Domain Extensions

.com.au has been the Australian default for decades — customers recognise it and trust it. Registering one needs an ABN or ACN, which is exactly why it stays trustworthy. .au is the newer, shorter version introduced in 2022, with the same ABN rules. .com is the global option: no ABN required, and the better pick if your customers are international.

Here’s my own example. I originally registered plainspeakonlineservices.com.au — technically correct, but a business called Plain Speak had the least plain-speak domain going. The .com.au of “psos” was taken and the .com cost thousands, so I went with psos.net.au. Nobody has ever had trouble finding me.

The point: hardly anyone types domains any more. People click through from Google, social media, or a link you sent them. Get something short, affordable, and memorable — then get back to building your business. Don’t spend thousands chasing “perfect”.