One requirement here that the other four markets do not have.
Australia is open to foreign ownership and straightforward once trading. It carries a single hard constraint at the corporate level, and we would rather you knew it on this page than at stage two.
What Australia asks of a foreign owner.
Every line below is re-verified against the current position for your city and activity before we quote. Regulations in all five markets have moved within the last three years.
- OwnershipOpen in full. Foreign individuals and companies may own an Australian proprietary company outright, and shareholding carries no residency requirement.
- The resident director requirementA proprietary limited company must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia. This is a director question, not an ownership question — you can own 100% of the company without living there, but somebody on the board must. We confirm in writing how this will be met before you commit, and we will not start a venture with it unresolved.
- Director IDEvery director must personally obtain a Director Identification Number before appointment. It is applied for by the individual, not by an agent, and it takes time when the applicant is overseas.
- EntityProprietary company limited by shares (Pty Ltd), with a registered office in Australia.
- Tax registrationAn ABN, a TFN, GST registration above the threshold, and PAYG withholding before the first employee is paid.
- LicensingState and local. Food businesses register with the local council. Point-to-point transport is state-regulated and licensed separately in each state. Short-term letting rules are state and council level and have tightened in several markets.
- BankingStraightforward once the resident director is in place — which is another reason the director question is settled first rather than last.
- EmploymentModern awards set minimum pay and conditions by industry, superannuation contributions are compulsory, and both are material cost lines rather than afterthoughts.
Which of the five work in Australia.
Ratings are a starting point for the conversation, not a verdict — the cell that matters is the one we check for your specific city.
- Strong hereGhost Kitchen
- Viable hereShort-Stay Rentals · Taxi & Fleet · Mini Mart · Vending
- Revenue currencyAustralian dollars (A$)
Three things worth knowing early.
Settle the director first
Everything downstream — banking, licensing, payroll — waits on it. This is why Australia carries the longest timeline of the five markets.
Awards and super are not optional
Labour cost in Australia is high by design. A plan built on assumed low wages will not survive contact with a modern award.
Short-stay rules vary by state
New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland each regulate short-term letting differently, and several councils add their own conditions on top.
Thinking about Australia?
Bring the city, the venture and the capital you are prepared to commit. You will get an honest read on whether that combination is buildable there before anyone talks about fees.