This guide is for Australian business owners buying a .com.au domain name for the first time, or checking that the one they have is set up properly. You don't need any technical knowledge. Every term is explained as it comes up.
A .com.au domain is the address customers type to find you, like yourbusiness.com.au. It also carries your business email. Registering one is quick, but a few choices you make on the day decide who controls it later.
We'll cover what a domain is, who can get a .com.au, how it compares with the shorter .au, how to pick a name, how to buy it, and how to keep it safe through renewals and any future move.
What a domain name is, in plain English
A domain name is your address on the internet. It's separate from your website. The website lives on a hosting server. The domain points people to it. You can change your website or your host and keep the same domain.
You'll see these words when you buy one:
- Registrant: the person or business that holds the domain. auDA, the body that runs .au domains, points out that you don't own a domain outright. You hold a licence to use it for a set period.
- Registrar: a company accredited by auDA to register and renew .au domains directly in the central database.
- Reseller: a business that sells domains but isn't accredited. It registers your domain through a registrar on your behalf. Many web hosts are resellers.
- Registry: the central database of every .au domain and who holds it.
- DNS (Domain Name System): the internet's address book. It tells browsers which server your website is on and tells email where to deliver your messages.
- Renewal: a .au licence runs for a fixed term. You renew it before it ends, or you lose the domain.
Who can register a .com.au domain
The current auDA licensing rules took effect on 12 April 2021. Under them, two things must be true before you can hold a .com.au.
- You have an Australian presence. This includes Australian citizens and permanent residents, companies registered in Australia, and entities with an ABN, among others.
- You're a commercial entity. In practice, most small businesses qualify with an ABN or an ACN. A sole trader with an ABN counts.
The name itself must also connect to your business. It can match or be an acronym of your company, business or personal name, match your Australian trade mark, or match a service you provide, goods you sell or premises you run. A plumber called Smith Plumbing Pty Ltd could register smithplumbing.com.au, or a name describing the service they offer.
You must stay eligible for the whole licence. If your ABN is cancelled or the business closes, the domain can be cancelled too.
.com.au vs .au: which should you get?
Since 24 March 2022 you can also register a shorter .au domain, like yourbusiness.au. auDA calls it .au direct. Two things set it apart from .com.au.
- Anyone with an Australian presence can register one. You don't need to be a business.
- The name doesn't have to connect to your business. Any available name is open to you, as long as you have the right to use it.
auDA says there is no plan to phase out .com.au. It remains the namespace most Australians associate with business. For most small businesses, .com.au is the main address. If the matching .au is free, many owners register it as well so nobody else can, then have it redirect to the .com.au. You don't have to hold both.
How to choose a good domain name
The best domain is one a customer can hear once and type correctly. Start with your business name and test it against this list.
- Short and easy to spell: avoid unusual spellings and words people often get wrong.
- Easy to say out loud: read it over the phone. If you have to spell it out, try another version.
- No hyphens or numbers unless they're part of your business name.
- Matches your business: this keeps you within the .com.au rules and builds trust.
- Check it's free: search the name in auDA's WHOIS tool, which shows whether a .au domain is taken and who holds it.
If your first choice is taken, try your full business name, add your suburb or trade, or use an acronym of your registered name.
How to buy your domain, step by step
- 1. Choose a provider. Buy from an auDA-accredited registrar, or a reseller that uses one. auDA publishes the list of accredited registrars. Compare renewal prices, support and how easy the account is to manage, not only the first-year price.
- 2. Open the account in your business's name. Use an email address you'll keep for years, ideally one you control rather than a staff member's personal inbox.
- 3. Enter your business as the registrant. Use your legal or business name and your ABN or ACN. This is the field that decides who holds the domain.
- 4. Choose the licence term. You can register a .com.au for one, two, three, four or five years at a time. Not every provider offers five years.
- 5. Turn on auto-renew and keep a card on file that won't expire soon.
- 6. Save your logins in a password manager, and turn on two-factor sign-in if the provider offers it.
If a web designer registers it for you
It's fine to let your web designer or IT person buy the domain for you. The rules allow an agent to apply on your behalf. auDA is clear on one point, though: your business must be listed as the registrant, not the developer.
If the designer puts the domain in their own name, three things can go wrong. They may not be eligible to hold it. You depend on them staying in business. And renewal notices go to them, so the domain can lapse without you knowing.
If you find your domain registered to someone else, ask the registrar to correct it straight away. If they won't hand it over, our guide on what to do when your web designer won't give you access walks through the steps.
Renewals, logins and moving your domain later
Under the current rules, you can renew a .au licence from 90 days before it expires. If it does expire, you have 30 days to renew it. After that, anyone can register the name. Keep your contact details up to date, or renewal notices won't reach you.
Every .au domain has an authorisation code, a password that proves you hold it. You need it to move the domain to another registrar. Keep it private and tell your registrar if you think someone else knows it. If you lose it, your registrar can send it to the registrant contact, or you can use auDA's recovery tool.
- Changing registrar: you can move your domain to a different registrar at any time while you're eligible. auDA's rules say this transfer is free.
- Changing registrant: handing the domain to a different business, for example when you sell the business, is a separate process. The new holder must meet the eligibility rules and starts a new licence.
These rules may change. In August 2026 an auDA review panel recommended letting registrants renew at any time and removing the rule that allows .com.au names based on a service or product. These are recommendations, not rules yet, so check auDA's site for the current version before you rely on them.
Your domain renewal is one of the ongoing costs of running a website. Our guides to website maintenance costs and what a website costs in Australia cover the rest.
Key takeaways
- (01)
To hold a .com.au you need an Australian presence, a commercial entity such as an ABN, and a name that connects to your business.
- (02)
The shorter .au is open to anyone with an Australian presence. Most businesses keep .com.au as the main address.
- (03)
Always list your business as the registrant, even when a web designer buys the domain for you.
- (04)
Turn on auto-renew, keep your contact details current, and store your logins and authorisation code safely.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a .com.au domain without an ABN?
You need to be a commercial entity under auDA's rules. Most small businesses qualify with an ABN or an ACN, and a sole trader with an ABN counts. Without one of the qualifying registrations, a .au direct name may suit you instead.
Do I own my domain name?
Not outright. You hold a licence to use it for the term you paid for, and you keep it as long as you renew on time and stay eligible. The registrant listed in auDA's WHOIS tool is the person or business that holds it.
How long can I register a .com.au domain for?
One, two, three, four or five years at a time, though not every provider offers five. Under the current rules you can renew from 90 days before expiry, and you have 30 days after expiry before the name is released.
Do I need both .com.au and .au?
No. auDA says there's no plan to phase out .com.au, and you don't have to hold both. Some businesses register the matching .au as well so nobody else can, then redirect it to their .com.au.
More answers on price, hosting and timing in our FAQ.