Unlike a .com domain, which anyone in the world can register, a .com.au domain has eligibility rules attached to it - you can't just buy one because it's available. Here's what actually matters if you're registering one for your business.
To register a .com.au domain, you generally need one of the following:
An Australian Business Number (ABN): The most common path - if you're a
sole trader, company, or partnership with an active ABN, you're eligible.
An Australian Company Number (ACN): If you're registering on behalf of a
company, an ACN also satisfies the requirement.
A registered business name: In some cases a state-registered business name can be
used instead of an ABN/ACN, depending on the specific circumstances.
The domain name itself also generally needs to be related to your business or trading name - either an exact match, an abbreviation, or otherwise clearly connected to it. In practice, most reasonable business-related names pass this test without issue.
The same core rule applies - you need a genuine connection to Australia, typically via an ABN or ACN for .net.au, and .org.au is intended for non-profit and community organisations specifically, though the eligibility check is similar in practice.
If you're planning a new business and haven't registered your ABN yet, you have two practical options: register your ABN first (usually quick via the Australian Business Register) and then register your domain, or register a .com version of the name in the meantime to secure it, and add the .com.au once your ABN is active. Many businesses end up holding both anyway, which also protects the name from being taken by someone else.
Not usually, for a straightforward case. When you register through SDL Technology, we verify your eligibility details (like your ABN) as part of the registration - you don't need to submit separate paperwork to a registry yourself for a typical business registration.
For an Australian business trading primarily with Australian customers, .com.au signals local trust and is what most Australian customers expect to see. .com is worth holding too - partly to protect your brand from someone else registering it, and partly if you expect international customers down the track. There's no rule against holding both and pointing them at the same website.
Once you know the name you want, the process itself is quick: search for availability, enter your ABN/ACN and registrant details, and pay securely online - for most standard cases your domain is registered within minutes. If your situation is unusual (a business name that isn't an obvious match to the domain, a recently changed ABN, or a not-for-profit registering .org.au), give us a call first and we'll talk through exactly what's needed before you pay.