01
Clean
Use the fullest name you have
Keep legal suffixes like Pty Ltd if you have them. Add a state or postcode column where you know it; it removes most wrong matches.
Guide · Name to ABN
Find the ABN for a list of company names
Turn a column of supplier, customer or lead names into ABNs, with a confidence score so you know which matches to double-check.
The problem
Names are messy; ABNs are not
Lists built from invoices, web forms or trade-show scans usually have a business name and nothing else. To validate those businesses, check GST or join the list to other data, you need the ABN.
Name search is harder than ABN search. "Smith Plumbing", "Smith Plumbing Pty Ltd" and "SMITH PLUMBING SERVICES" might be the same business or three different ones in three states. A useful name-to-ABN match therefore needs a score, a way to narrow by location, and a clear flag on matches that need a human look.
Step by step
How to match business names to ABNs in bulk
02
Choose a mode
Best match, or top matches
Best match returns one row per name, ready to merge back into your list. Top matches returns up to n candidates per name for research.
03
Run
Start the lookup
Each candidate gets the register's own relevance score and a name-similarity score that ignores Pty Ltd, punctuation and word order, combined into a 0-100 match score.
04
Review
Check the low-confidence rows
Rows are labelled high, medium or low confidence. Accept the high ones, review the rest by hand, and confirm anything important with the business itself.
Better matches
Tips for accurate name-to-ABN matching
Filter by location
Use the state and postcode filters (or per-row columns in a CSV) so a common name doesn't match a business on the other side of the country.
Active only
Turn on active-only to skip cancelled ABNs when you're enriching a current list.
Trading names are dated
The ABR notes legacy trading names haven't been updated since 2012, so prefer matches on entity or registered business names.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free way to look up ABNs by name in bulk?
The ABR offers a free Name Lookup tool as an Excel workbook with macros. It works if you can run macros; our tool is the no-macro, CSV and API option at US$2 per 1,000 matches.
How accurate is the match?
Most distinctive names match with high confidence. Generic names, sole traders and businesses trading under a different name need review, which is why every row carries a score and a confidence label.
Do I pay for names that don't match?
No. Not-found rows are returned so your list stays aligned, but they are free.
Can I get phone numbers or addresses too?
No. The register only publishes state and postcode for the main business location.
Try it on your own list
Data comes live from the Australian Business Register's public ABN Lookup web services. This tool is independent and not endorsed by or affiliated with the ABR, the ATO, ASIC or the Australian Government. Verify anything important at abr.business.gov.au. General information, not tax advice.