The cost of starting a business in Australia in 2026 depends heavily on your structure (sole trader vs Pty Ltd), industry, and whether you need premises, staff, and stock, but most new ventures should expect at least AUD 5,000–20,000 in realistic startup costs, with more capital required for retail or hospitality.
Upfront registration and professional setup for a standard company typically range from about AUD 1,600 to 6,000 in the first year, before you add fit‑out, inventory, and working capital.
Typical Startup Cost Range in 2026
Guides published in early 2026 give a useful baseline for planning.
- Xero estimates that start‑up costs in Australia typically range from AUD 5,000 to 50,000, with online businesses starting from around AUD 1,000, and retail shops often needing AUD 20,000 or more for fit‑out and stock.
- VentraIP notes that a small home‑based startup might launch for under AUD 5,000, a typical service business may need AUD 10,000–20,000, and a retail shop or café can easily exceed AUD 50,000–100,000 depending on location and fit‑out.
- QuickBooks reports that the median startup cost for Australian entrepreneurs is around AUD 20,000, lower than many expect but still significant.
For a lean company setup, Sleek suggests that a minimal DIY approach (company registration and basic compliance) might be possible around AUD 1,000–1,500, while a more realistic, growth‑oriented setup is AUD 2,000–5,000+ in year one, excluding premises, staff, and marketing.
One-Off Registration and Legal Setup Costs
These are the “non‑negotiable” costs almost every business must cover before trading.
ABN, Business Name, and Company Registration
- Australian Business Number (ABN) – Free to obtain via the Australian Business Register (ABR).
- Business name registration – Around AUD 42–45 for one year or AUD 98–104 for three years through ASIC, depending on the source and the most recent fee adjustment.
- Pty Ltd company registration (ASIC) – From July 2025, ASIC’s digital fee for a standard company is AUD 611; some guides quote around AUD 576 or AUD 503–611 depending on company type and timing.
Numbers Attuned’s breakdown of starting a small business in Australia shows a typical registration set: ABN (free), business name (AUD 42–98), company registration around AUD 576, and domain registration AUD 10–50 per year. Wise’s guide on the cost to set up a Pty Ltd company confirms the ASIC fee at AUD 611 and business name fees at AUD 45/104 for 1/3 years.
Professional Advice and Legal Documentation
Most new companies will also need some level of professional support.
- Legal and accounting setup – Typically AUD 500–2,000+ depending on complexity and shareholder structure.
- InterComserv’s expert guide to company setup costs suggests a realistic allowance of around AUD 1,000 for legal and accounting assistance as part of a roughly AUD 5,000–7,000 first‑year budget.
- Sleek recommends budgeting AUD 600–2,000+ for professional setup, especially for multi‑shareholder or cross‑border companies.
The Australian Taxation Office also allows many startup professional costs (legal, tax advice) to be immediately deducted, as highlighted in Xero’s guide on startup business costs.
Online Business vs Service vs Retail: Cost Profiles
Your business model will largely determine your total cost of starting a business in Australia in 2026.
Lean Online or Home-Based Business
For a simple online business (e.g., consulting, freelancing, small e‑commerce using dropshipping), a lean 2026 budget might look like:
- ABN: AUD 0.
- Business name: AUD 42–98.
- Domain and basic hosting: roughly AUD 10–100 per year.
- Company registration (optional but common for growth plans): AUD 503–611.
- Basic website or e‑commerce platform (template‑based): a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.
- Initial software (accounting, payroll, CRM, design tools): often AUD 50–200 per month in total.
VentraIP suggests that for a small home‑based startup, total startup costs can come in under AUD 5,000 if you keep overheads minimal and avoid premises and inventory.
Service-Based Small Business (e.g., agency, consulting, trades)
A typical service business usually needs more professional setup and tools, plus equipment or vehicles.
Approximate ranges:
- Registration and professional setup: ~AUD 1,600–6,000 (company, name, legal, accounting, compliance).
- Equipment, software, and tools: from a few thousand to tens of thousands depending on the trade.
- Insurance (public liability, professional indemnity, vehicles): often AUD 1,000–3,000+ per year for small operations.
- Marketing and website: AUD 1,000–5,000 depending on whether you DIY or outsource.
VentraIP estimates AUD 10,000–20,000 as a typical startup budget for small service businesses in Australia.
Retail Store, Café, or Hospitality
Bricks‑and‑mortar businesses are the most capital‑intensive.
Key cost categories:
- Bond and fit‑out for premises: often tens of thousands (shopfront design, counters, shelving, refrigeration, signage, utilities connection).
- Initial stock and supplies: can easily reach AUD 20,000+ for a decent range.
- POS systems and kiosks: a few thousand for hardware and software.
- Licences and permits (food, liquor, outdoor dining, etc.): variable by state and council.
- Staffing and training costs before opening.
VentraIP notes that retail shops or cafés can easily require AUD 50,000–100,000+ in startup investment in Australia, depending on location and scale. Xero’s guide similarly warns that retail and hospitality are at the higher end of the AUD 5,000–50,000 startup cost range, often starting from around AUD 20,000.
Detailed Breakdown: Cost of Starting a Company in Australia in 2026
If you plan to trade as a Pty Ltd company, several specialised cost breakdowns are available.
