Getting Your Foundations Right
Launching a SaaS product in Australia requires attention to both global best practices and local specifics. This checklist covers the essentials so you do not miss critical steps that could slow your go to market.
Legal and Compliance
Register your business with ASIC and obtain an ABN. Ensure your terms of service and privacy policy comply with the Australian Privacy Act and the Australian Consumer Law. If you handle health or financial data, check sector specific regulations. Set up proper GST registration if your revenue will exceed the threshold.
Payment and Billing
Australian customers expect to pay in AUD. Set up payment processing with a provider that supports Australian dollars and local payment methods. Consider offering both monthly and annual billing options. Ensure your invoicing complies with ATO requirements.
Infrastructure and Data
Australian businesses increasingly prefer data sovereignty. If possible, host your application data within Australia using local AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud regions. This can be a genuine competitive advantage, especially when selling to government or regulated industries.
Go to Market Strategy
Define your ideal customer profile for the Australian market. Research which industries have the strongest demand for your solution. Build a sales strategy that includes both direct outreach and channel partnerships. Platforms like Zepys can accelerate your partner channel by connecting you with agents who already serve your target market.
Sales and Marketing Materials
Create marketing materials that resonate with Australian audiences. Use local case studies, reference Australian industry benchmarks, and avoid defaulting to US centric examples. Australians respond well to straightforward, no nonsense messaging.
Support Infrastructure
Decide on your support model. Will you offer support during Australian business hours? Having local time zone coverage is important for Australian B2B customers who expect responsive service. Consider outsourcing initial support to an Australian team if your company is based overseas.
Metrics to Track Post Launch
Monitor monthly recurring revenue, customer acquisition cost, churn rate, and net promoter score from day one. These metrics tell you whether your launch is gaining traction and where to invest additional resources.
The First 90 Days
Your launch is not a single event. Plan your first 90 days with specific milestones: number of customers onboarded, support response times achieved, partner conversations initiated, and product feedback collected. This structured approach keeps momentum after the initial excitement fades.