Guides · 7 chapters

The Australian Business Legal Guide

Last reviewed 14 August 2026

Most legal problems in Australian business are not caused by exotic law. They are caused by ordinary arrangements that were never written down, never reviewed, or never revisited once the business outgrew them. This guide walks through the legal foundations of an operating Australian business, chapter by chapter, in the order those questions usually arrive.

Chapters

1. 01Getting the structure rightSole trader, partnership, company and trust — how each is treated in Australia, and the practical consequences of the choice.
2. 02Contracts that hold upWhat makes an Australian commercial contract enforceable, which terms carry the risk, and why terms of trade beat handshake deals.
3. 03People: employees, contractors and the gap between themEmployment obligations under the Fair Work framework, the contractor characterisation risk, and the documents every employer should have.
4. 04Intellectual property and brandTrade marks, copyright, confidential information and the difference between owning a business name and owning a brand.
5. 05Regulation and complianceAustralian Consumer Law, unfair contract terms, privacy, and the licensing regimes that catch businesses by surprise.
6. 06Risk, disputes and getting paidManaging counterparty risk, security over debts, letters of demand, and what litigation actually costs before you start it.
7. 07Growing, selling and what comes nextBringing in owners and investors, preparing for diligence, and the difference between a share sale and an asset sale.

Related reading

• Business structures — service page
• Business contracts — service page
• Fractional General Counsel