If your business is under financial pressure, you don't have to face it alone. Mackay Goodwin's Small Business Restructuring Specialists work alongside directors to reduce debt, protect operations, and find a sustainable path forward without losing control of your business.
Take a breath
Providing you with the space to breathe. Work with key experts on devising a plan to get the business back on track.
Turnaround efficiently
Due to the simplified processes, Small Business Restructure creates outcomes in a shorter period than formal insolvency solutions.
Cost-effective solution
Experience reduced costs with a Small Business Restructure.
Accountants Daily
Finalists, Fastest
Growing Firm
AFR Top lOO
Accounting Firms
CA and CPA
Qualified
Accountants
National Team
ASIC Registered
Liquidators
ARITA
Professional
Members
Small Business Restructuring (SBR) is a formal, government-backed debt restructuring process for small businesses in financial distress with viable underlying operations. It allows directors to stay in control while working with a Small Business Restructuring Practitioner to develop a creditor-approved repayment plan. Faster and more cost-effective than Voluntary Administration, it keeps you in the driver's seat throughout.
Not sure if you're eligible? Check the eligibility criteria below or speak with our team today.
Retain control
Directors remain in charge of day-to-day operations. No external takeover of your business.
Legal Protection from Creditors
Creditors cannot commence or continue enforcement action once a restructure begins.
Solve Your Director Penalty Notice
A Small Business Restructure can remove the risk of personal liability for company debt.
A Fresh Start
Get the breathing room to reassess, reorganise, and rebuild with qualified support.
Faster Than Formal Insolvency
The SBR process spans approximately 35 business days, with less disruption than Voluntary Administration.
Cost-Effective Solution
The streamlined SBR process attracts a flat fee, far more affordable than traditional insolvency.
To be eligible for a Small Business Restructure under Australian law, a company must meet a set of criteria established by the Federal Government. Eligibility is assessed by a registered Small Business Restructuring Practitioner at the start of the process.
The Small Business Restructuring process is structured, transparent, and designed to move quickly. Here is what to expect from start to finish.
We know that reaching out for help is not easy. Here is what working with Mackay Goodwin's Small Business Restructuring Specialists looks like.
A free, confidential conversation to assess your situation and options.
We review your financials to confirm eligibility under Australian law criteria.
We handle creditor notifications and develop your restructuring plan alongside you.
We manage the voting process and keep you informed at every stage.
Your business trades forward under agreed terms, with our team available throughout.
The full SBR process typically takes between 35 and 50 business days from appointment to resolution.
Clear advice
Get straightforward guidance so you understand your options from day one.
Timely Action
We move quickly to protect your position and keep things on track.
Creditor Negotiation
We manage discussions with creditors to reach workable outcomes.
Reduce stress
Our trusted team handles the process so you can focus on your business.
Experience and Expertise
Our ASIC-registered specialists bring proven restructuring experience.
National Team
Access support across Australia, wherever your business operates.
Level 12, 20 Bridge Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Level 14, 120 Edward Street, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Level 12, 90 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Level 2, 68 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
8 Parramatta Sq, Parramatta NSW 2150
Don’t meet the criteria? Your debt relief options may include:
Winding up your insolvent company for good? Liquidation is a formal process that ensures remaining assets are fairly distributed to creditors. Our experts guide you through every step, providing clear advice and support to help you exit with confidence and compliance.
In a CVL, our ASIC-registered liquidators manage the formalities - from convening shareholders to placing the company into liquidation - making the process smoother and less stressful at every stage.
Eliminate communication hurdles when dissolving a company through MVL. Allow us to assist by conducting a review, liquidating your company and distributing assets to the relevant parties.
Worried your business may not stay afloat? Voluntary Administration gives you the breathing room to restructure, continue trading, and work towards profitability - while ensuring fair distribution to creditors.
Safe Harbour protects directors from insolvent trading claims when following a formal restructuring plan. We act as your restructuring partner, developing a clear strategy to stabilise & strengthen your business.
