Understanding what business information is publicly available in Australia can be valuable whether you're conducting due diligence, researching competitors, or simply verifying business credentials. Two primary sources of public business information in Australia are the ASIC Register and ABN Lookup. Let's explore what information you can access through these essential government resources.
ASIC Register: Your Window into Company Information
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) maintains a comprehensive database of company information. When you search the ASIC Register, you can view several important details about registered companies:
The company's legal name and Australian Company Number (ACN) are immediately visible. This unique nine-digit identifier helps you confirm you're looking at the correct entity, especially when companies have similar names. You can also see when the company was registered and its current status - whether it's registered, deregistered, or under external administration.
The register reveals the company's current registered office address and principal place of business. This information helps you understand where the company is officially based and where it conducts its main operations. You can also see the company type, such as whether it's a proprietary company limited by shares or a public company.
Details about company officeholders are available, including current directors and secretaries. For each officeholder, you can see their name, role, and the date they were appointed. This information can be crucial for understanding who's responsible for the company's management and governance.
Understanding Share Information on ASIC
For companies with share capital, the ASIC Register shows basic information about shares. You can view the total number of shares issued and their class types. However, detailed shareholder information isn't publicly available through the regular search - this requires a more comprehensive paid extract.
The register also indicates if the company has share capital and whether shares have been paid up. This information can provide insights into the company's financial structure, though specific financial details usually require additional paid searches.
ABN Lookup: Essential Business Identity Information
The Australian Business Register's ABN Lookup service provides complementary information to the ASIC Register. When searching ABN Lookup, you can access details about any entity with an Australian Business Number, including sole traders and partnerships that might not appear on the ASIC Register.
Through ABN Lookup, you can verify an entity's ABN status and GST registration. This information is particularly valuable when conducting business transactions, as it helps confirm whether a business is currently active and registered for GST. The register shows the date of effect for both ABN and GST registration, helping you understand how long the business has been operating.
Business names associated with the ABN are listed, including any trading names the entity uses. This can help you identify all the different names under which a business operates. The register also shows the entity type, such as whether it's an individual/sole trader, company, partnership, or trust.
Historical Information and Changes
Both registers maintain historical information about businesses. On the ASIC Register, you can see when significant changes occurred, such as address updates or changes in company officeholders. This historical perspective can provide valuable insights into a company's development and stability over time.
ABN Lookup maintains records of cancelled ABNs and previous business names, helping you understand if a business has undergone significant changes or restructuring. This historical information can be particularly useful when conducting due diligence or researching business relationships.
Information That's Not Publicly Available
Understanding what isn't freely available is just as important as knowing what is. Financial statements, detailed shareholder information, and personal details of officeholders (beyond their names) typically require paid searches or aren't publicly accessible. Similarly, specific business transaction details, revenue figures, and internal company documents remain private unless voluntarily disclosed.
Using This Information Effectively
When using these public registers, it's important to understand that the information is only as current as the last update provided to ASIC or the ABR. Businesses are required to keep their information up to date, but there can be a lag between changes occurring and being reflected in the public record.
For the most comprehensive view, it's often valuable to check both registers, as they contain different but complementary information. The ASIC Register focuses on company structure and governance, while ABN Lookup provides broader business identity and tax registration information.
Protecting Your Own Information
As a business owner, understanding what information is publicly available about your business helps you make informed decisions about your business structure and registration details. While certain information must be public by law, you can make strategic choices about your registered office address and business name to maintain appropriate privacy while meeting your legal obligations.
Remember that changes to your business details must be promptly reported to maintain accurate public records. This ensures that other businesses can rely on this information when dealing with your company and helps you avoid potential compliance issues.
