Most Australians do a quick Google search before they engage a new business. That’s a reasonable starting point, but a company’s own website and social media presence won’t tell you whether it’s genuinely registered, who’s behind it, or whether it’s currently under administration. An ASIC company extract will tell you this information and it takes about as long to order as that Google search.
Why Google isn't enough
A professional website, a strong social media presence, and a polished email signature are easy to create. They tell you how a business wants to be perceived, not necessarily what’s true about its legal standing.
ASIC’s register, on the other hand, is the official source of truth for every company registered in Australia. If something isn’t right, the company is deregistered, under administration, or the person you’re dealing with isn’t listed as a director, the ASIC extract will show it.
Real situations where an ASIC extract matters
Here are some everyday scenarios where checking a company on ASIC before proceeding is worth a few minutes of your time:
• A tradie is asked to complete a large job and wants to confirm the client’s business is legitimate before starting work
• A small business owner is approached by a new distributor and wants to verify who the directors are before signing
• A freelancer is about to invoice a client for the first time and wants to check the company is currently registered
• A consumer is about to pay a significant deposit to a business they found online
• An investor is researching a company before committing capital
What an ASIC extract shows you
The extract gives you the company’s official name, ACN, current status, registered and business addresses, the names of all current directors and secretaries, shareholder information, and whether any external administrators or liquidators have been appointed. If the company status shows anything other than registered, that’s a significant red flag that warrants further investigation before you proceed.
Current vs historical: which one do you need?
For most everyday due diligence purposes, a current ASIC company extract is what you need. It shows you who is running the business right now and confirms the company’s current standing.
If you’re doing deeper research, perhaps on a company with a long history or one that has changed hands several times, a historical extract gives you the full record including former directors, previous addresses, and historical document lodgements.
Order in minutes through InfoTrackGO
You can order an ASIC company extract directly through InfoTrackGO’s Ask AI Agent, without creating an account or navigating ASIC’s own systems. Search by company name or ACN, select the right entity, and receive your report in minutes.
Do your due diligence before you commit and move forward with confidence.
The content provided in this blog is intended solely for general information and awareness around our product offerings. It does not constitute personalised advice for any specific individual or organisation and should not be solely relied upon. All information within this blog post is generalised and does not consider the unique situations, circumstances, or requirements of any individual or organisation. Always seek professional advice and consider the suitability of the information to your specific goals and needs before taking any action based on the information presented.
