Different business names under one legal entity

[TooBizi]

I am looking at setting up either a company or a trust to operate my businesses.

Can anyone tell me if:
1. Can I set up more then one business name under the one legal entity; and
2. Do I need separate ABN's for each business name or will the Coy/trust ABN be used for each business name.

Has anyone seen such a set up?

Cheers
Jag

[Digiwise]

My understanding is that you can register multiple business names (state based registration) and operate those businesses through a single company (registered at a national level) or trust.

You could also consider the different names to be product names rather than business names and trademark (at a national level) the product names if you wanted to protect them. Many of the brands on the supermarket shelf use this approach.

Either way official documents (letterhead, tax invoices) etc might still need the underlying company/trust name I think.

I operate some different web sites as "brands" of the one trust (with a company as the trustee).

One of the accountants here might be able to give you some more information, but hopefully this is a helpful starting point.

Clancy

[TooBizi]

Originally Posted by Digiwise

My understanding is that you can register multiple business names (state based registration) and operate those businesses through a single company (registered at a national level) or trust.

You could also consider the different names to be product names rather than business names and trademark (at a national level) the product names if you wanted to protect them. Many of the brands on the supermarket shelf use this approach.

Either way official documents (letterhead, tax invoices) etc might still need the underlying company/trust name I think.

I operate some different web sites as "brands" of the one trust (with a company as the trustee).

One of the accountants here might be able to give you some more information, but hopefully this is a helpful starting point.

Clancy

Hi Clancy

Thanks for the feedback...that was my understanding (I am an accountant) as well but as I havent had much to do with the GST legislation I am a little rusty...I have also read in another forum that this was possible...

[Burgo]

I operated several business under different trading names through a PTY LTD company using one ABN.

BAS was paid through the Pty Ltd company and the taxation department was happy with that as it saved them loads of work. Taxation was also paid throught the company and that had a good effect because some were making good profits and others not so good so we ended up with an averaging effect which tax was paid on.

Keep it simple one company one ABN several trading names regaisterd with the companies name as owner. No problem

[Numberz]

Hi Jag,

There is no problem having different business names under the one company (or individual/trust for that matter) and they can share an ABN.

Either way official documents (letterhead, tax invoices) etc might still need the underlying company/trust name I think.

If the business name has been registered then that is the only name required on documents.

Cheers
Bruce

[TooBizi]

Thanks for the response everyone. The feedback has been useful and I am now comfortable with my structure.

Cheers
Binjal

[AquaGirl]

Just to add to this post, if you register a company name do you still need the business name to be registered, if the only difference is that the business name doesnt include "pty ltd"?

If you have two separate business names under one company name, then would the procedure be to register the company name with asic and then register both business names at fair trading?

Thanks,
Linda

[victorng]

Originally Posted by Numberz

If the business name has been registered then that is the only name required on documents.

Just be aware that the Corporations Act does require a company to have its company name and ACN / ABN on its public documents.

^ This isn't legal advice - I'm just shooting the breeze