Why this matters
Creating a new entity is the foundation of your business structure. This process sets up your legal entity with all necessary registration details, compliance requirements, and operational parameters.
Prerequisites
- You must be logged in as an Owner or Administrator
- Have authority to act on behalf of the entity being created
- Gather required registration information (ABN, ACN, etc.)
- Understand the entity type and structure you want to create
Steps
1. Navigate to Entity Creation
Go to Structures → Create New Structure
2. Select Creation Type
Choose between:
- Set up a new entity - For creating a brand new business structure
- Upload an existing entity - For importing an already established entity
3. Choose Structure Type
Select the appropriate entity type:
- Individual - Personal entity for sole traders
- Trust - Family trusts, unit trusts, etc.
- Company - Proprietary or public companies
- SMSF - Self-managed superannuation funds
4. Select Variants
Choose the specific variant of your selected entity type. Available options depend on your structure type selection.
5. Configure Options
Fill in the required registration details based on your entity type:
For Trusts:
- State/Territory of Registration - Where the trust is established
- Family Trust Election Status - Whether family trust election applies
- Exclude Foreign Beneficiaries - Restriction on foreign beneficiaries
- Trust Settlement Date - When the trust was settled
- Trust Settlement Sum - Initial settlement amount
- Trust Purpose - Description of trust objectives
For Companies:
- Australian Company Number (ACN) - 9-digit company number
- Australian Business Number (ABN) - 11-digit business number
- GST Registration Status - Whether registered for GST
- Company Type - Proprietary or Public
- Company Class - Limited by Shares or Guarantee
- Date of Incorporation - When company was incorporated
For SMSFs:
- Fund Number - 8-digit superannuation fund number
- Unique Superannuation Identifier (USI) - Fund identifier
- Tax File Number (TFN) - Fund tax file number
6. Set Structure Names
Enter the main structure name. The system will automatically add appropriate suffixes based on your entity type.
Corporate Trustee/Beneficiary (Trusts only)
If creating a trust, you can optionally:
- None - Use individual trustees/beneficiaries
- Use Existing - Link to an existing company
- Create New - Set up a new corporate trustee/beneficiary
7. Review Pricing
The system will display a pricing breakdown showing:
- Setup costs for each component
- Annual costs for ongoing services
- Total costs for the first year
8. Provide Digital Signatures
Complete the confirmation section:
- Authority Confirmation - Confirm you have authority to act on behalf of the entity
- Terms Acceptance - Accept Self Managed terms and conditions
9. Submit Creation
Click Create Structure to finalize the entity creation.
Expected Results
- New entity appears in your Structures dashboard
- Entity registration details are saved and validated
- Automatic setup of related components (contacts, relationships)
- Success notification confirms creation
Example
Creating a Family Trust:
- Structure Type: Trust
- Variant: Family Trust
- Registration State: NSW
- Family Trust Election: Yes
- Exclude Foreign Beneficiaries: Yes
- Settlement Date: 2024-01-01
- Settlement Sum: $100
- Structure Name: Smith Family Trust
Troubleshooting
- Validation errors → Check all required fields are completed with valid data
- ACN/ABN format errors → Ensure numbers match required format (9 digits for ACN, 11 for ABN)
- Submit button disabled → Complete all required signatures and confirmations
- Entity type not available → Check your user permissions and subscription level
What Can Go Wrong
- Incorrect entity type selection → Cannot be changed after creation
- Missing authority confirmation → Legal compliance issues
- Invalid registration numbers → ATO compliance problems
- Incomplete setup → Entity may not function properly for reporting
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