# ABN Lookup API

> ABN Lookup returns Australian business identity, registration and location details as a workflow and API.

ABN Lookup finds Australian businesses by name or 11-digit ABN and returns identity, registration and location details. Search businesses requires a business name or 11-digit ABN; state and active-status filters are optional.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/abn-lookup
- Handle: `@abn-lookup`
- Category: [Government](https://fous.com/workflows/category/government)
- Source website: https://abr.business.gov.au
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with ABN Lookup.

## Methods

### Search businesses

Operation `search_businesses`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Find Australian businesses by name or ABN, including ABN status, GST registration, business names and location. Name results follow the ABN Lookup relevance order; results are limited to the public search matches.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `state` | string | no | `"VIC"` | Main business location state or territory, abbreviation or full name. Example: NSW. |
| `business` | string | yes | `"88 000 014 675"` | Business or company name, or an 11-digit ABN. Example: Woolworths. |
| `active_only` | boolean | no | `false` | Include only active ABNs. Example: true. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `10` | Maximum number of distinct businesses to return, up to 50. Example: 10. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "business"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "state": {
      "enum": [
        "NSW",
        "VIC",
        "QLD",
        "WA",
        "SA",
        "TAS",
        "ACT",
        "NT",
        "New South Wales",
        "Victoria",
        "Queensland",
        "Western Australia",
        "South Australia",
        "Tasmania",
        "Australian Capital Territory",
        "Northern Territory"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Main business location state or territory, abbreviation or full name. Example: NSW.",
      "examples": [
        "VIC"
      ]
    },
    "business": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Business or company name, or an 11-digit ABN. Example: Woolworths.",
      "examples": [
        "88 000 014 675",
        "Woolworths",
        "zzqxvkjvwvqxz"
      ]
    },
    "active_only": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": true,
      "description": "Include only active ABNs. Example: true.",
      "examples": [
        false
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 10,
      "maximum": 50,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of distinct businesses to return, up to 50. Example: 10.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        10,
        3
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "business": "88 000 014 675"
    },
    {
      "business": "Woolworths",
      "max_results": 10
    },
    {
      "business": "zzqxvkjvwvqxz"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `businesses` | array |  |  |
| `businesses[].abn` | string | `"88 000 014 675"` |  |
| `businesses[].acn` | string or null | `"000 014 675"` |  |
| `businesses[].state` | string or null | `"NSW"` |  |
| `businesses[].postcode` | string or null | `"2153"` |  |
| `businesses[].page_link` | string | `"https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=88000014675"` |  |
| `businesses[].abn_status` | string | `"Active"` |  |
| `businesses[].entity_name` | string or null | `"WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED"` |  |
| `businesses[].entity_type` | string or null | `"Australian Public Company"` |  |
| `businesses[].trading_names` | array |  |  |
| `businesses[].business_names` | array |  |  |
| `businesses[].gst_registered` | string | `"Yes"` |  |
| `businesses[].abn_status_since` | string or null | `"1999-11-01"` |  |
| `businesses[].gst_registered_since` | string or null | `"2000-07-01"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "business": "88 000 014 675"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "businesses": [
    {
      "abn": "88 000 014 675",
      "acn": "000 014 675",
      "state": "NSW",
      "postcode": "2153",
      "page_link": "https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=88000014675",
      "abn_status": "Active",
      "entity_name": "WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED",
      "entity_type": "Australian Public Company",
      "trading_names": [
        "WOOLWORTHS",
        "DICK SMITH ELECTRONICS",
        "BWS-BEER WINE SPIRITS"
      ],
      "business_names": [
        "Woolworths Business",
        "The Business Grocer",
        "Everyday Gifting"
      ],
      "gst_registered": "Yes",
      "abn_status_since": "1999-11-01",
      "gst_registered_since": "2000-07-01"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@abn-lookup",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_businesses",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "business": "88 000 014 675"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@abn-lookup\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"search_businesses\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"business\": \"88 000 014 675\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@abn-lookup",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_businesses",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "business": "88 000 014 675"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@abn-lookup","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Check an ABN’s status before onboarding a supplier
- Find a business’s ABN, ACN and location
- Check whether a business is registered for GST
- Review trading names and business names linked to an entity

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with ABN Lookup?

No. Fous is not affiliated with ABN Lookup. This workflow reads the public abr.business.gov.au website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a ABN Lookup account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from abr.business.gov.au when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### Is an Australian business’s ABN active?

Search businesses using the business name or ABN; results include ABN status.

### Is a business registered for GST?

Search businesses using the business name or ABN; results include GST registration status.

### What business names are linked to an ABN?

Search businesses using the 11-digit ABN; results include entity and business names.

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- [All Government workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/government)