You have been trading as a sole trader for years. Your accountant says it is time to set up a company for tax and risk reasons, and you agree. Then comes the question nobody warned you about: can you simply transfer your QBCC licence to the company? If you have ever stared at a QBCC form and wondered what you are meant to do next, you are not alone, and this one catches a lot of good tradies out.
The short answer is no. QBCC states plainly that licences cannot be transferred. When you move your business into a company, that company needs its own licence. Get the timing wrong and you can end up with a company that is contracting without a licence, or a licence sitting with a business that no longer exists. This guide walks through what actually has to happen.
Why you cannot transfer a QBCC licence to a company
A QBCC licence is tied to a specific licensee: a person or a company. A company is a separate legal entity from you, so your individual licence does not carry across. QBCC describes the process for changing licence type as two steps: apply for the new licence, then (optionally) surrender the old one. There is no transfer button.
It is a frustrating rule when you have spent years building a clean record. But the rule exists because QBCC assesses each licensee on its own merits, including its financial position and the people running it. The company starts from scratch with its own assessment, even though you are the same person behind it.
What the new company licence actually needs
Before you lodge anything, line up these pieces. Missing one is the most common reason applications stall.
- A nominee. The company must nominate a qualified individual who is a director, secretary or employee, and who holds a contractor or nominee supervisor licence in the same class. That is often you, but it must be formally set up.
- Proof of the nominee’s link to the company. QBCC asks for an ASIC historical extract for officers, or a PAYG payment statement for employees.
- Minimum financial requirements (MFR) evidence. You provide an MFR report or declaration with the application. The company’s own balance sheet is what counts, not your personal one.
- Two applications, not one. You need the company licence application for your licence class, plus an individual licence application for the nominee if they do not already hold one.
- The fees. As of July 2026, QBCC lists a company SC1 licence (up to $200,000 annual revenue) at $1,420.83 in total, or $732.77 for a current licensed company. An individual SC1 licence is listed at $773.89.
Your nominee also needs the right technical qualifications for the licence class. If you are unsure whether you or a team member qualifies, check the Site Supervisor Licence eligibility page before you commit to a structure.
The timing trap: the gap between structures
Here is where the real risk sits. QBCC says to allow up to 8 weeks to process a licence type change application. If your accountant sets the company up on a Monday and you start invoicing through it on Tuesday, you may be contracting through an entity that does not yet hold a licence.
The safer sequence is simple: lodge the company licence application early, keep trading under your existing licence until the new one is issued, and only then move contracts, invoices and advertising across. Keep your individual licence active during the changeover. QBCC confirms surrendering the original is optional, so there is no rush to cancel it.
“The licence follows the legal entity that signs the contract. If the entity changes, the licence conversation has to happen first, not after the invoices go out.”
Karen Zhang, QBCC Express Founder
If you are weighing up the changeover right now and the paperwork feels like a minefield, a Strategy Session with QBCC Express maps the order of steps for your situation so there is no gap in cover.
Partnerships and trusts: different rules again
Not every structure works the same way. A partnership is not a separate legal entity and cannot be licensed. At least one partner must hold a contractor licence, as an individual or a company, and only that licensed partner can contract on behalf of the partnership. All partners must still be named in contracts and advertisements.
A trust cannot hold a licence either. The trustee does, applying as an individual or a company, and providing evidence of the business structure. If you run a family trust with a corporate trustee, the licence conversation is about that trustee company, which is easy to overlook when everyone calls the business by its trading name.
After the switch: keep the company compliant
Once the company is licensed, the obligations are the company’s. If your nominee leaves, QBCC requires notice within 14 days. Keep the company’s financial position healthy against its MFR requirements, and update QBCC promptly when details change. A new structure is a fresh start, which also means a fresh set of deadlines.
Changing structure should protect your business, not expose it. Lodge early, keep the old licence alive until the new one lands, and have the nominee and MFR evidence ready before you apply. If you want a second set of eyes before you lodge, book a Strategy Session and get the sequence right the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my QBCC licence to my new company?
No. QBCC states that licences cannot be transferred. The company must apply for its own licence, and you apply separately as an individual if you are the nominee and do not already hold a suitable licence.
Do I have to surrender my individual licence when the company is licensed?
Not necessarily. QBCC says surrendering the original licence is optional when you apply for a new licence type in the same class. Many contractors keep it, particularly if they act as the company’s nominee.
How long does QBCC take to process a licence application?
QBCC advises allowing up to 8 weeks for a licence type change application. Complete paperwork and the right supporting evidence help avoid delays.
Who can be the nominee for a company licence?
The nominee must be a director, secretary or employee of the company and hold a contractor or nominee supervisor licence in the same class. They must also meet the technical qualification requirements for that class.
Can a partnership or trust hold a QBCC licence?
No. A partnership is not a separate legal entity, so at least one partner must hold a contractor licence. A trust cannot hold a licence either; the trustee must be licensed.
