Trends & Research

Lawpath New Business Index • July 2025

118,162 New Businesses in July. The data driving Australia’s latest boom

Breaking down founder ages, business origins, and the industries driving Australia forward

Business Registrations Bar Chart

August 2024 - July 2025 • Monthly business registrations trending upward

7,900,423

7,994,783

8,096,503

8,193,981

8,273,580

8,377,668

8,483,863

8,596,900

8,699,699

8,805,334

8,911,251

9,029,413

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

1,128,990

Total Growth

14.29%

Growth Rate

102,635

Avg Monthly Increase

Business Registrations Bar Chart

August 2024 - July 2025 • Monthly ACN registrations trending upward

3,420,032

3,430,200

3,442,377

3,456,183

3,465,886

3,470,826

3,486,032

3,504,583

3,521,248

3,538,593

3,564,367

3,585,589

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

165,557

Total Growth

4.84%

Growth Rate

13,796

Avg Monthly Increase

GST Status Bar Chart

August 2024 - July 2025 • GST Registrations showing consistent growth trend

3,209,139

3,232,148

3,266,681

3,290,918

3,308,913

3,343,085

3,369,749

3,395,368

3,429,096

3,456,213

3,479,817

3,526,669

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

317,530

Total Growth

9.89%

Growth Rate

28,866

Avg Monthly Increase

What is the
New Business Index?

We launched the Lawpath New Business Index to answer a simple but important question: how is entrepreneurship in Australia really evolving? For too long, conversations about small business have relied on lagging reports or isolated anecdotes. We wanted to give founders, policymakers, and industry leaders a clear, timely view of what’s actually happening.

Each month, the Index brings together verified data from the Australian Business Register (ABR) and ASIC with anonymised insights from thousands of registrations on the Lawpath platform. The result is a unique picture of who is starting businesses, where they are based, and which industries are driving growth.

Our goal is to make this information useful. Not just as a snapshot, but as a way to spot trends, challenge assumptions, and inspire action. When we understand the shifts happening in entrepreneurship, we can help shape a stronger, more resilient business landscape for Australia.

Statistics for July 2025

Key growth signals from the ABN registry and Australia’s latest new business registrations.

+0.96% YoY

NEW BUSINESS REGISTERED

118,162

Total ABN registrations this month

Source: Australian Business Register – ABN Bulk Extract(data.gov.au, accessed 11 Aug 2025)

+20.41% YoY

NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED

35,844

Total ACN registrations in August 2025

Source: ASIC – Company registration statistics (monthly new company registrations), accessed 11 August 2025

-25.19% YoY

GST Status

46,852

Businesses registered for GST

Source: Australian Business Register – ABN Bulk Extract(data.gov.au, accessed 11 Aug 2025)

Summary

In July 2025, 118,162 new ABNs were registered across Australia, nudging up 0.96% year on year. But the real momentum showed up in company formations, with 35,844 new ACNs — a 20.41% surge that signals more founders are building with structure, scale, and growth in mind. At the same time, GST registrations dipped 25.19% to 46,852, suggesting a shift toward leaner, test-and-learn launches over immediate trading.

This is the season where intent meets action. As EOFY wraps and a new financial year begins, Australians are moving from side hustles and business ideas into execution mode. Some are waiting to register for GST until their business earns its footing, but many are laying the legal foundations now so they can move fast when it counts.

Behind the numbers is a story of calculated ambition. With AI tools lowering the barrier to launch, and global demand creating new paths to growth, founders are choosing when and how they formalise. The playbook is evolving — but the appetite to build is as strong as ever.

Australia’s business formation at a glance

A closer look at how Australia’s new businesses are taking shape, from the structures they choose to the regions driving growth.

