These information pages can help you get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your trips or experiences on Airbnb. These pages include summaries of some of the rules that may apply to different sorts of activities, and contain links to government resources that you may find helpful.

Please understand that these information pages are not comprehensive, and are not legal advice. If you are unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your experience, we encourage you to check with your city or an attorney.

Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the law has not changed recently.*

How do I know if I'm running a business?

You are in business if your activity, as a whole, is commercial with an aim to make a profit. If you are undertaking the activity for commercial reasons, with the main intention or purpose to make a profit, and if you undertake the activity regularly and repeatedly, you are likely to be running a business. This is different from a hobby which you do not participate in with the main intention or purpose to make a profit. The Australian Government has online resourcesto help you identify whether your activity is likely to be considered a business.

Examples of where a person would be seen to be running a business:

• I am a professional surf instructor and I want to occasionally provide experiences which involve me providing private surf lessons and introducing guests to my local beach.
• I am a non-professional photographer. I provide experiences or trips involving photography lessons and guided visits of my area. I do this on a regular basis and this is how I make my living.

Examples of where a person may not be seen to be running a business:

• I am a keen cyclist who is active in the Sydney cycling community. I want to provide an experience or a trip as a one-off thing, or a few times a year, where I offer guests the opportunity to join our cycling community during their stay.
• I am a professional chef who loves to find fresh and organic produce at local farmers' markets. I want to provide experiences on an ad-hoc basis. These experiences will centre around visiting organic food markets, but this is not something I rely on to make my living.

The Australian Government has developed a business checklist to help guide people through the various stages of starting and running a business. We encourage you to review this checklist for guidance on starting and running a business.

What legal structure could I choose to use?

There are a number of legal structures you can choose from when starting your business. The four main structures commonly used by small businesses in Australia are sole trader, company, partnership, and trust.

The Australian Government has a useful guide on the different structures you can choose.

Do any business registration or licensing obligations apply?

When starting a business, you will need to register (a) your business name (if you choose to operate as a sole trader, partnership or trust); or (b) your company (if you choose to operate as a company).

Registering a business name:

• You can register a business name through the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website.
• If your business name is your or your partner's first name and surname, then you do not need to register a business name.