About domain names

Your domain name (website address or url) helps people find your website on the internet. It’s good to have a domain name that matches your business name or brand so customers can easily find you.

Check if you need to register a domain name

You don’t have to register a domain name to start or grow your business. But you should register for one if you plan to create a website for your business.

Even if your business website isn’t ready yet, you can still register for a domain name. This can ensure the domain you want is available when you're ready to use it.

Register your domain name

You can register your domain name through a registrar or reseller listed on the .au Domain Administration Ltd (.auDA) website. Before you register, make sure you have:

  • checked your domain name is available
  • an Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN) if you want a .com.au or .net.au domain.
Register a domain name

To find out if your proposed domain name is available, use our Business name check tool. You can also use the tool to check if your business name is available.

Note that a domain name doesn’t give you protection of that name. It simply secures you the url. You should always register your business name first and consider protecting it with a trade mark. If you use a business name or domain name that someone else has already trademarked, you could face legal action.

Visit the .au Domain Administration Ltd (.auDA) website for:

Different types of domain name have different requirements.

Most Australian businesses use .com.au domains. If you want to buy a .com.au or .net.au domain, you’ll need to:

When picking a website domain for your business it's best to go with a name that:

  • represents your business or brand
  • is easy to remember, pronounce and spell
  • is short and unique.

Read next

Find out how to set up a business website.

Set up a business website