Getting into business is more than just cash flow, bookkeeping, and taxes.

There are also a slew of legal requirements you need to be aware of to ensure your business is legally compliant.

(The last thing you want is for something to slip through the cracks and then find yourself facing potential legal issues or penalties.)

1) Get your registrations sorted

Before you start trading make sure you sort out all relevant business registrations.

ABN

Every business in Australia needs an ABN (Australian Business Number). Don’t even think about trading without one. This is usually your first step into the world of business, and you can get one before you even have a real business plan in place.

Business name

You have a choice here. If you choose to trade under your name, you don’t necessarily have to register a business name. However, if you want to trade under a ‘brand name’, you need to register it.

For example, Xander Watts is an electrician who runs his own sole trader business. If he wants to trade under his own name, he doesn’t need to register a business name. If, however, he wants to trade as ‘Watts Electric’ then he’ll need to register a business name.

Trademarks

If you want to have exclusive legal rights to your business name, you need to trademark it. Then, after registering your business name, you can go forward and register a trademark to help protect you in the future from IP infringement.

Domain name

While not strictly necessary and certainly not a legal matter, it’s also good idea to register a domain name for your business while you’re doing your registrations, even if you don’t have a website ready.

PAYG

If you’ll be employing any staff, you must register your business for PAYG withholding (pay as you go).

GST

Many businesses will need to register for GST due to their industry or turnover. Others, such as those sole traders turning over less than $75,000 per year, do not have to. (However, lots of businesses still choose to register for GST regardless.)

2) Learn all that you can about Fair Trading and make sure you’re compliant

Fair Trading is a hefty topic that applies differently to each type of business. Fair Trading covers your legal responsibilities and restrictions on how you trade, including things like pricing, advertising, refunds et cetera.

As a small business owner, your best bet is to visit the Fair Trading website and look for relevant laws and information that affect you and your business model.

In general, compliance with Fair Trading laws will include regulations around:

  • Fair Trading laws.
  • Australian Consumer Law.
  • The Competition and Consumer Act.
  • Australian Standards.
  • Codes of Conduct.
  • Australia’s trade measurement laws.
  • Displaying prices.
  • Product labelling.
  • Secure card payments.
  • Warranties and refunds.

3) Adhere to employment laws

Employing people comes with a fresh set of legal responsibilities.

In Australia, this is handled by the Fair Work Ombudsman, which sets out expectations and requirements for all employers. It’s incumbent on you to consult their website or business/legal professionals to make sure you comply with Australia’s employment laws.

Let’s look to some of the most prominent.

  • You need to pay your staff correctly.
  • Comply with Single Touch Payroll.
  • Ensure adequate leave and entitlements.
  • Create fair contracts.
  • Provide adequate employment conditions.
  • Handle workplace problems and bullying appropriately.
  • Know the difference between an employee and contractor.
  • Understand unfair versus fair dismissal.

4) Consider intellectual property

You may need to protect your intellectual property when trading. Once you’ve learnt about intellectual property and whether your intended target is already protected, you can apply yourself or consult an advisor.

5) Know the rules for marketing and advertising

There are rules around how you market and advertise. It’s not a free-for-all and you can’t say whatever you please or contact people in ways that are not allowed.

There are rules that need to be followed around:

  • Spam.
  • Advertising.
  • Signage and wording.
  • Pricing.
  • Licensing or rights to imagery, and music.

A range of other legal obligations for business owners exist in Australia that protect yourself, consumers, and employees. We recommend you conduct thorough research or consult with a legal expert to make sure you understand your rights and restrictions.

*This information is general in nature – Reckon does not give legal advice and you should always consult with a legal professional or business advisor for tailored legal advice around business obligations.