We bring extensive experience in Receivership appointments and acting as agents for Mortgagees. If you're a funder, secured creditor, or adviser to a financial institution, we’re here to support you.
When an electronic security company in Brisbane was experiencing difficulty with their cash flow, Mackay Goodwin stepped in to help. With clients ranging from small boutiques to international mega-corporations, an 85% reduction in debt got the company through a major trading and cash flow problem.
When an Adelaide building development corporation found itself in a lengthy and protracted legal dispute over a costly project, it found itself unable to trade out the heavy losses it had incurred as a result of the deal. Thanks to a DOCA, restructuring and dispute resolution managed by Mackay Goodwin, the corporation continues to trade today.
When a Melbourne-based earthmoving firm contacted Mackay Goodwin about their financial difficulties, they had already built up a $280,000 backlog with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Thanks to the advice and actionable solutions of our experts, the firm saw a 75% reduction in tax debt, and it got this earthmoving corporation moving again.
Financial pressure rarely gets easier on its own. The sooner you act, the more options you have. Our Small Business Restructuring Specialists are ready to listen, assess your situation, and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Edwin is a valuable member of the senior Mackay Goodwin team, with a huge amount of expertise and experience in running a range of different Deed of Company Arrangement proposals, for Administrations across a diverse range of industry sectors, and in all states across Australia.
David has a wealth of experience across receiverships, voluntary administrations and liquidations together with restructuring and turnaround engagements. Growing up in Bathurst, NSW, David’s interest in agriculture and passion for motorsport translates to his hands-on approach in the insolvency industry. Taking upon a broad range of appointments, David provides a thorough analysis of the current situations his clients are facing and provides the best possible outcome for them and other stakeholders. David’s experience allows him to draw on a broad range of prior appointments and their unique nature to facilitate the survival of a business where possible by using achievable arrangements.
Grahame Ward is a Registered Liquidator and Administrator with expertise in industries like property, tourism, transport, hospitality, and manufacturing. Since 1996, he has specialised in corporate and personal insolvency, reorganisation, restructuring, and crisis management. As a Chartered Accountant and Official Liquidator, Grahame is known for delivering timely and practical advice, especially in complex insolvency matters. He is actively involved in professional development through ARITA, sharing his knowledge as a workshop leader. Grahame is committed to achieving positive outcomes for stakeholders, offering reliable support during challenging financial situations.
Small Business Restructuring is designed to support viable businesses in financial distress. Discover several key advantages of small business restructuring:
These benefits ensure you can focus on running your business while we help you navigate the path to recovery.
The restructuring process typically takes 35–50 business days, depending on the complexity of your situation. This includes financial assessments, creditor negotiations, and plan implementation to get your business back on track.
Yes, engaging in a restructuring process pauses legal actions from creditors, giving you time to focus on recovery. Our team handles creditor negotiations to ensure fair and manageable terms for repayment.
A Small Business Restructuring Practitioner (SBRP) is a qualified professional appointed to guide eligible businesses through the formal Small Business Restructuring program. These specialists provide expert guidance, tailored strategies, and end-to-end support to help address debt, improve business operations, and create a sustainable plan for recovery and growth. At Mackay Goodwin, our practitioners bring a proven track record of achieving positive outcomes for Australian businesses in financial difficulty.
Despite no two scenarios being the same, the streamlined process attracts a very reasonable flat fee. More importantly, the expert advice provided by the restructuring practitioner could be vital in the survival of eligible businesses. In the event that a restructure is not possible, small business owners will likely be eligible for a low-cost simplified liquidation process.
If creditors vote against your small business restructuring plan, the formal protections end and directors must decide on the next steps, whether that is trading independently, entering Voluntary Administration, or proceeding to liquidation. Our team will talk you through every option and help you find the most appropriate path forward for your business and its stakeholders.
Yes. One of the key advantages of the Small Business Restructure process is that company directors remain in control of day-to-day operations throughout. You continue to trade in the ordinary course of business while your restructuring plan is developed and put to creditors.
Speak to one of our experts now for a free consultation. Enter your details below or call 02 8001 6520.