Company services
Company name availability search.
ASIC will refuse a name that is identical or nearly identical to an existing one, and will refuse restricted words outright. A five-minute check before you print anything saves a rebrand later.
Lawyer prepared
Documents prepared and reviewed by a Victorian commercial lawyer.
Fast turnaround
Most registrations and deeds turned around same day or next business day.
Fixed fee, quoted first
Fixed fee quoted before we start, ASIC fees itemised separately.
Compliant documents
Corporations Act 2001 and ASIC compliant documentation.
What the availability check covers.
We search the ASIC company and business names registers applying the identical-name rules, check for restricted and prohibited words that require ministerial consent, and review close variations that commonly cause rejection.
Where the name will be used as a brand, we extend the search to the trade marks register and domain availability, and talk you through the risk.
Availability under ASIC rules is not the same as freedom to use the name. Trade mark rights and passing off can still bite.
Why it pays to have this done properly.
Rejection avoided
Identical-name rules ignore punctuation, plurals and words like 'the'. We apply the rules the way ASIC applies them.
Restricted words picked up
Words like 'bank', 'trust', 'university' or 'incorporated' need consent. Better to know now.
Brand conflict assessed
A trade mark check tells you whether the name is genuinely usable, not just registrable.
Is this you?.
- You have shortlisted names and want them checked before launch
- An earlier ASIC application was rejected
- The name contains a word that may be restricted
- You are investing in signage, packaging or a domain
If any of these sound familiar, a short conversation will tell you whether this is the right document, and what it costs, before you commit.
How it works.
- 01
Tell us what you need
Start online or call us. We take short instructions, names, roles, structure and timing, and confirm this is the right document for what you are actually trying to achieve.
- 02
We check the detail
We confirm eligibility, consents, existing documents and any tax or duty consequence before drafting, so nothing is discovered after lodgement.
- 03
We prepare and lodge
We draft the availability search and our view on the risk, send it for signing with clear instructions on who signs what and when, and attend to any ASIC, State Revenue Office or ATO lodgement.
- 04
You get a complete file
You receive executed documents, registers and confirmations in a single organised pack, plus a short note on what to keep and what happens next.
Fees.
Fixed fee per name for the ASIC check, with a small additional fee where a trade mark and domain review is included.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
Still unsure? Call us on (03) 9008 7224 and speak to a lawyer, not a call centre.
Why was my name rejected when nothing identical exists?
Can I use a name that is available but similar to a trade mark?
Can you check several names at once?
Related services.
Ready to get started with company name availability?.
Start online or book a consultation with a CMK Legal commercial lawyer in Richmond, Melbourne.