Company services

Company name change.

Changing a company name is a members' decision, not an administrative one. It needs a special resolution, an ASIC application and a check that the new name is actually available and does not infringe someone else's mark.

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 is involved in changing a company name.

We check availability against the ASIC register and business names, run a trade mark search where the name is being used as a brand, prepare the special resolution and minutes, and lodge the change with ASIC.

Once ASIC issues the new certificate of registration, we update your registers and provide a short checklist of everything else that needs changing, contracts, leases, bank accounts, licences and titles.

The ACN never changes. Existing contracts remain binding on the same company, but counterparties should be notified in writing.

Why it pays to have this done properly.

Availability checked properly

Identical and near-identical name rules trip up more applications than anything else. We check before you resolve, not after.

The resolution is done correctly

A special resolution with the right notice and majority, the paperwork an auditor or purchaser will later want to see.

Nothing is left half-changed

We give you the follow-up list so bank accounts, leases, insurances and registrations all match the new name.

Is this you?.

  • You are rebranding and the legal name no longer fits
  • The company was registered with a placeholder or ACN-only name
  • A trade mark or brand dispute means the name has to change
  • You have acquired a business and want the entity to match

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 03

    We prepare and lodge

    We draft the special resolution, minutes and the ASIC change of name application, send it for signing with clear instructions on who signs what and when, and attend to any ASIC, State Revenue Office or ATO lodgement.

  4. 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 for the resolution and lodgement, plus the ASIC change of name fee at cost. Trade mark clearance advice is quoted separately if needed.

Request a fixed-fee quote

FAQs

Frequently asked questions.

Still unsure? Call us on (03) 9008 7224 and speak to a lawyer, not a call centre.

How long does it take?
ASIC usually issues the new certificate within a day or two of lodgement once the resolution is signed.
Do our contracts need to be redone?
No. The legal entity is unchanged, so contracts remain on foot. We recommend written notice to key counterparties and updating templates.
Can we reserve a name before resolving?
Yes, a name reservation holds the name for two months while you complete the process.

Ready to get started with company name change?.

Start online or book a consultation with a CMK Legal commercial lawyer in Richmond, Melbourne.