If you offer financial services you are required to use an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence. The AFS licensing process is by no means easy. Much care and consideration needs to be exercised when you file for an AFS licence. Use this guide is to help you and your business get through the application process with as little stress as possible.
Do I Need and Australian Financial Services (AFS) Licence?
Before applying for an AFS licence it’s worth considering whether you need one in the first place. Under the Corporations Act if you carry on a business that provides financial services you will be required to hold an AFS licence. For example accountancy firms, insurance brokers, banks and financial planners are all required to have an AFS.
ASIC requires you to hold an AFS if you:
- provide financial product advice to clients for example, if your are engaged in financial planning;
- deal in a financial product for example, if you buy or sell shares for your client;
- make a market for a financial product for example, where you regularly quote prices at which people can buy or sell financial products;
- operate a registered managed investment scheme;
- provide a custodial or depository service for example, if you hold a financial product, or a beneficial interest in a financial product on trust for a client; or
- provide traditional trustee company services.
Step 1 – Get to Know ASIC’S Website
Now that you’ve determined that your business requires an AFS the best way to move forward is to familiarise yourself with ASIC’s eLicensing service. The eLicensing service is the sole means of obtaining an AFS licence and therefore it is vital to read up on all the available information on financial services on ASIC’s website.
Step 2 – Collate Your Documents
Using ASIC’s eLicensing tool you will be able to submit an online application form. In this form you will be required to give information about yourself as the applicant, your business and the type of financial services and product that your are going to provide. At this stage you will also be prompted to submit information that evidences your financial expertise as well as the expertise of your business managers. Additionally, you and each manager will be required to provide documents such as income status, current and projected cash flow statements and a description of how your business will continue to abide by ASIC’s financial requirements.
Step 2 is crucial to a successful application. In order to understand the exact data that you need to collate consult Lawpath and we can connect you to a qualified commercial solicitor who can guide you through the application process.
Step 3 – Application Fee
Upon submission of the online form you will be required to pay an application fee of $825 for an individual or $1,485 for a corporate, partnership or trustee applicant.
Step 4 – Initial Review
At this stage ASIC will undertake an initial review and will usually respond to your application in 2-4 weeks. It is crucial to note that at this stage of the process you may be prompted to give additional proofs listed on the application form. Depending on the services you provide these might include:
- Compliance Arrangements;
- Arrangements for Managing Conflicts of Interests; or
- A Risk Management System Statement.
Step 5 – Draft Letter of Acceptance
After this additional documentation has met ASIC’s requirements you may receive a draft letter of acceptance. But don’t get excited yet. This letter is only a draft and may be subject to you fulfilling certain conditions provided for by ASIC. For example, details of your professional indemnity insurance are often required to be submitted after you have received the draft letter of acceptance.
Step 6 – Completion
Finally, you are now able to conduct your business and operate under an AFS licence. At this stage ASIC will issue your final licence and set out your obligations to comply.
As ASIC is extremely careful in considering AFS applications it is essential to collate all the required information and present your documentation in the approved manner.
To fully understand exactly what you need contact Lawpath and we can connect you to a practicing commercial lawyer who can take you through the complexities of application process and identify the information that your business will need.
