If you’ve listed your home as your registered office, this article could save you a lot of stress, embarrassment—and even keep your business from being deregistered.
📍 What Your Registered Office Really Means (And Why You Should Care)
Let’s be honest—when you set up your company, you probably gave your registered office about 3 seconds of thought. Most people just put their home address or use the default on the form and move on.
But here’s the thing: Your registered office isn’t just a formality. It’s where legal documents are officially sent—and where court officers will go if someone wants to serve a legal claim on your business.
Imagine this: You’re juggling school lunches and coffee, and a stranger knocks. It’s an officer of the court with a legal notice. Your kids are watching. Your neighbours see. Even if the case is baseless, the stress is real.
There’s a better way—and it starts with understanding the role of your ASIC agent.
📬 What Is a Registered Office?
Your registered office is the official address of your company listed with ASIC. It’s where all legal documents, ASIC statements, and notices of compliance are sent. It’s not your trading address—it’s your legal mailbox.
If you’re not using an accountant or registered ASIC agent, these documents come straight to wherever ASIC has listed—which is often someone’s house.
🧠 Why You Shouldn’t Use Your Home as Your Registered Office
Legal Documents Delivered to Your Front Door
Here’s what many business owners don’t realise: Court documents must be served in person. If your registered office is your home, they’ll come straight to you. No warning. No discretion.
One of our clients, Kylie, learned this the hard way.
She was getting her daughter ready for school—toast in one hand, school hat in the other—when there was a knock at the door. A process server handed her a legal notice at 7:45am. The case had no merit, but her daughter burst into tears, and Kylie was left shaken.
She said it felt like someone just dragged her work stress into her home. That day, she asked us to become her registered office and ASIC agent.
And she never looked back.
✅ What Happens When You Use Your Accountant as Your Registered Office?
When your ASIC agent is also your registered office, they handle all the correspondence from ASIC and act as a filter so only the relevant, prepared documents land on your desk.
Here’s what your accountant does:
- Uses ASIC-approved software to monitor your company records
- Receives your annual statement securely and digitally
- Prepares required ASIC documents, like solvency resolutions and director minutes
- Ensures you meet ASIC compliance deadlines
- Notifies you discreetly if legal documents ever arrive
📉 What Happens If You Don’t Prepare a Solvency Resolution?
H3: Understanding Your Director Obligations
Every company director is legally required to pass a solvency resolution within two months of the company’s annual review date. This document confirms that your business can pay its debts when due.
Miss it—and you could face:
- Late fees
- Fines or penalties
- Being flagged as non-compliant with ASIC
- Potential deregistration of your company
According to ASIC’s guidelines, failure to prepare a solvency resolution can be seen as a serious breach of director responsibilities.
This is where having an accountant acting as your ASIC agent becomes essential. They’ll track the dates, prepare the documents, and send them to you in plain English.
🔁 Common Risks of DIY Registered Offices
“I Didn’t Know” Isn’t a Defence
Letting ASIC records fall out of date happens more often than you’d think—especially when directors:
- Move house but forget to update their registered office
- Miss the annual statement because it went to the wrong place
- Fail to complete their solvency resolution on time
This often results in company deregistration. It’s a quiet process that can escalate fast. You don’t get a dozen warning letters. ASIC simply assumes the business isn’t trading or compliant.
And once deregistered:
- Your company bank account is frozen
- Contracts may be void
- You may be personally liable for outstanding debts
The good news? You can prevent all of that by having your ASIC agent manage your registered office.
💸 Is It Worth Paying for ASIC Agent Services?
Yes—your accountant will charge an annual fee for this service. That’s because they’re:
- Paying for access to required specialist ASIC software
- Monitoring lodgement deadlines year-round
- Preparing ASIC documents and legal minutes
- Receiving and filtering legal correspondence on your behalf
But that fee is minor when you consider the cost of reinstating a deregistered company, paying fines, or dealing with legal drama at your home.
And let’s be real—most business owners don’t have time to read ASIC documentation every month. Let your accountant do that while you focus on what you do best.
🧭 What Does an ASIC Agent Actually Do?
A registered ASIC agent acts as your compliance concierge. Their role includes:
- Updating company details (like changes of address or directors)
- Receiving and reviewing the annual statement from ASIC
- Preparing and lodging forms such as 362 and 485
- Ensuring compliance deadlines are not missed
If something’s not right, they’ll spot it. And if ASIC needs a response? They’ll handle it.
🛠 How to Update Your Registered Office the Right Way
Step 1: Check your company’s current registered office using the ASIC company search.
Step 2: If it’s your home address, contact your accountant and ask if they offer ASIC agent services.
Step 3: If they do, they’ll help you submit a Form 362 to appoint them officially.
Step 4: Confirm you’re receiving reminders about your annual statements and solvency resolutions.
Step 5: Relax, knowing you won’t be caught off guard at the front door.
🔚 Conclusion: What You’ve Learned
✅ Your registered office is more than a mailing address—it’s where legal documents are served.
✅ Using your home address can lead to awkward and even distressing moments.
✅ Appointing your accountant as your ASIC agent means deadlines are tracked, documents are prepared, and ASIC is kept up to date.
✅ The fee for ASIC agent services is well worth the convenience, protection, and peace of mind.
✅ Keeping company details up to date is critical—missed correspondence can lead to deregistration.
📅 Let’s Make It Easy for You
Don’t want to deal with ASIC paperwork, deadlines, and risk of being deregistered?
We’ve got you.
👉 Book a free meeting with Janelle Bartlett here
Whether you’re a new company or just want to tighten up your compliance, we can help.
🎁 Plus, grab our free guide to small business compliance:
👉 Download the guide here
Let’s make sure your business stays protected—so you can keep doing what you love.
