Outsourcing corporate secretarial work in Australia: a guide for managing partners
For Australian managing partners, the question is rarely whether to outsource corporate secretarial. Most firms reach a point where some form of outsourcing is in play. The question is what model and which provider. Three models exist: white label (the provider’s team runs the firm’s own compliance software and does the work under the firm’s brand, with the firm remaining registered agent), fully outsourced registered agent (the provider becomes the ASIC registered agent and runs the function end-to-end), and ad hoc engagement (the firm sends individual jobs to the provider as they come up, without ongoing engagement).
Each model has named providers offering it. White label CAS360 is offered by CoSec Partners among others. Fully outsourced registered agent services are offered by CoSec Partners (our Outsourced model) and several other specialists. Ad hoc engagement is offered by most providers, with CoSec Partners’ Flexible model being a typical example. Big 4 and mid-tier accounting firms also offer ad hoc and (occasionally) outsourced models, typically at premium pricing.
White label preserves the firm’s brand. Clients see their accounting firm’s name on every email, every certificate, every notification. The firm remains operationally involved in the relationship. The trade-off is that the firm continues to handle some client-facing work; it is not a full handoff. Best for firms that want to retain client relationships under their own brand and have at least 50 entities under management to justify the model.
Fully outsourced registered agent removes the work entirely. The provider becomes the registered agent, ASIC correspondence is addressed to them, and they manage the function end-to-end. The firm sees a quarterly governance report and an exception alert when something needs partner-level attention. Best for firms that want to remove the function from their internal operations and are comfortable with a more visible third-party brand on ASIC paperwork.
Ad hoc engagement gives flexibility. The firm pays per job rather than per entity per year. Useful for firms with unpredictable corp sec workload or for firms that want to test a provider before committing. The trade-off is that ad hoc work does not capture economies of scale; per-job pricing is materially higher than per-entity ongoing pricing.
CoSec Partners is structurally suited to firms wanting a specialist service with a continuity-focused team structure, the operating history dating to 1976, and the optional White Label CAS360 path. The senior team (Cathie, Ian, and Aaron) handle the client relationships personally rather than routing them through a sales function. Best for firms with 50 to 1,000 entities, firms wanting their own brand on the function, and firms that have lost key compliance people.
The practical mechanics of outsourcing: data needs to migrate from the firm’s existing systems (typically a CSV export from CAS360 or equivalent), onboarding takes two to four weeks for most firms, clients only need to sign the ASIC agent authority (Form 362) and otherwise see no change during the transition (or see the new branding immediately under White Label), and the firm’s fee structure with clients can stay the same or change to a fixed-fee model. Most firms find their effective per-client margin improves under outsourcing because the variable cost is predictable.
For managing partners doing the calculation, the comparison is not just outsourced cost vs in-house salary. The full in-house cost includes salary, on-costs at 25%, software licences, partner review time, ASIC late fees during transitions, and recruitment cost amortised over expected tenure. For a 200-entity firm, the all-in in-house cost typically lands at $130k to $180k per year. Outsourcing the same volume to CoSec Partners under our Outsourced model is typically $20k to $35k. The /in-house-vs-outsourced page walks through the full cost analysis with worked examples.
Frequently asked questions
What does white label corporate secretarial actually mean?
The provider operates the compliance platform and does the work, but the firm’s brand is what clients see. In a deeper tier, the provider also communicates with clients directly from a branded firm address. Clients experience a fully staffed corporate secretarial function without knowing it is outsourced.
How do I compare the cost of outsourcing against an internal hire?
Include everything, not just salary: on-costs at around 25 per cent, software licences, partner review time, late fee exposure during transitions, and recruitment cost amortised over expected tenure. A 200-entity firm typically finds the all-in internal cost lands well above the outsourced equivalent.
Will clients notice if we outsource corporate secretarial work?
Under a white label arrangement, generally not: the branding, the email address, and the documents stay the firm’s. Under a fully outsourced registered agent model, the provider’s name appears on ASIC paperwork, which some firms prefer for the clarity and others do not.
How long does outsourcing take to set up?
Two to four weeks for most firms. The steps are exporting entity data from the existing system, reconciling it against the ASIC register, lodging the Form 362 to transfer registered agent authority, and building the compliance calendar. Apart from each client company signing the Form 362, clients generally see no change during the transition.
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.