASIC charge to change a registered office?
An ordinary on-time Form 484 address change generally has no lodgement fee. Late lodgement fees may apply, and professional address providers charge separately for their services.
Can I remove my registered office address if I close my virtual office account?
You should not terminate your address arrangement while the company continues to rely on that address. Arrange a replacement registered office and notify ASIC of the change within the applicable timeframe. You may also need to update other registrations and business records.
Is a registered office the same as a Google Business Profile address?
No. ASIC registered office requirements and Google’s business location eligibility rules are separate. Having permission to use an address for ASIC purposes does not automatically make it eligible for display on Google Maps.
Can legal documents be served at my registered office?
Yes. Under applicable Australian company law, a company’s registered office is an important location for service of legal documents. The specific methods and effectiveness of service depend on the relevant laws and circumstances.
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Australian business registrations and registered office requirements. It does not constitute legal, taxation or financial advice. Requirements, fees and regulatory interpretations may change. Refer to ASIC and the relevant legislation or obtain professional advice for your circumstances.
