The Real Cost of Registering a Company in Australia in FY2027

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The sticker price of registering a company in Australia has never told the whole story, and in FY2027 the gap between the headline fee and the real cost has widened. On 1 July 2026, ASIC lifted its fees in line with CPI, Payday Super rewrote the cash flow rules for every employer, and the minimum wage rose again.

For founders and foreign companies budgeting an Australian entry, the registration fee is simply the deposit. This guide breaks down what a compliant company actually costs in its first year, and how to plan for it with confidence.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • ASIC company registration now costs $636, up from $611
  • The annual review fee for a proprietary company has risen to $342
  • Late payment penalties apply automatically and exceed the annual fee itself if left more than a month
  • Payroll changes from 1 July 2026, including Payday Super, add new first-year cash flow considerations
  • Budgeting for the full first-year cost, rather than the registration fee alone, prevents unwelcome surprises

Australia remains one of the most attractive places in the world to establish a company. The process is transparent, the regulator is efficient, and registration can be completed quickly when documents are in order. What catches many founders and foreign companies off guard is the gap between the registration fee and the true first-year cost of running a compliant entity.

Below is a breakdown of the real costs in FY2027, using the fee schedule that took effect on 1 July 2026.

 

Cost 1: ASIC Registration Fees for FY2027

ASIC indexes its fees to the Consumer Price Index each year, with new amounts applying from 1 July. For the 2026-27 financial year, the key registration fees are:

These fees are GST-free and are paid directly to ASIC. If you engage a registered agent or professional services firm to manage the process, their service fee applies on top.

How to manage this cost:

  • Confirm you are working from the current fee schedule, as figures published before 1 July 2026 are now out of date
  • Register a business name for three years rather than one to reduce renewal administration
  • If you are setting up multiple entities, plan lodgement timing carefully, as fees are determined by the date ASIC receives payment

Cost 2: The Annual Review Fee, Every Year, For Life

Every Australian company pays an annual review fee to remain on the register. It falls due on the anniversary of the company’s registration date and continues for as long as the company exists.

For FY2027, the annual review fee is:

ASIC issues an annual statement around two weeks before the review date, and payment is due within two months. Proprietary companies must also pass a solvency resolution as part of the review.

How to manage this cost:

  • Diarise the annual review date the day the company is registered
  • Keep the company’s registered contact details current so statements arrive on time
  • Consider prepaying up to 10 years in advance to lock in the current rate
  • Use a registered agent to track review dates across multiple entities

Cost 3: Late Fees and Penalties

Late fees are where a modest compliance cost becomes an expensive one. ASIC applies penalties automatically when annual review fees are paid late or company changes are lodged outside the 28-day window.

For FY2027, late fees are:

A missed annual review can therefore more than double in cost within weeks. Continued non-payment can lead to ASIC commencing involuntary deregistration, which means the company ceases to exist as a legal entity, with serious consequences for contracts, banking, and assets held in the company’s name.

How to manage this cost:

  • Treat the two-month payment window as a hard deadline, as there is no grace period
  • Lodge changes to directors, addresses, and shareholdings within 28 days
  • Assign clear ownership of ASIC compliance to one person or an outsourced provider

Cost 4: New Payroll Costs From 1 July 2026

If your new company will employ staff, FY2027 brings two significant changes that affect first-year budgeting.

First, Payday Super commenced on 1 July 2026. Employers must now pay superannuation guarantee contributions at the same time as wages, with contributions required to reach employees’ funds within seven business days of payday. A company paying staff fortnightly moves from four super payments a year to twenty-six, which removes the quarterly cash float many businesses previously relied on.

Second, the National Minimum Wage increased to $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, with award wages rising by 4.75%.

How to manage this cost:

Cost 5: Professional and Structural Setup Costs

Beyond government fees, most companies incur setup costs that vary with their circumstances. For foreign companies entering Australia, these commonly include:

  • A registered office address in Australia
  • A resident director, which is a legal requirement for Australian companies
  • Corporate secretarial support to maintain registers and manage ASIC lodgements
  • Accounting and tax registrations, including ABN, TFN, GST, and PAYG withholding
  • Legal costs for constitutions, shareholder agreements, and intercompany arrangements

These costs are best treated as investments in getting the structure right the first time. Restructuring later, whether to fix an unsuitable entity type or poorly drafted agreements, is almost always more expensive.

How to manage this cost:

  • Get structural advice before registering, particularly on subsidiary versus branch for foreign companies
  • Bundle registration, secretarial, and compliance services with one provider to reduce coordination overhead
  • Request fixed-fee arrangements where possible so costs are known in advance

What a Realistic FY2027 Budget Looks Like

A useful way to plan is to separate costs into three layers:

  1. Government fees: registration ($636), annual review ($342), and any business name fees
  2. Compliance and professional services: registered agent, secretarial support, accounting, and tax lodgements
  3. Operating obligations: payroll, super, insurance, and industry licences

Companies that budget only for the first layer are the ones most likely to face cash flow pressure and penalties in their first year. Companies that plan across all three start on a stable footing and stay there.

The real cost of registering a company in Australia in FY2027 is not the $636 registration fee. It is the full picture of annual reviews, compliance deadlines, payroll obligations, and professional support that keeps the company in good standing. Company Set Up Australia manages company registration, corporate secretarial services, and ongoing compliance under one framework, so the full cost is clear from day one. Contact us today to register your company with complete visibility of what it will really cost.

FAQs

The ASIC fee for registering a proprietary company is $636 from 1 July 2026. Professional service fees, business name registration, and tax registrations are additional.

$342 for a standard proprietary company. Eligible special purpose companies, such as sole-purpose SMSF trustee companies, pay a reduced rate.

A late fee of $102 applies if payment is up to one month late, rising to $428 beyond one month. Continued non-payment can lead to deregistration.

Yes. ASIC fees are indexed to CPI and updated each 1 July. Always confirm the current schedule before budgeting.

Yes. All employers, including new companies, must pay super at the same time as wages from 1 July 2026, with contributions reaching funds within seven business days of payday.

Yes. Company Set Up Australia supports businesses with registration, annual review management, corporate secretarial services, and ongoing compliance so deadlines and fees are never missed.