What's the Difference Between ABN vs Business Name?

24 April, 2025 · 7 min read

Author

Compare ABN and business names, understand their key differences, legal roles, and how each impacts your business identity and compliance.

What is ABN?
What is a Business Name?
What's the Difference Between ABN vs Business Name?
Conclusion
How ANNA Money Can Help You With Your Business?
FAQ

Understanding the difference between an Australian Business Number (ABN) and a business name is a common source of confusion.

Many new entrepreneurs feel that having an ABN automatically secures their business name or that simply registering a business name is sufficient for tax and legal purposes.

This misunderstanding might result in administrative problems, legal issues, and branding challenges down the road.

The main difference is that an ABN is a unique identifier for your business with the government and other entities, whereas a business name is the name you use to operate and be recognised by clients.

Let's see what other things differentiate these two, why you need them and how to simplify all processes related to business!

What is ABN?

An ABN (Australian Business Number) is a unique 11-digit number assigned to businesses and other entities operating in Australia.

It is managed by the Australian Business Register (ABR), which reports to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and it serves as a public identifier for tax and business purposes.

Key Features:

👉 Purpose - Identifies enterprises to the government, other entities, and the general public. It is required to invoice, claim GST credits, avoid PAYG withholding, and register Australian domain names.

👉 Eligibility - Available to businesses conducting business in Australia, including individuals, companies, partnerships, trusts, and non-residents producing supplies related to Australia.

👉 Application - Registration is free through the Business Registration Service. Details such as the business structure, activities, and affiliates are required. Non-residents can apply if they do business in Australia. If you want to learn more and see how to register, read our article How To apply for ABN!

👉 Structure - 11 digits, with the first two serving as checksums. For companies, it frequently includes the Australian Company Number (ACN).

👉 Requirements - Must be quoted on invoices to avoid the 47% PAYG withholding on payments. Businesses with various structures require distinct ABNs.

What Are The Benefits of Working Under ABN?

Here are the key benefits of working under an Australian Business Number (ABN):

🔷 Claim Tax Deductions and GST Credits

Claim business expenses (such as equipment and travel) as tax deductions.
Register for GST (if your turnover exceeds $75,000) to collect input tax credits on purchases.

🔷 Access Government Grants and Incentives

Energy grant credits include subsidies for energy-efficient equipment. Innovation awards and job creation funding. For example, if you’re a café owner with an ABN, you may be eligible for partial funding to upgrade your commercial refrigerator to a more energy-efficient model, which would reduce your long-term electricity costs.
Disaster assistance and business support programs.

🔷 Establish business credibility

Your company's unique identification separates it from others with similar names.
The tool on ABR wrbsite enables clients to verify legality and build trust.
Invoices and contracts will reflect a professional image.

🔷 Streamline business operations

Register business names with ASIC.
Obtain an Australian domain name (e.g.,.com.au) for websites.
Simplify invoicing and financial tracking to ensure tax compliance.

🔷 Financial flexibility

Retain complete payments to avoid cash flow interruptions.
Eligibility for business banking accounts and loans.

💡ProTip

ANNA Money can simplify the application process for you!
It doesn't matter if you want to register a company or you are a sole trader; all you need to do is:

✅ Verify your business information

✅ Submit your application through our platform

That’s it. Your ABN will be registered, and you will be notified of its number!

What is a Business Name?

A business name in Australia is the formal name by which a business operates and presents itself to the public. It is separate from the legal name of the individual, partnership, or company that operates the business.

Key Features:

🔷 Registration requirements

Individuals and partnerships must register if they operate under a name other than their own (for example, "John's Plumbing" rather than "John Smith").
Companies must register a business name if they trade under a name other than their formal company name (for example, "Sunrise Café" rather than "Sunrise Holdings Pty Ltd").

🔷 National coverage - Registration is valid across Australia.

🔷 Exclusivity - does not confer ownership rights. Others can register similar names unless covered by a trademark.

💡 ProTip

ANNA's online trademark registration allows you to swiftly and easily protect your brand and intellectual property!

