KYC KYB Getting Started
Whether you're a business owner signing up directly or a bookkeeper getting things moving on behalf of a client — here's how the account opening process works, what to expect, and how to manage access once you're up and running.
Who can open an account?
pay.com.au accounts are available to Australian businesses with an active ABN. We currently support:
The account must be owned by a director or beneficial owner
Regardless of who starts the application, the account must ultimately be held by a director or beneficial owner of the business. This is a regulatory requirement — we cannot activate an account without verifying the identity of the person responsible for it.
Starting the application — who does what
You don't have to be a director or owner to begin. A bookkeeper or team member can start the process and complete the business details. Here's how the two roles work together:
Starts the application. Enters business details — industry, address, revenue, and payment types. Hands off to the account owner at the identity verification stage.
Receives an invite mid-application. Completes identity verification and takes ownership of the account. Can then invite the operator to manage the account on their behalf.
Step-by-step signup flow
Head to the sign up page to get started. Have the business ABN ready before you begin.
- 1 Enter your email address and create a password (min. 10 characters, one uppercase, one lowercase, one number).
- 2 Enter a referral or promo code if you have one — otherwise leave blank and continue.
- 3 Review and agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
- 4 Verify your Australian mobile number via a one-time SMS code.
- 5 Enter your business ABN and details — industry, goods or services, website, revenue, address, and the types of payments you expect to make.
Once your ABN is submitted, you'll reach a decision screen with two paths:
Jump straight into the dashboard. You can add payment methods, payees, and draft payments while you get familiar with the platform. Verification can be completed whenever you're ready.
Proceed directly to identity and business verification. Once approved, your account is fully active and payments can be authorised.
You can switch paths at any time
If you choose to explore first, a verification prompt is always available from your dashboard. If you choose to verify first, you can still return to explore the platform while your application is reviewed.
Handoff point — invite the account owner
If you're completing this on behalf of a business, invite the director or beneficial owner before the verification step. They'll receive an email to complete identity verification and take ownership of the account.
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Complete verificationThe account owner completes the unified Verification flow — business and identity checks in one sequence. You can pause and resume at any time; progress is always saved.
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Account reviewed and activatedOur team reviews your application — most accounts are approved within 1 business day. You'll receive an SMS and email when you're live. Everything you set up during the explore phase is retained.
What you can do before you verify
If you choose to explore the platform first, you'll have access to the dashboard straight away. Here's what you can and can't do:
| What you can do | Limit |
|---|---|
| Add payment methods | Up to 5 |
| Add payees | Up to 5 |
| Draft payments | Up to 5 |
| Authorise payments | Not available until verified |
Payments won't go through until you're verified
Drafted payments are saved and ready to authorise, but nothing will be sent until your account is verified. This is enforced at the system level — it is not a rejection of your application.
The ATO is pre-loaded as a payee
To help you get started, we pre-load the Australian Taxation Office as a payee when you sign up. You'll find it ready to use in your payees list — no setup needed for BAS and tax payments.
Benefits of completing verification
Verifying your account unlocks the full platform, including:
- The ability to authorise payments
- PayRewards Points earned on your first payment
- Access to the referral program
- A 30-day trial of our Premium plan — our best rates and full access to all platform features (T&Cs apply, see section 6.2(a))
Managing the account after setup
Once the account is active, the account owner can invite others to manage it on their behalf. This is how bookkeepers, accountants, and finance team members get ongoing access.
How delegated access works
The account owner sends an invite from within the platform. Invited users can manage payments, view history, and handle day-to-day tasks — without needing to be a director or owner themselves. The account owner remains responsible for the account at all times.
Identity and business documents required
What we need depends on your business structure. All document collection is part of our KYC and KYB obligations under the AML/CTF Act.
Sole Trader
- Personal ID of the sole trader (e.g. driver's licence or passport)
Australian Company
- Personal ID for all beneficial owners (UBOs)
- For any owner that is not an individual — the required documents for that business
Australian Trust
- Signed and executed trust deed
- Personal ID for any trustee who is an individual
- For any trustee that is not an individual — the required documents for that business
Australian Partnership
- Signed and executed partnership agreement
- Personal ID for any partner who is an individual
- For any partner that is not an individual — the required documents for that business
Common questions
Can I start the application if I'm not a director or owner?
Do I have to verify straight away?
What happens to the payment methods and payees I added before verifying?
How does the account owner invite me to manage the account?
What if my ABN details are suppressed?
Why isn't my account active yet?
What if I don't have a business or ABN?
Still need help?
If you're experiencing issues during onboarding or have questions about your verification status, contact our support team via live chat — we're here to help.