Setting up a Canberra presence for an interstate firm

If your firm works with the Australian Government, a Canberra base makes life easier. It doesn't need to start as a full office. Many interstate consultancies, contractors and advisers begin with an address and somewhere to meet, then build up as the work does.

This guide covers why a Canberra presence helps, the options from lightest to heaviest, the registration and tax points to check, getting staff in from the airport, and a 90 day setup plan. It's general information, not legal or tax advice.

Why have a Canberra base at all?

• Proximity to agencies. At 30 June 2025, 70,221 Australian Public Service employees, or 35.4% of the APS, were located in the ACT, according to the Australian Public Service Commission. Many of your clients and their decision makers are here.
• Meetings at short notice. A workshop called for tomorrow morning is easy when you have a room in the city and someone who can be there.
• Events and relationships. Industry briefings, sector events and networking in Canberra are where relationships with agencies, peak bodies and other suppliers are built.
• Credibility. A local address and a place to meet tell clients you're committed to the market.

What are the options, from lightest to heaviest?

• Virtual office. A Canberra City business address, mail handling and meeting room credits. At Workspace by black vc it's $99 a month, or $149 a month for Virtual office plus, which adds two workspace days a month. Both include two meeting room credits a month.
• Day passes and on-demand offices. A desk for the day is $60, and a private office for the day starts at $300 for 4 people ($75 per person). Good for project weeks and visiting staff.
• Coworking or dedicated desks. For one or two people based in Canberra. Coworking is from $289 per person per month and dedicated desks from $425, both on 12-month plans.
• Private office. For a team in Canberra most weeks. Our launch offer is up to 25% off selected private offices on a 12 month agreement, so a 4 person office from $2,400 a month (list price $3,200), for agreements signed by 31 December 2026 (offer terms). Larger offices are quoted.

All prices are ex GST, plus applicable taxes and fees. See virtual office, on demand and private offices for details.

Can a Canberra address be your registered office or principal place of business?

If your firm is a company, ASIC records a registered office and a principal place of business. ASIC's guidance on company addresses says:

• Registered office: must be a physical street address in Australia, not a PO box. It doesn't have to be where you do business.
• Occupier's consent: if you don't occupy the premises, you must keep a record of the occupier's written consent to use the address, and state that consent was given when you give the address to ASIC.
• Principal place of business: must be a physical address and can't be a PO box. It's where your business is mainly run, so for most interstate firms it stays at head office.
• Changes: ASIC says you must tell it within 28 days if a company address changes, or a late fee applies.

At Workspace by black vc, a registered office address is available with both virtual office plans, subject to identity verification.

Do you need to think about ACT payroll tax?

Possibly, once you employ people who work in the ACT. Here are the basics from the ACT Revenue Office, as at October 2026:

• From 1 July 2026, the ACT threshold is $1.75 million a year ($145,833.33 a month). Before 1 July 2026 it was $2 million.
• Thresholds and rates are worked out on Australia-wide wages at the group level. For 2026 to 2027, the general rate is 6.75% where annual Australia-wide wages are more than $1.75 million and up to $20 million, with higher rates above that.
• If you pay wages both in the ACT and interstate, the tax-free threshold is apportioned by the share of your Australia-wide wages that are ACT wages.
• If you're liable, you must apply to register within seven days after the end of the month you go over the threshold.

Payroll tax rules interact across states and groups of related businesses, so ask your accountant to check your position before your first Canberra hire.

Getting your people to and from Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport says the Rapid 3 bus runs between the terminal and the City interchange every 15 minutes through the day on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends, and the trip takes less than 20 minutes. Workspace by black vc is a short walk from the City bus interchange and the Alinga Street light rail stop. Taxis and rideshare can drop off on Mort Street or Bunda Street. Check the Transport Canberra journey planner for current times, and see our map for getting here and what's nearby.

A practical tip for evening events: the building's lifts need a member pass after 5:30 pm and the ground floor doors lock at 7:30 pm, so plan for guests to be met.

A 90 day plan for your Canberra presence

Days 1 to 30: get an address and a place to meet

1. Choose the lightest option that covers the next three months. For most firms that's a virtual office.
2. Decide whether the address will be used on your website, proposals and invoices, and whether you'll register it with ASIC as your registered office.
3. Update your website, email signatures and capability statements with your Canberra address.
4. Book your first client meetings in a Canberra meeting room.

Days 31 to 60: build a rhythm

1. Set a regular Canberra week or fortnight for your team, using day passes or workspace days.
2. Go to a few local events. Our events page lists Networking Nights and what's coming up.
3. Track how often people are in Canberra and how many meeting room hours you use.

Days 61 to 90: decide whether to scale up

1. If someone is in Canberra most days, move them to a dedicated desk.
2. If a team is in most weeks or you're hosting client workshops regularly, price a private office.
3. Before hiring locally, check payroll tax, workers compensation and employment arrangements with your adviser.
4. Review your ASIC and business name records so every address is current.

How Workspace by black vc can help

Workspace by black vc is at Level 3, 4 Mort Street, Canberra City. You can start with a virtual office, use day passes or meeting rooms when your team visits, and move to desks or a private office without changing address. Our event space and three 10-person boardrooms, which open into one space for 30 or more, suit client workshops and briefings. To see the space, book a tour.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check your situation with your adviser.

Questions

Photo: Adrian Siaril on Unsplash