A professional resident director in Australia typically costs between about A$4,800 and A$10,000 a year, before GST and before government fees. Across the six published prices we checked in October 2026, the median was A$7,034 a year ex GST. Services for trading companies that include payment approvals or financial sign-off quote more, and a few providers advertise much lower monthly fees for a passive role.
What separates a good provider from a weak one is covered in choosing a resident director service. This page is about the money.
The published market in October 2026
We looked for resident director services that publish a price, and recorded each one as an annual, ex-GST figure: one figure per provider, using its entry-level tier. Monthly prices were multiplied by 12, and a GST-inclusive price was divided by 1.1. Several well-known providers publish no price and are quote-only, so they are not in the set.
| Published price (annual, ex GST) | What the published offer described |
|---|---|
| A$4,800 | About A$400 a month, quoted as an approximate figure by an offshore-led provider |
| A$6,000 | Non-trading Pty Ltd tier from a domestic specialist; its trading-company tier starts at A$12,000 |
| A$6,818 | A$7,500 GST-inclusive, sold as part of an expansion bundle by an incorporation platform |
| A$7,250 | Starting price through a partner network; varies with scope |
| A$7,800 | A$650 a month with a one-year minimum; the client also buys D&O insurance and lodges a refundable A$3,500 deposit |
| A$10,000 | Low end of a A$10,000–A$20,000 ongoing range, plus separate onboarding review and agreement fees |
Median: A$7,034. Mean: about A$7,111. Prices change and some providers do not say whether GST is included, so treat these as a snapshot of published prices we checked in October 2026, not quotes.
One provider also publishes general market bands rather than its own price: roughly A$500–A$1,500 a year for a basic nominee arrangement, A$2,000–A$5,000 for an enhanced one and A$5,000 and up for a full service. The bottom band is a long way below every priced offer we could verify. At that level, expect a name on a form and little else.
Why prices vary so much
The fee is mostly a price for risk and attention, not paperwork. A director takes on personal exposure the moment they are appointed. Under the ATO's director penalty regime, for example, directors can become personally liable for a company's unpaid PAYG withholding, GST and super guarantee charge (ATO). Providers price that exposure in different ways.
Company activity. A dormant holding company with no staff and no GST registration carries far less risk than a subsidiary with payroll, customers and debt. That is why some providers publish separate non-trading and trading tiers, often with the trading tier double the price.
What the director actually does. A passive director who signs on request costs less than one who reviews accounts, approves payments, signs off financial statements or attends board meetings.
What's bundled. Some fees include a registered office, the annual review, routine resolutions and officeholder changes. Others charge for each separately or by the hour. A low headline can rise quickly once these are added.
Who carries insurance. D&O cover for a small private company is indicatively about A$2,000–A$5,000 a year from market sources, with management liability bundles starting lower. If the provider requires you to buy it, add it to their fee.
Onboarding and compliance costs. Since 1 July 2026, acting as a director for another person is an AUSTRAC-regulated designated service (AUSTRAC). Customer due diligence, sanctions screening and record-keeping now have a real cost for every compliant provider, and some charge separate onboarding or risk-review fees for it.
Deposits and guarantees. A security deposit or parent guarantee doesn't change the annual fee, but it ties up cash and belongs in your comparison.
Government fees you pay regardless
ASIC fees are set by regulation, indexed each 1 July and passed through by most providers at cost. They are not subject to GST. Current 2026–27 amounts from ASIC's fee schedule:
| ASIC item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Register a proprietary company with share capital | A$636 |
| Reserve a company name (optional) | A$65 |
| Annual review fee, proprietary company | A$342 a year |
| Late payment or lodgement, within 1 month | A$102 |
| Late payment or lodgement, more than 1 month | A$428 |
| Change of annual review date (Form 488) | A$52 |
| Voluntary deregistration (Form 6010) | A$52 |
The annual review mechanics are on ASIC's annual review page and in our ASIC annual review fee guide. If you choose the branch route instead of a Pty Ltd, the costs are different: a registered foreign company pays A$636 to register and A$1,583 for each annual return or financial statement lodgement (Forms 405/406), and needs a local agent rather than a director.
Building a realistic budget
Say a US parent sets up a new Australian Pty Ltd and engages a provider at the market median. A first-year budget might look like this:
| Line | Amount (A$) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ASIC registration | 636 | Government fee |
| Incorporation service | varies | Some providers bundle it |
| Resident director fee | 7,034 | Market median, ex GST |
| GST on the director fee | about 703 | If charged at 10% |
| D&O insurance | 0 or 2,000–5,000 | Depends on whether the provider includes cover |
| Registered office | varies | Often bundled with compliance packages |
| Accountant (tax, BAS, financial statements) | separate | Not part of a director service |
From year two, add the A$342 annual review fee and keep the director fee and insurance. Our cost calculator runs the same arithmetic for your own choices.
Hidden costs that change the comparison
- Hourly billing for routine work. Ask whether resolutions, address changes and the annual solvency resolution are included or billed per item.
- Pre-appointment tax problems. A new director can be caught by tax debts that fell due before they joined unless the debt is dealt with within 30 days of appointment. If your company has arrears, a careful provider will want them fixed first, and that cost sits with the company.
- Replacement cost. A director who resigns at short notice leaves you paying for an urgent replacement and possibly ASIC late fees for missed deadlines. The cheapest fee is not cheap if the seat turns over every year.
- Exit fees. Some engagements charge to leave. Check before signing.
Where our pricing sits
Our three fixed annual packages are A$3,400, A$4,490 and A$8,990 ex GST, with ASIC fees passed through at cost and D&O cover confirmed before every appointment. The full inclusions are on our pricing page. We don't give tax advice, so ask your accountant how the fee is treated in your company's accounts.
General information only, current at 27 October 2026. Prices quoted for other providers are published figures we checked in October 2026 and may have changed. Not legal, tax or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical annual fee for a resident director in Australia?
Across six published prices we checked in October 2026, the median was A$7,034 a year ex GST, with a spread from about A$4,800 to A$10,000. Risk-reviewed services for trading companies quote higher.
How much is a nominee director in Australia?
The same service under a different label, so the same range applies. Very low quotes, sometimes a few hundred dollars a month, usually describe a passive role with few protections, which is a poor fit with Australian director duties.
Is GST charged on a resident director fee?
Usually, because the service is supplied to an Australian company. Some providers quote GST-inclusive and others ex GST, so convert before comparing. ASIC's own fees carry no GST.
Are ASIC fees included in the provider's price?
Rarely. Most providers pass government fees through at cost, so add the A$342 annual review fee for a proprietary company in 2026–27, plus any lodgement fees, to the quoted figure.
Official sources
- ASIC: Fees for commonly lodged documents asic.gov.au
- ASIC: Company annual review asic.gov.au
- ATO: Director penalties ato.gov.au
- AUSTRAC: Professional designated services austrac.gov.au
Checked against these sources on . Fees, thresholds and forms change: confirm with the source before you lodge.
General information about Australian law and practice, not legal or tax advice for your circumstances. Check the official sources, or ask your adviser, before you act.