You are required by law to register a business name if you are carrying on a business under that name, unless one of the following applies:

• you are an individual carrying on business under your own name;
• the business is run by a corporation and the business name is the corporation’s name; or
• the business is run by a partnership and the name consists of all of the partners’ names.

There are a few other rare exceptions (e.g. statutory corporations and government organisations).

Carrying on a business under an unregistered name can result in a fine of up to $5,400.