Guide
Company Search Australia: How to Search ASIC's Register
Free searches, paid extracts, and the diligence workflow lawyers actually use.
Company search in Australia means one thing: ASIC's register. Every Pty Ltd, Ltd and No Liability company files here, and the data is the single source of truth for who owns it, who runs it, and whether it's still alive. This guide walks through the free search, the paid extracts, and how experienced lawyers use them in diligence.
Where to Search
Two doorways to the same data:
- ASIC direct — asic.gov.au → "Search ASIC's registers". Cheapest per search.
- Registered brokers — InfoTrack, Equifax, CreditorWatch, SAI Global. Same underlying data, better UI, and they bundle in bankruptcy, court and property searches.
The Free Search
Enter a company name or ACN. Free results include:
- Legal name and any previous names
- ACN and ABN
- Registration status (Registered / Deregistered / External Administration / Strike-off in progress)
- Company type
- Registration date and jurisdiction
If all you need is "does this company exist and is it active?", the free search is enough. Everything else is paid.
The Current Company Extract ($9)
What you actually get in a diligence-grade current extract:
- Registered office and principal place of business
- Every current director and secretary (name, address for service, appointment date)
- Every current member (shareholder) — name, address, class of shares, number held, whether beneficially owned
- Share capital: classes, total issued, paid-up amount
- Ultimate holding company (if any)
- Documents lodged in the last 12 months
The Historical Extract ($19)
Adds the full audit trail: every change ever recorded. This is where you catch:
- Directors who resigned recently — always ask why
- Name changes (companies rename during trouble)
- Share transfers you weren't told about
- Historical shareholders you didn't know existed
- Movement of the registered office to a new state
Document Images
ASIC lets you order copies of every document ever filed — annual returns, change of officer forms (484), share issues (207), notices of external administration. Priced per document, typically $3–$40. Essential if the extracts flag something you need to verify.
Personal Name Extract
Search by an individual's name to see every current and former directorship. In due diligence this is how you spot:
- Phoenix behaviour (multiple companies in the same industry, all liquidated)
- Undisclosed directorships in competitors
- Disqualified directors trading through nominees
Diligence Workflow — What a Lawyer Actually Runs
| Step | Search | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free ASIC status check | Confirm exists, not in EA |
| 2 | Current company extract | Match directors/shareholders to your counterparties |
| 3 | Historical extract | Spot recent changes and hidden history |
| 4 | Personal name extract on directors | Phoenix / disqualification check |
| 5 | PPSR search | Assets secured to third parties |
| 6 | ABN Lookup | GST and tax standing |
Reading Between the Lines
The extract itself is data — the interpretation is where value comes in. A registered office at a suburban house is normal for a family business and a red flag for a $50m transaction. A sole director / sole shareholder is fine for a startup and unusual for a target you're paying $10m for. Context matters.
Related Reading
See our guides on how to read a company extract, ACN lookup, ABN lookup and business acquisitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ASIC company search free?
The basic search (name, ACN, status) is free at asic.gov.au. Anything richer — current extract, historical extract, document images, director appointment history — is paid, priced per item from around $9.
What's the difference between a current and historical company extract?
A current extract shows the company's position today: directors, shareholders, registered office, share capital. A historical extract shows every change ever recorded — every director appointment/resignation, every share issue, every name change. Diligence usually needs both.
Can I search company directors by name?
Yes — ASIC's paid 'personal name extract' returns every current and former directorship for an individual. Very useful in due diligence to spot phoenix activity or repeated liquidations.
How much does a full company extract cost?
$9 for a current extract, $19 for a historical extract, plus per-document fees for filed documents. Third-party providers (InfoTrack, Equifax, CreditorWatch) resell the same data with faster search and bundled reports.
Next Step
Buying a business or extending significant credit? Book a 15-minute call — we'll scope the right diligence pack.
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