Interactive Business Structures Dashboard Widget

Business Structures

80,717

Sole Traders

Category

Value

YoY
Growth

Sole Traders

80,717

68.3%

+4.08%

Company ABNs

21,360

18.1%

+0.65%

Trusts

7,341

6.2%

-18.04%

Super Funds

5,107

4.3%

+24.17%

Partnerships

2,763

2.3%

-25.81%

Other

873

0.7%

-40.45%

Interactive States & Territories Dashboard Widget

States & Territories

12,643

WA

State

Value

YoY
Growth

Interactive Postcodes Dashboard Widget

Suburbs

1.4k

Postcode 3029

Postcode

Value

YoY
Growth

3029

1,369

1.17%

+17.61%

3000

1,043

0.89%

+7.86%

2000

999

0.85%

-10.64%

3064

824

0.7%

-0.24%

3030

692

0.59%

+11.08%

3977

559

0.48%

+2.57%

2170

545

0.46%

+5.01%

4000

523

0.45%

+16.74%

Source: Australian Business Register – ABN Bulk Extract (monthly new company registrations), accessed 11 August 2025

Most Popular Structure

Sole Trader

68.3% of all registrations

Growth Leader

Western Australia

+7.95% YoY growth rate

Metro Dominance

69.11%

in major metropolitan areas

Business formation breakdown by suburbs in Australia

Explore our interactive map to see where new businesses are forming across Australia, suburb by suburb.

Australian Business Formation Map

Business Formation Rate

Very High (1000+ new/year)

High (500-999)

Medium (300-499)

Low (200-299)

Very Low (0-199)

Australia Business Statistics

Total Active ABNs: 9,029,413

New Businesses (YTD): 755,875

Growth Rate (YTD): +7.21%

Source: Australian Business Register – ABN Bulk Extract, accessed 11 August 2025

Lawpath Platform Insights

Key metrics and trends from companies registered through our platform

Data sourced from Lawpath platform. See methodology for full details on data collection and analysis.

Interactive Age Distribution Dashboard Widget

Age Distribution of Founders

22.82%

30-34 years

Category

YoY
Growth

18-24 years

5.05%

+147.6%

25-29 years

10.49%

-3.6%

30-34 years

22.82%

-1.3%

35-39 years

18.25%

-5.1%

40-44 years

14.85%

+12.4%

45-54 years

18.16%

-2.6%

55+ years

10.39%

+1.9%

Interactive Countries of Birth Dashboard Widget

Countries of Birth

32.23%

Australia

Country

YoY
Growth

Australia

32.23%

+3.0%

India

25.15%

+13.0%

China

7.86%

-1.0%

Pakistan

2.62%

0.0%

United Kingdom

2.62%

+4.0%

New Zealand

2.43%

+32.0%

South Africa

2.14%

+450.0%

Nepal

2.14%

+16.0%

Other

22.82%

-10.98%

Interactive Industry Distribution Dashboard Widget

Industry Distribution

19.60%

Media/Telecom

Category

YoY
Growth

Media/Telecom

19.60%

+4%

13.82%

+31%

Prof/Tech Services

11.81%

-29%

Construction

10.05%

+11%

Manufacturing

7.79%

+63%

Real Estate/Rental

4.52%

+100%

Finance/Insurance

4.27%

-6%

Admin/Support Services

4.02%

+7%

Other Services

24.12%

+10.5%

Top Age Range

30-34

22.82% of all founders

International Diversity

67.77%

born outside Australia

Construction Growth

+100%

construction sector YoY increase

Methodology

Each month, the Lawpath New Business Index captures how entrepreneurship in Australia is evolving.

Using verified data from the Australian Business Register (ABR) and ASIC, combined with anonymised insights from thousands of registrations processed through the Lawpath platform, we deliver a verified, month‑by‑month view of who is starting businesses, where they are based, and the industries they are choosing.

Started this month with Lawpath

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Australia's online tutoring service, empowering high school students across the nation.

Offering budget meals to sweet treats, Rhonda’s Kitchen supplies fry bread mixes and kitchen inspiration.

July has emerged as Australia’s launchpad month for entrepreneurs. Coming off tax season, we’re seeing a surge in founders moving from ideas to registered businesses - fuelled by AI-driven tools and the growing demand for flexible income streams.

Tom Willis

Chief Marketing Officer, Lawpath

July 2025

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