Setting up a business

[bear71]

Hi all I wonder if anyone can help. I've only been here for 4 months now on a 457 and want to set up a business. there are options:

1) Can I do it alone just on my visa.
2) My other half is a PR and will set the business up and employ me
or
3) I can claim that my OH and I are together and work off that - not sure as we've only been together a short time.

Any help or advice of a good migration agent/lawyer that can help is much appreciated.

Thanks again

[Love Shoes]

I am interested to see what replies come to this post.
We too are on a 457 (well my OH is) he is tied to his sponsor as far as I am aware.
But I cannot find work and am thinking maybe of setting up a small on line business, there is only so much voluntary work one can do ...... He emailed his case officer and she just replied asking him to call when he did he got one of this automated call centres that were no use to man nor beast, so we still have no answers.

Very interested to see what comes via replies .....

Good luck by the way

[LKC]

If it is your 457, then you are tied to the company that sponsored you for the duration of the visa and I think that you are only able to work for the listed employer (not 100% sure of that), so you couldn't work for your employer and also elsewhere. For example, my husband was the main applicant and had to work for the company who sponsored him. However, as a secondary applicant, I had full work rights and in fact I did set up my own business as a sole trader which I still run now we are PR.

[JonnyNI]

If it is your 457, then you are tied to the company that sponsored you for the duration of the visa and I think that you are only able to work for the listed employer (not 100% sure of that), so you couldn't work for your employer and also elsewhere. For example, my husband was the main applicant and had to work for the company who sponsored him. However, as a secondary applicant, I had full work rights and in fact I did set up my own business as a sole trader which I still run now we are PR.

Hey LKC,

Can you let me know if there is much red tape involved in setting up a business in Oz. I am moving out to Perth with my OH in February (WA SS 176) and while we intend to gain employment at the outset we would hope that within 2-3 years we could start up our own business. TBH it is something that we have only seriously considered recently and we weren't even sure if it would be possible but by the looks if it, it is!!!

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance, Jonny

[thombatt]

http://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/starting-a-business/

Is a starting point

[bensdad]

A 457 is more like a work permit than a visa although there are pathways to pr from it. Whoever holds the 457 is tied to their sponsor for the duration, if you leave or the firm goes bust for example you have 28 days to find a new sponsor or leave the country.

Your partner is free to work however they wish but must remember its down to the visa holder fulfilling their obligations with the sponsor.

If it were me I'd be inclined to push for ens pr ASAP with the employer.

[Rupert]

Hi all I wonder if anyone can help. I've only been here for 4 months now on a 457 and want to set up a business. there are options:

1) Can I do it alone just on my visa.
2) My other half is a PR and will set the business up and employ me
or
3) I can claim that my OH and I are together and work off that - not sure as we've only been together a short time.

Any help or advice of a good migration agent/lawyer that can help is much appreciated.

Thanks again

If your OH is PR, why don't they sponsor you for a PR visa? Then you can do what you want, in the meantime whilst you are the main applicant of the 457 visa you can only work for this employer.

[RockDr]

Hi all I wonder if anyone can help. I've only been here for 4 months now on a 457 and want to set up a business. there are options:

1) Can I do it alone just on my visa.
2) My other half is a PR and will set the business up and employ me
or
3) I can claim that my OH and I are together and work off that - not sure as we've only been together a short time.

Any help or advice of a good migration agent/lawyer that can help is much appreciated.

Thanks again

How long is a short time? once you've been in a Defacto relationship (more than just dating) for 12 months then you can apply for a Defacto partner visa (look up 820/801 on immi.gov.au). If you get married, or in some states you can register the relationship, which waives the 12month requirement.

[LKC]

Hey LKC,

Can you let me know if there is much red tape involved in setting up a business in Oz. I am moving out to Perth with my OH in February (WA SS 176) and while we intend to gain employment at the outset we would hope that within 2-3 years we could start up our own business. TBH it is something that we have only seriously considered recently and we weren't even sure if it would be possible but by the looks if it, it is!!!

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance, Jonny

Hi Jonny,

I was a fairly straightforward process. I did all the business/financial planning etc and did all of the background work (website development, finding out where to advertise, suppliers, logo etc), then when I was about ready to open my business I registered my business name with the NSW Office of Fair Trading, applied for an ABN from the tax office, and away I went. I have an accountant who deals with the tax side of things for me for my tax return and also for GST (you have to register to collect GST once your turnover exceeds a certain amount). I got heaps of info from the NSW small business website, I think that Thombatt already posted the link to the WA one. Also take a look at www.flyingsolo.com.au which is a small business forum where I got heaps of info and advice from!

[guest55360]

I recently asked my agent about this exact topic. I am on a 457 and wanted to do some freelance work on the side (I'm a Graphic Designer) but was told I am tied to my employer for the duration of my sponsorship ie I cannot get income from any other source or have an ABN. Hope that clears it up for you.