Company Setup and First-Year Compliance
InterComserv’s 2026 guide to the cost of setting up a company in Australia suggests most businesses should expect AUD 5,000–7,000 in their first year to fully set up and operate a compliant company (excluding staff and major marketing). This example budget includes:
- ASIC registration: AUD 576.
- Business name (3 years): AUD 98.
- Domain: AUD 20.
- Legal and accounting setup: AUD 1,000.
- Registered office service: AUD 500.
- Insurance: AUD 1,000.
- ASIC annual fee: AUD 310.
- Accounting & BAS: AUD 2,000.
Sleek’s 2026 update on the cost to incorporate a company in Australia breaks costs down into:
- ASIC company registration: AUD 611.
- Business name registration: AUD 45 (1 year) / 104 (3 years).
- Professional setup: typically AUD 600–2,000+.
- Registered office/registered address: AUD 300–500 per year if using a provider.
- Accounting and tax setup: AUD 500–2,000+.
They conclude that realistic first‑year costs to register and operate are around AUD 2,000–5,000+, with a bare‑bones DIY setup possible just under AUD 1,500 if you keep everything minimal.
Wise’s focused breakdown of the cost to set up a Pty Ltd company gives concrete fee figures and emphasizes that while GST registration is free, compliance (software, bookkeeping) adds to your cost base.
Ongoing Obligations You Need to Budget For
Once you are up and running, your 2026 budget must also cover ongoing obligations:
- ASIC annual review fee – InterComserv cites about AUD 310 per year.
- Accounting and bookkeeping – InterComserv estimates AUD 1,000–5,000 per year depending on complexity; BAS lodgements often cost AUD 200–400 per quarter if a practitioner handles them.
- Payroll and superannuation – If you employ staff, Wise notes that the superannuation guarantee is 11.5% of ordinary time earnings, rising to 12% from 1 July 2025.
- Insurance and software – Insurance from around AUD 1,000 per year for basic cover; software stacks can run from AUD 100–500 per month depending on tools.
Zembl’s analysis of Australia’s top small business expenses in 2026 points to wages, rent, utilities, and insurance as the major recurring cost drivers, so your first‑year plan should include several months of working capital to cover these.
Other Important Startup Costs in Australia
In addition to registration and professional fees, most Australian small businesses will face these categories.
Licences and Permits
Licence requirements vary by state and industry: food businesses, trades, childcare, and transport all have specific licensing regimes.
- Business Queensland lists licences such as food licences, liquor licences, vehicle registration, and sector‑specific permits as common startup costs.
- Business Victoria’s tool on calculating startup costs highlights licensing and registration fees, fit‑out, and equipment as key one‑off categories to estimate.
- The NSW Small Business Commissioner’s guide to the basics of starting a business similarly stresses that licence and compliance costs need to be built into your budget early.
Premises and Utilities
If you need commercial premises, be prepared for:
- Lease bond and rent in advance.
- Fit‑out and renovation costs.
- Utility connection (electricity, water, internet).
Business Queensland notes that tenancy bonds, power connection bonds, and lease advice are all common startup expenses. Business Victoria’s cost calculator also highlights premises purchase/fit‑out and connecting utilities as major one‑off outlays.
Equipment, Stock, and Initial Marketing
- Equipment, fixtures, and fittings: computers, POS systems, tools, furniture, signage.
- Initial materials and stock purchases: particularly large for retail or hospitality.
- Marketing and website development: logo design, website build, initial advertising, and social media setup.
Business Queensland’s checklist of common startup costs covers market research, professional advice, insurance, marketing, website development, equipment, and initial stock as normal items for an Australian startup budget.
How to Estimate Your Own Cost of Starting a Business in Australia
Because every business is different, using structured local calculators and checklists will make your 2026 budget more accurate.
Practical steps:
- List all one‑off costs – Business Victoria’s startup cost calculator suggests splitting costs into one‑off establishment costs (licences, legal, branding), equipment outlay (assets/tools), and working capital for early months.
- Check state‑specific requirements – Use regional sites like Business Queensland’s startup cost guide and NSW’s basics of starting a business to identify licences, grants, and compliance costs.
- Model low, medium, and high scenarios – Xero’s startup business costs guide and Wise’s cost of starting a business in Australia both show how costs scale based on whether you are running a lean online business or a full retail operation.
- Cross‑check company setup numbers – For Pty Ltd structures, refer to Sleek’s company incorporation cost breakdown, InterComserv’s detailed first‑year cost example, and Wise’s Pty Ltd cost guide so your ASIC and professional fees are up to date.
Summary: What to Budget for in 2026
Putting it all together, a realistic 2026 budget for the cost of starting a business in Australia typically includes:
- Registration and legal basics: ABN, business name, company registration, professional setup (roughly AUD 1,000–6,000+ depending on structure and advice).
- Insurance, accounting, and compliance: likely a few thousand dollars in the first year for basic cover and bookkeeping/BAS support.
- Premises and fit‑out (if applicable): anywhere from a few thousand for a small shared office to AUD 50,000+ for full retail or hospitality fit‑outs.
- Equipment and software: tools, IT, POS, and SaaS subscriptions.
- Marketing and website: branding, website, and initial campaigns.
- Working capital: several months’ worth of rent, wages, stock, and utilities.
If you want more detailed, scenario‑based numbers, Xero’s startup cost guide, Wise’s Australian startup cost breakdown, and InterComserv’s company setup cost example are excellent external resources to refine your own budget and ensure your 2026 Australian business launch is properly funded.
