Health practitioners compliance obligations for a sole trader
Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine for a sole trader in health practitioners with 1–5 employees, turnover $100K–$1M, selling to consumers and small businesses.
Short answer: 40 obligations
40 Commonwealth obligations apply to a sole trader in health practitioners with 1–5 employees, turnover $100K–$1M (16 critical), plus 15 to check. Risk rating: medium. No licensed regime, but you employ staff (WHS, Fair Work, super and payroll duties); you are an APP entity under the Privacy Act; 16 critical obligations apply.
What the structure changes
Compared with a Pty Ltd company of the same size in health practitioners, a sole trader picks up 0 Commonwealth obligations and drops 10.
- Does not apply: Apply for a Director Identification Number (Director ID)
- Does not apply: Comply with directors' general law and statutory duties
- Does not apply: Prevent insolvent trading (s 588G)
- Does not apply: Pay company PAYG/GST/SG or face Director Penalty Notice (DPN)
- Does not apply: Lodge the ASIC annual company statement and review fee
- Does not apply: Determine large proprietary company status annually
- Does not apply: Apply for a Tax File Number for new entities and partnerships
- Does not apply: Pay ASIC fees + lodge prescribed forms
- Does not apply: Discharge of directors' duties — practical evidence
- Does not apply: Beneficial ownership transparency (Tranche 3 — under consultation)
Critical Commonwealth obligations on this profile
- Notifiable Data Breach (NDB) scheme (Provides a health service and holds health information — not covered by the small business exemption (Privacy Act s 6D(4)(b)))
- Pay superannuation on every payday (Payday Super) (You have employees (1–5))
- Pay employees in accordance with the applicable modern award (You have employees (1–5))
- Manage psychosocial hazards at work (You have employees (1–5))
- Take reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent sex discrimination, sexual (You have employees (1–5))
- Maintain AHPRA registration and CPD (Industry: Health practitioners)
- Make mandatory notifications to AHPRA (Industry: Health practitioners)
- Australian Business Number (ABN) application (Every business carrying on an enterprise needs an ABN)
Check whether these apply
- Maintain PBS approval + claim accurately for PBS-listed medicines: only if you are a PBS-approved pharmacy
- Maintain controlled drugs register (Schedule 8 / 9): only if you hold Schedule 8 medicines
- Cosmetic surgery practitioner endorsement (from 2025): only if you perform or advertise cosmetic procedures
- Cosmetic surgery advertising standards (Medical Board reforms 2024-2025): only if you perform or advertise cosmetic procedures
- Lodge an FBT return and pay FBT by 21 May: only if you provide fringe benefits (cars, entertainment, loans) to employees
- Wash outbound marketing lists against the Do Not Call Register: only if you make outbound telemarketing calls
- Comply with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code: only if you advertise therapeutic goods
- Influencer + ad disclosure under ACL + AANA Code: only if you advertise to consumers or engage influencers
State and territory law
This page counts Commonwealth obligations only. Payroll tax, workplace safety, licensing and other state duties depend on where the business operates; the industry's state pages list them.
Other structures and industries
- Health practitioners: trust
- Health practitioners: pty Ltd company
- Health practitioners: public company
- Health practitioners: registered charity
- Health practitioners: not-for-profit
- Real estate agents: sole trader
- Accountants & bookkeepers: sole trader
- Precious metals & stones dealers: sole trader
- Fintech (non-bank): sole trader
- Banks & ADIs: sole trader
- General insurers: sole trader
Questions
- What compliance obligations apply to a sole trader in health practitioners?
- 40 Commonwealth obligations apply to a sole trader in health practitioners with 1–5 employees, turnover $100K–$1M (16 critical), plus 15 to check. Risk rating: medium. No licensed regime, but you employ staff (WHS, Fair Work, super and payroll duties); you are an APP entity under the Privacy Act; 16 critical obligations apply.
- What changes compared with a Pty Ltd company of the same size?
- A sole trader picks up 0 obligations and drops 10.
Related
- Health practitioners: all obligations
- Compliance obligations by structure
- Compliance obligations by industry, state and size
- Maintain AHPRA registration and CPD: does it apply to health practitioners?
- Make mandatory notifications to AHPRA: does it apply to health practitioners?
- Maintain PBS approval + claim accurately for PBS-listed medicines: does it apply to health practitioners?
- Maintain controlled drugs register (Schedule 8 / 9): does it apply to health practitioners?
Sources
- Notifiable Data Breach (NDB) scheme
- Pay superannuation on every payday (Payday Super)
- Pay employees in accordance with the applicable modern award
- Manage psychosocial hazards at work
- Take reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent sex discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation (positive duty)
- Maintain AHPRA registration and CPD
Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine from the published obligation corpus; facts last checked 3 October 2026. Rules Mate is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with the regulator source or a qualified adviser before acting.