23 Jan Beware of “Business Name Renewal” Letters That Aren’t From ASIC
From time to time, Australian small business owners receive a letter in the post that looks like an official reminder to renew a business name. It often has formal wording, payment options, a reference number, and pricing that suggests urgency.
But here’s the key point: some of these letters are not from ASIC at all. They are marketing from third-party businesses offering to renew your business name on your behalf for a marked-up price.
This post explains what these letters are, who is behind one of the most common versions, and the real risks for business owners.
The official truth: renewing a business name is an ASIC process
In Australia, business names are administered by ASIC. ASIC sends renewal notices at least 30 days before the due date (usually by email), and you can renew either through the “Business name renewal” service or via your ASIC Connect account.
As at the current published schedule, ASIC’s fee to renew a business name is:
- $45 for 1 year
- $104 for 3 years
So if you receive a letter quoting figures well above those amounts, that’s your first clue you’re looking at a paid third-party service, not the government fee.
What the letter actually is
The letter I received is a good example of how these notices work:
- It presents itself as a “business name renewal” reminder.
- It offers renewal for $99 (1 year) or $189 (3 years) — noticeably higher than ASIC’s current fee.
- It includes disclaimers (often in smaller text) stating it is not issued by ASIC, not a bill, and that you’re not required to pay.
That last part matters: the letter isn’t necessarily “fake” in the sense of pretending to be ASIC. Instead, it’s typically crafted to look official enough that a busy business owner might pay it without realising there’s a cheaper, direct option through ASIC.
This is why many people describe the practice as “scammy” even when it sits in a legal grey zone.
Who are they?s
The company named on the letter is Registry Australia Pty Ltd.
- Their ABN (34 625 637 023) is listed as active on the Australian Business Register.
- Their website presents them as a business registration/renewal services provider (including business names).
So, in plain terms: they appear to be a real Australian company offering an administrative service.
The issue isn’t whether the company exists. The issue is how the offer is marketed and what can happen when people respond without fully understanding what they’re agreeing to.
Why this approach is risky for small businesses
- You may pay significantly more than you need to
- You could unintentionally give a third party control over your renewal process
- renewal notices or reminders go to them (or you assume they’re handling it),
- you rely on them for future renewals,
- sorting out access later can be frustrating if you want to bring everything back under your direct ASIC control.
- It conditions people to respond to official-looking invoices — which makes real scams easier
The simplest downside is cost. When ASIC’s fee is $45/$104, a third-party price like $99/$189 is effectively charging a substantial service margin.
If you genuinely want someone else (an accountant, bookkeeper, admin provider) to handle compliance tasks, paying for a service may be worthwhile. But you should choose it deliberately, not accidentally.
This is the bigger concern.
The WA Small Business Development Corporation warns business owners to verify renewal notices are from ASIC and notes that, unless you’ve authorised someone else to manage the registration, it should come directly from ASIC.
The more importantly, third-party renewals can involve you granting authority for that provider to manage the business name renewal on your behalf. In practice, this can mean:
Even if nothing “goes wrong”, you’ve created an extra dependency you may not have intended.
ASIC explicitly warns that there are actual scammers impersonating ASIC to trick people into paying fake fees or clicking malicious links.
While the letter I received includes disclaimers and appears to be a third-party offer (not a malware scam), the overall effect in the market is unhelpful: it trains business owners to treat official-looking renewal demands as urgent “pay now” items.
“Is it illegal?” vs “Is it ethical?”
I’m not making an allegation of illegality here.
A third party can offer an administrative renewal service. Where many business owners (and advisers) take issue is the presentation: the design, language, and layout can easily cause confusion, particularly for sole traders and small operators who are flat out running their business.
You’ll find plenty of online discussions warning about these letters and describing them as misleading or poor value. Examples include long-running forum threads and advisory articles that caution business owners not to confuse third-party notices with ASIC.
(As always with online commentary: treat it as indicative, not definitive. The consistent theme, though, is that people feel “caught out”.)
How to protect yourself (and your team)
Here’s a practical checklist you can use the moment a “renewal notice” arrives:
- Check who it’s from
If it’s ASIC, it should clearly be ASIC and point you to official ASIC processes. ASIC explains the renewal process and timing on its website. - Check the fee
Compare with ASIC’s published fee schedule: currently $45 for 1 year and $104 for 3 years. - Be wary of anything that looks like an invoice but isn’t actually an ASIC notice
The WA SBDC has a short, helpful guide on checking whether a renewal notice is genuinely from ASIC. - Renew directly through ASIC unless you intentionally want a paid service
If you do choose a third party (accountant/bookkeeper/admin provider), make sure you understand exactly what authority you’re granting and what happens at the next renewal.
If you’ve already paid a third party
Don’t panic — but do take control:
- Confirm the renewal status through ASIC’s official channels.
- Make sure your email address is correctly recorded so ASIC notices reach you.
- If you suspect your business name is being managed under someone else’s authority and you want that changed, follow ASIC guidance and/or seek professional help to re-establish direct control.
Bottom line
These letters are a timely reminder of a broader principle: slow down before paying anything that looks “government-ish”.
If you want convenience, choose it deliberately. Otherwise, renew directly with ASIC, pay the proper fee, and keep your business name administration under your own control.
