Quick answer
- To register a .com.au domain you must be an Australian commercial entity. For most tradies and small businesses that means an active ABN or ACN. An Australian trade mark also works. (auDA)
- The name must connect to your business: your business or personal name, an acronym of it, your trade mark, or a service or product you provide. (.au Licensing Rules, 2.4.4)
- No ABN yet? A .au direct name (like yourname.au) only needs a connection to Australia, such as being a citizen or permanent resident. (auDA)
- You don't own a domain outright. You hold a licence for 1 to 5 years and renew it while you stay eligible. (.au Licensing Rules)
Most of the tradies we talk to in Gosnells and around south-east Perth want the same thing: a .com.au address that looks local and trustworthy on the side of the ute, on quotes and in Google. Before you pick a name, it pays to know the rules, because a .com.au isn't open to everyone, and the name you choose has to connect to your business.
Here's how eligibility works, in plain English, straight from the body that runs .au domains.
Who sets the rules for .com.au domains?
auDA (.au Domain Administration) develops and administers the rules for the .au domain. Accredited registrars sell and renew the domains, and resellers sell them through a registrar. (auDA) Whoever you buy from, the same eligibility rules apply, and auDA says com.au needs verification at registration and at renewal. (auDA)
Am I eligible for a .com.au domain?
You need to be a commercial entity with a connection to Australia. The Licensing Rules list who counts, including a company registered under the Corporations Act, a person or entity issued with an ABN, a trust issued with an ABN, an incorporated association and a trading cooperative. (.au Licensing Rules)
auDA says the most common way to qualify is an active ABN or ACN. If you don't have either, an Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN) or an Australian trade mark or trade mark application can also work. (auDA)
So a sole trader electrician with an ABN qualifies. So does a Pty Ltd building company. Someone with a business idea and no ABN yet doesn't, at least not for .com.au.
Do I need an Australian address?
Not necessarily. auDA says your physical address isn't taken into account. What matters is meeting the commercial entity requirement, for example with an ABN or Australian trade mark. (auDA)
What .com.au name am I allowed to choose?
This is where people get caught. Under rule 2.4.4, the name you apply for must be one of these: (.au Licensing Rules)
- A match of your company, business or personal name.
- An acronym of that name.
- A match of your Australian trade mark.
- A match or acronym of a related company, a partnership you're in, or a trust you're trustee of.
- A match or synonym of a service you provide, goods you sell, an event you run, an activity you teach, or premises you operate.
"Match" has a specific meaning. The domain must use words from your legal name, business name or trade mark in the same order, without adding extra words. Things like Pty Ltd, punctuation, "the", "and" and ampersands are ignored. (.au Licensing Rules)
| Your situation | Name that fits the rules | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Registered business name "Southside Plumbing" | southsideplumbing.com.au | Match of your business name |
| Same business, shorter name | ssp.com.au | Acronym of your business name |
| Sole trader, ABN in your own name, you do plumbing | A name that matches or is a synonym of a service you provide | Service you provide (rule 2.4.4) |
The examples are ours, to show how the rules read. Your registrar makes the call when you apply, so if a name is borderline, ask them before you print it on anything.
Should I register my business name first?
auDA's advice is to make sure your ABN or ACN is set up first. If the domain you want doesn't match your legal business name, aim for one that closely matches it so it complies with the rules. It also says to register the domain as soon as you can after your ABN or ACN, because names go to the first eligible applicant. (auDA)
A practical order for a new trade business: check the domain is free, sort the ABN, register the business name if you're trading under one, then register the matching .com.au straight away. If you've just registered a business name, our guide to business name renewal letters explains what ASIC charges so you don't pay a middleman later.
What if I'm not eligible for .com.au?
auDA points to .au direct (for example yourname.au) as the alternative. It's open to anyone with an Australian presence, such as a citizen, permanent resident or registered Australian organisation. There's no ABN needed and no need for the name to connect to you. (auDA)
auDA also suggests registering the matching name in other .au namespaces for brand protection, then pointing them all at your main site. (auDA) For a tradie that might mean holding both yourbusiness.com.au and yourbusiness.au, with one redirecting to the other.
Is .com.au better than .com for a Perth business?
Both work technically. The difference is trust and who can get one. A .com is open to anyone anywhere, while com.au is for Australian commercial entities and is verified. auDA's research says half of Aussie consumers will only buy from a website with a .au address. (auDA)
For a business that only works around Perth, a .com.au tells people you're local before they've even clicked. That fits nicely with a Google Business Profile and a site built for your suburbs.
Do I actually own my domain?
Not legally. The Licensing Rules say a person doesn't legally own a domain name. You hold a licence for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years and can renew it while you stay eligible. (.au Licensing Rules) auDA compares it to a phone number: it's yours to use for the term, but you don't own the number itself. (auDA)
What matters day to day is whose name is on the licence. auDA says if your company name isn't in the WHOIS record, you're not recorded as the licence holder, even if you have the logins. (auDA) If a web designer registered your domain under their own business, ask them to move it into yours.
Your .com.au checklist
- [ ] Active ABN or ACN (or an Australian trade mark).
- [ ] Domain matches your business name, personal name, an acronym, or a service you provide.
- [ ] Registered in your business's name, not your web designer's.
- [ ] Licence term picked (1 to 5 years) and auto renew switched on with your registrar.
- [ ] Matching .au direct name considered for brand protection.
- [ ] Same business name used on your website, Google Business Profile and quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a sole trader get a .com.au domain?
Yes. A natural person issued with an ABN is a commercial entity under the .au Licensing Rules. (.au Licensing Rules)
Can I register a .com.au domain without an ABN?
Only with another qualifying entity type, such as an ACN, ARBN or an Australian trade mark. Otherwise, consider a .au direct name. (auDA)
Does my .com.au have to match my business name exactly?
Not always. It can also be an acronym, your trade mark, or a match or synonym of a service you provide or goods you sell. (.au Licensing Rules)
How long can I register a .com.au for?
One to five years at a time, though not every provider offers five years. (auDA)
What happens to my .com.au if I close my business?
If the ABN or ACN behind it is cancelled, you're no longer eligible to hold it. auDA suggests transferring it to another eligible entity or moving to the matching .au direct name. (auDA)
Do I need a website to keep a .com.au domain?
No, unless you're relying on a service provided through that website to show your connection to the name. You can use the domain just for email. (auDA)
Sources
- auDA, com.au domain names: https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/the-different-au-domain-names/com-au-domain-names/
- auDA, .au Domain Administration Rules: Licensing: https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/au-rules-and-policies/au-domain-administration-rules-licensing-2/
- auDA, What to know about .au direct names now: https://www.auda.org.au/news-insights/blog/what-know-about-au-direct-names-now/
- auDA, Key terms explained: registrants, registrars, resellers and the registry: https://www.auda.org.au/news-insights/blog/key-terms-explained-registrants-registrars-resellers-and-registry/
Rules checked on 26 October 2026. auDA reviews its rules from time to time, so check the current Licensing Rules before you register.
Got the domain? Put it to work
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