Guides for new businesses
Plain answers to the questions a new Australian business asks, in the order they usually come up: the name, the registrations, the brand, the website, the photos, being found on Google and the first ads. They are general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
All guides
Logo or website first for a new business
Should a new business get a logo or a website first? The order that avoids paying twice, and when a website really can come first.
What to do after registering an ABN
You have an ABN. Here is the order for the business name, domain, brand, website and first marketing, with the official sites and no legal advice.
New business launch checklist, Melbourne
A plain checklist for launching a new business in Melbourne: registrations, brand, photos, website, Google profile and first ads, in order.
How to name a business in Australia
Picked a business name? Check the ASIC register, trade marks, the domain and social handles before you build a brand on it. A plain Australian guide.
Business name vs company name in Australia
A business name, a company name and a trading name are not the same thing. What each one is, who registers it, and what it does and does not protect.
Do I need a website for a small business
When a social page is enough and when a website pays for itself. A plain guide for a new Australian small business deciding what to build first.
What is a brand identity for a small business
A logo is one part of a brand identity. What the rest is, why it matters for a new business, and what you actually need on day one.
Brand guidelines for a small business
A one-page set of brand guidelines is enough for a small business. What to write down so everyone uses your logo, colours, fonts and voice the same way.
How to get your first customers as a new business
A new Australian business with no reviews and no portfolio still needs customers. Where the first ones come from, in order of speed and cost.
Google Business Profile for a new business
How to set up a Google Business Profile for a new Australian business, including a service-area setup if you have no shopfront. What to fill in and what to avoid.
How much a new business should spend on ads
There is no right number for every business. Here is the sum that tells you how much to test with, and the checks to run before and during a launch campaign.
Website checklist before you launch a small business site
A plain pre-launch checklist for a small business website: what it says, how it works on a phone, what Google needs and what to test before you tell anyone.
What photos a new business needs
The photos a new business needs for its website and social, as a plain shot list: people, place, product, process and proof, and why real beats stock.
Landing page or website for ads
Should an ad go to your homepage or a dedicated landing page? What each does well, why a mismatch costs you money, and how to choose for a new business.
Social media profiles for a new business
Which social profiles a new business actually needs, in what order, and how to set them up so they match your brand and point to your site.
How to start a business in Melbourne
How to start a business in Melbourne, step by step: structure, ABN, name, GST, licences and permits, insurance, then brand, photos, website, Google profile and your first customers.
How to start a clothing brand in Australia
How to start a clothing brand in Australia: registrations, trade mark, care labels, country of origin claims, then the brand, photos, website and first customers.
How to register a brand name in Australia
Registering a brand name in Australia: the difference between an ABN, a business name, a company name and a trade mark, and which one actually protects your brand.
Do I need an ABN to start a business in Australia
Do you need an ABN to start a business in Australia? What it is, what it costs (nothing), when you need one, and what to do before and after you get it.
Sole trader or company in Australia
Sole trader or company for a new Australian business: liability, set-up and tax in plain terms, and why to decide before you pick a name, logo or website.
Do I need to register for GST
When a new Australian business must register for GST: the $75,000 turnover threshold, the 21 day deadline, voluntary registration and what it changes on your prices.
How to choose a .com.au domain name
Choosing a .com.au domain for a new Australian business: who is eligible, why it must connect to your business, and the checks to run before you buy.
How to get a logo for a new business
Getting a logo for a new Australian business: check the name first, what files you need, and why a logo alone is not a brand.
Business email for a new business
Why a new Australian business should use name@yourbusiness.com.au instead of a free email address, and how to set it up without losing mail.
Privacy policy for a small business website in Australia
Does a small Australian business need a website privacy policy? The $3 million turnover rule, the exceptions, and why most sites publish one anyway.
What to post on social media when you start a business
What a new Australian business should post in its first 30 days: a simple plan of content types, a weekly rhythm and what to skip.
Setting up a business in Victoria
Setting up a small business in Victoria: the federal registrations, state and council licences, planning permits and payroll tax, and where to check each one.
If you would rather have it done for you
Urban Launch does the brand, the website, the photography and the ads in one order, from $5,900 AUD excluding GST. These pages explain it:
Who is behind this
Urban Launch is built and run by Urban Media (ABN 28 169 446 902), a Melbourne studio founded by Jack Harrington and Gabriel Pozo. Urban Media makes video, design and websites for clients including Box Hill United, Brighton Grammar and Porsche Club Victoria.
If you want to talk to the people doing the work, call 0456 785 904. More about who we are, and how to check us, is on the About page.