What is an ASIC registered agent and do you need one?

An ASIC registered agent is a person or firm registered with ASIC to act on behalf of companies in relation to their ASIC lodgements, correspondence, and compliance obligations. Appointing a registered agent is optional but is common practice for companies that want their ASIC compliance managed by a professional.

When a registered agent is appointed, ASIC directs most company correspondence, including annual statements and invoices, to the registered agent rather than to the company directly. The agent can keep the company’s ASIC details up to date, lodge changes when instructed and manage the annual review process, but the company and its directors remain legally responsible for these obligations.

You do not need a registered agent to run a company. Many companies manage their own ASIC compliance directly through the ASIC portal. However, for accounting firms, legal firms, and corporate groups managing multiple entities, a registered agent provides centralised management, consistent processes, and reduced risk of missed deadlines.

When evaluating whether to appoint a registered agent, consider the volume of entities you manage, the complexity of your compliance calendar, the cost of your internal time spent on ASIC administration, and the risk and cost of late fees or missed lodgements. For firms managing more than about 20 entities, outsourcing to a registered agent is almost always more efficient and cheaper than managing compliance internally.

CoSec Partners is an ASIC registered agent managing hundreds of entities on behalf of accounting firms, legal firms, and corporate clients across Australia. Our Outsourced model starts from $99 per entity per year for firms with 20+ entities, including GST (ASIC fees are charged separately), and includes annual statement management, change lodgements (officeholder, address and share structure changes), solvency resolution reminders, and proactive deadline monitoring across every entity.