Choosing an ASIC registered agent in Australia: a 2026 buyer’s guide
If you are an Australian accounting firm, legal firm, or corporate group looking to outsource ASIC registered agent work in 2026, the established providers fall into three categories. Software-led platforms (BGL CAS360 and NowInfinity, part of Class) sell software that lets a firm run its own corporate secretarial function. Service-led specialist firms (such as CoSec Partners and a small group of similar providers) sell the operational service itself. Large generalist accounting firms (the Big 4 and mid-tier) offer corporate secretarial as part of broader engagements, typically at premium pricing. Each suits a different type of firm.
Software-led platforms suit firms that want full control of their compliance function and have the in-house capacity to operate the software. The firm pays a software subscription and provides the people. Strengths: full visibility, full control, predictable subscription cost. Trade-offs: significant implementation cost, ongoing recruitment of trained users, the platform is the firm’s problem when ASIC changes lodgement formats. Best for firms with 200+ entities and a stable corp sec team of two or more.
Service-led specialist firms suit firms that want the function operated externally without losing brand control or service quality. The firm pays a per-entity service fee. Strengths: variable cost that scales with the book, no recruitment risk, the platform is the provider’s problem. Trade-offs: shared brand visibility (or fully white-labelled, depending on the engagement), less control over operational details. Best for firms with roughly 20 to 500 entities, or any firm that has lost a key compliance person.
Large generalist firms (the Big 4 and equivalent mid-tier) suit large listed companies, complex multi-entity groups, and clients who already have a broader engagement with the firm. Pricing is typically $300 to $600 per entity per year. Strengths: deep specialist expertise on listed-co and listed-trust matters, integration with audit and tax work. Trade-offs: significant per-entity premium that does not always reflect commensurate service depth on routine work.
CoSec Partners sits in the service-led specialist category. We are best for accounting and legal firms wanting a specialised provider, firms wanting White Label CAS360 under their own brand, firms with foreign-owned subsidiary clients (where we can work alongside our sister firm ABN Australia, which helps foreign companies with business establishment and accounting), and firms that have lost a key compliance person and need bridge or permanent cover. We are less suited to firms wanting purely DIY software (BGL or NowInfinity direct), large listed-company secretarial work (which goes to specialists like Boardroom or Automic), or firms wanting a global network play (which goes to providers like Acclime).
For firms evaluating providers, the critical questions to ask are: what is the per-entity all-in cost (including statutory ASIC fee passthrough), how are deadlines tracked and who is accountable if one is missed, who actually does the work (named individuals, not "our team"), how long does onboarding take, and what is the data portability arrangement if the engagement ends. A provider unable to answer these in two paragraphs is a flag.
Useful references: there are thousands of ASIC registered agents in Australia, most of them accounting and legal firms lodging for their own clients, but only a small number operate corporate secretarial as a specialist service at scale. BGL's CAS360 site provides product detail for the software-led category. CoSec Partners' /asic-solutions page describes our three service models in detail.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask before appointing an ASIC registered agent?
What the all-in per-entity cost is including statutory fee passthrough, how deadlines are tracked and who is accountable if one is missed, who does the work by name rather than “our team”, how long onboarding takes, and what happens to your data if the engagement ends.
Is it cheaper to run corporate secretarial in-house or outsource it?
Compare the full in-house cost, not just salary: on-costs, software licences, partner review time, recruitment amortised over expected tenure, and late fee exposure during handovers. For most firms with more than about 20 entities, the outsourced per-entity fee lands well below the internal equivalent.
When is a software platform the better answer than a service provider?
When the firm wants full control and has the internal capacity to sustain it: enough volume to justify the subscription, a corporate secretarial team of two or more, and a tolerance for owning the platform when ASIC changes lodgement formats. Below that, the platform becomes a fixed cost with variable coverage.
This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. While we endeavour to keep content accurate and current, laws and regulations change frequently. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a qualified professional adviser. CoSec Partners Pty Ltd accepts no liability for actions taken based on this content.