SmallBusiness.wa.gov.au
The Small Business Specialists
Phone: 131 BIZ
Website: www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
A new national business names registration service has replaced the state/territory systems, so that businesses only need to register their name with the single register nationally.
The national business names registration service started on 28 May 2012 and will be administered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
You can search the relevant databases to find out if the business name you want is available. It's important to check before registering a business name, company name or domain name, because using an already registered name or something similar has legal implications.
Failing to check the availability of your name could be expensive and you risk losing any brand recognition you've built up in the market. For instance, if you inadvertently infringe someone's trade mark, you could be sued, and you could also be required to change your business name and remove all traces of the name from your business, products, labeling, packaging, vehicles, stationery, advertising material, website and uniforms.
Furthermore, when establishing a business, you should not spend money on any of the above items until the name has been registered in case it is unavailable.
You can check the availability of business names, company names, domain names and trade marks in Australia by using the following online search tools:
• Business names - ASIC Connect
• Company names - ASIC Connect
• Trade marks - Intellectual Property (IP) Australia
• Domain names - Australian Domain Authority (auDA) WHOIS