You’ve finished your degree, landed your 485 visa, and now you’re wondering if you can run your own business instead of just working for someone else. Good news: you can. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) gives you full, unrestricted work rights from day one, and that includes starting a business on 485 visa terms rather than only chasing a payslip.
This guide covers what’s actually involved: eligibility, ABN registration, business structures, tax basics, costs, and what happens once your visa runs out. We’ll also touch on where entrepreneurship fits into your bigger migration picture. Ausizz Migration Consultants works with graduates every day who are juggling exactly this question.
Can You Start a Business on a 485 Visa in Australia?
Yes, you can. Unlike the student visa’s 48-hour fortnightly cap, the 485 visa doesn’t limit your work hours, your employer, or your industry. That flexibility extends to self-employment and business ownership too.
There’s an important distinction worth making, though: owning a business isn’t the same as working in one. If you set up a company but hire someone else to run daily operations, your own involvement might look different from a hands-on sole trader hustling solo. Either way, your visa conditions apply to you personally, so it pays to check them rather than assume.
One more thing to get straight early: running a business on a 485 visa doesn’t automatically open a door to Australia permanent residency. Business rules and immigration rules are two separate systems that happen to intersect, not one continuous pathway.
Can a 485 Visa Holder Be Self-Employed?
Self-employment in Australia usually means operating as a sole trader or through your own company. Both are legitimate options for 485 holders. What matters more than the label is how much time and effort the work actually takes, since that can shape your broader visa and tax picture.
Running a Business While Working for an Employer
Plenty of 485 holders build a business on the side while holding down a regular job. It’s doable, but it takes honest scheduling. Between contracted hours, employer expectations, and the admin that comes with running a venture, something has to give if you’re not careful about time management.
Why Start a Business on a 485 Visa?
Graduates often start businesses for reasons beyond the money. A few common ones:
- Testing a business idea in the Australian market while you still have flexibility
- Building genuine local business experience for your résumé
- Growing a professional network that outlasts any single job
- Shaping a long-term career plan on your own terms
That said, treat entrepreneurship as a real commercial decision first. A business built purely to “look good” for a future visa application, without a sound plan behind it, tends to struggle.
How to Start a Business on a 485 Visa: The Practical Steps
- Check your visa conditions: Confirm your visa is current and review any conditions attached to it before you commit money or time.
- Validate your business idea: Look at genuine demand, who your competitors are, who your customers will be, and what it’ll realistically cost to get moving.
- Pick a structure: Sole trader, partnership, company, or trust each carry different liability, tax, and admin implications. A quick chat with an accountant here saves headaches later.
- Register for an ABN: An Australian Business Number identifies your business to the tax office and other agencies. Most people carrying on an enterprise in Australia will need one, so get your details right the first time.
- Register a business name: if you’re trading under something other than your own name, and check whether you need to register a company through ASIC.
- Set up business banking: Keep business and personal money separate from day one. It makes bookkeeping infinitely easier come tax time.
- Understand your tax obligations: including income tax, GST once your turnover crosses the threshold, and PAYG withholding if you take on staff.
- Check licences and permits: Some industries need specific approvals at the council, state, or federal level before you can legally trade.
- Write an actual business plan: Cover your concept, market research, pricing, marketing approach, startup costs, and cash-flow projections.
What Does It Cost to Start a Business on a 485 Visa?
Costs vary wildly depending on what you’re building. A freelance consulting business might cost next to nothing beyond an ABN and a laptop. A café or retail store, on the other hand, involves fit-out, stock, insurance, and rent before you’ve made a single sale. Budget realistically for:
- Registration and licensing fees
- Accounting and bookkeeping support
- Insurance
- Marketing and a basic website
- Equipment, inventory, or workspace costs
There’s no universal “you need this much” figure. Map out your specific costs and build in a buffer, because almost every new business spends more than the first estimate.
Can a 485 Visa Holder Start an Online Business?
Absolutely. E-commerce, digital services, consulting, freelancing, and online education are all popular routes for 485 visa entrepreneurship. Just don’t assume “online” means you skip Australian obligations. If you’re operating from Australia, Australian tax and business registration rules still apply, regardless of where your customers sit.
Sole Trader or Company: Which Fits Better?
A sole trader setup is simple and cheap to run but leaves you personally liable for business debts. A company is a separate legal entity, which limits your personal liability, but it comes with ASIC reporting duties and higher running costs. Neither is automatically “better” for a 485 visa business owner; it depends on your risk appetite, income level, and growth plans. This is genuinely worth a proper conversation with an accountant before you register anything.
Does Starting a Business Lead to Australian PR?
This is probably the question we get asked most, so here’s the direct answer: no, business ownership alone doesn’t hand you PR. Australia permanent resident eligibility depends on factors like your occupation, skills, points score, and whether you meet the criteria for a relevant skilled, employer-sponsored, or state-nominated pathway. Some entrepreneurs do eventually transition toward PR through a separate visa category, but that’s a distinct assessment from simply running a company.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the visa-conditions check before starting
- Mixing personal and business bank accounts
- Ignoring GST or PAYG obligations until it’s too late
- Assuming business ownership guarantees a PR outcome
- Spending big before testing whether customers actually want what you’re selling
What Happens When Your 485 Visa Expires?
Your business doesn’t come with an automatic extension of your right to stay. Since there’s no second 485 visa available to the same person, you’ll need another lawful visa pathway lined up well before your current one runs out. Planning early keeps both your business and your migration status on solid ground.
How Ausizz Migration Consultants Can Help
Sorting out ABNs, GST, and business structures is important, but it’s only half the picture. The other half is making sure your migration status stays lawful while you build something of your own. That’s where Ausizz Migration Consultants comes in. Our team helps graduates assess visa eligibility, map out realistic migration pathways, and prepare documentation for whichever visa option actually fits their circumstances. We’re not accountants or business lawyers, so we’ll always point you toward the right professional for registration, tax, and legal matters, but on the immigration side, we’ve got you covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start a business while on a 485 visa?
Yes, generally speaking, though it’s worth double-checking your specific visa conditions before you begin.
Do I need an ABN to start a business in Australia?
Most people carrying on an enterprise will need one; the exact requirement depends on your business activity.
Can a 485 visa business lead to PR?
Not by itself. PR depends on separate skilled or nomination criteria.
What happens to my business if my visa expires?
You’ll need a valid ongoing visa in place; the business itself doesn’t extend your stay.
Ready to Plan Your Next Step?
Building a business on your 485 visa can be a genuinely smart move, but it works best when your migration plan and your business plan move together, not on separate tracks. If you want a clearer picture of your visa options while you build your venture, get in touch with Ausizz Migration Consultants for a personalised consultation, or read more visa guides on our blog for related pathways like Australia PR and Australia skilled migration.