What is the Difference Between Entity Name, Company Name and Business Name?

Here are the key differences:

👉 Entity name is the legal name registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for a sole trader, partnership, or company. Contracts, tax filings, and regulatory compliance are all examples of legal and administrative applications. The thing is, no two entities can have the same name. For a company, this could be "CBD Pty Ltd," whereas for a sole trader, it could be "John Smith".

👉 Company name is a name for a separate legal entity registered with ASIC. It identifies a company as a legal "person" capable of owning property, engaging in contracts, and incurring obligations. Keep in mind that legal designations such as "Pty Ltd" or "Ltd" must be used to reflect the company's structure. For example, "CBD Holdings Pty Ltd" is a company name.

👉 Business name refers to a business's recognisable name among clients. It is the business's public-facing identity. You can use it for branding, marketing, and customer recognition. For example, a company titled "CBD Pty Ltd" may trade under the business name "CBD Consulting".

💡ProTip

With ANNA Money, you can easily check name availability and register a company!
⚡ Choose a company name and a company structure to see if the name you want is available

⚡ Include additional features, such as a virtual office address, to keep your home address confidential

⚡ Share some details about your business

⚡ We will tell you once your application is completed

How much for all this? Get 50% off your ASIC fee ($576) to get started and pay a $288 one-off fee!

What's the Difference Between ABN vs Business Name?

The difference between an ABN (Australian Business Number) and a business name lies in their purpose and function:

ABN (Australian Business Number:

Serves to identify your company for tax and administrative purposes.
Required for invoicing, registering for GST, and obtaining tax benefits.
Needed to register a business name.
One ABN can be linked to several business names if they use the same structure.

Business Name:

Must be registered with ASIC unless you are doing business under your own personal or company name.
Useful for branding, marketing, and customer recognition.
It helps to separate your business from the competition.
Must be associated with an ABN

Conclusion

Understanding the roles and distinctions among an ABN, business name, company name, and entity name is critical for anyone beginning or running a business in Australia.

Securing the necessary registrations from the start provides a firm platform for growth and stability.

An ABN enables you to operate lawfully, obtain tax benefits and register your business name.

Meanwhile, the business name is how people identify and interact with your brand.

Tools like ANNA Money simplify these processes by providing smooth registration, professional tools, and support targeted to your specific business needs.

By using these features, you may save time, eliminate administrative problems, and concentrate on growing your business.

Let’s see how it can help you!

How ANNA Money Can Help You With Your Business?

ANNA Money is a business tool that stands for “Absolutely No Nonsense Admin”.
Its name tells you that it can help you with a lot of repetitive tasks and free up your time so that you can use it more efficiently.

Here are the key features:
⚡ ACN Registration - Register your company and receive your ACN number in minutes.
⚡ Register Your Ecommerce Business - Register your ecommerce business for free and set up a business account that is effortlessly connected with Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, eBay, and Amazon.

⚡ Virtual Office Address - Create a better professional image with a business address while working from anywhere you like.

⚡ Business Account - Get fast access to your own business account for making and receiving payments.

⚡ Smart Receipt Scanner - Take a photo of a business receipt, and it will be automatically linked to a transaction in your business account. It is then classified and used to calculate your taxes.

⚡ Invoicing Software - Create, send, and manage invoices with ease to keep your business running smoothly.

⚡ ANNA +Taxes - Ensure timely submissions and experienced support in reducing your tax liability.

FAQ

Do I Register a Business Name or ABN First?

To register a business name in Australia, you must first get an Australian Business Number (ABN) or an ABN application number.
Can I Apply for ABN Before I Start a Business?

Yes, you can apply for an ABN before launching a business, but only if you can demonstrate that you have specific plans to start one shortly.

How Long Does ABN Last?

An Australian Business Number (ABN) does not automatically expire and is valid as long as the business is functioning and compliant.

Do I Need To Register a Business Name for a Hobby?

You can sell or gift products developed during your pastime without registering a business name or an ABN as long as you are not functioning in an organised, profit-oriented way.