Company services

Shelf companies.

Sometimes a deal cannot wait for a new registration. A shelf company is already registered with ASIC, has never traded and can be transferred to you with new directors and shareholders on short notice.

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 a shelf company is and when to use one.

A shelf company holds an existing ACN and registration date but has no assets, liabilities or trading history. We change the officeholders and members, update the registered office and principal place of business, and lodge the ASIC changes so the company is yours.

Shelf companies are commonly used where a contract must be signed today, where a lender or vendor requires a corporate entity before settlement, or where a company with an earlier registration date is preferred.

A shelf company is not a shortcut past due diligence. We confirm the company has never traded and provide a clean set of registers with the transfer.

Why it pays to have this done properly.

Available immediately

Where a registration would delay signing or settlement, a shelf company can be transferred and trading within hours.

Clean history, documented

You receive confirmation that the entity has never traded, together with full registers and share transfer documents.

Tailored on transfer

Share classes, constitution and officeholders are set to suit your structure at the point of transfer, not left as the default.

Is this you?.

  • You need a corporate entity today to sign or settle
  • A financier or vendor requires an incorporated purchaser
  • You want an established registration date for the entity
  • Your registration was rejected and the deadline has not moved

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 share transfers, officeholder changes and ASIC notifications, 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.

Shelf company transfers are a fixed fee including the ASIC lodgements. If you also want a tailored constitution or a name change on transfer, we quote both at the same time.

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.

Can I change the shelf company's name?
Yes. We can reserve and adopt a new name at the same time as the transfer, subject to availability.
Is there any risk in taking over an existing company?
Not with a genuine shelf entity that has never traded. We confirm this and provide the registers and searches so you can see the position for yourself.
How quickly can it be done?
Usually within a few hours of receiving director IDs and consents.

Ready to get started with shelf companies?.

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