When your business is dealing with mounting ATO debt, a cashflow crisis, or pressure from creditors, the decisions you make now will determine what happens to your business, your assets, and your livelihood.
Or call us now: 02 9128 3838
We help Australian business owners understand their options and take action.
BCR Advisory’s team of registered liquidators and restructuring specialists works directly with SME directors across Australia – including Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Cairns to find the most practical path forward. Whether your business is still viable or needs an orderly wind-down, we give you clear, confidential advice without jargon or pressure.
What’s Happening in Your Business Right Now?
Every situation is different. Find the one that fits yours.
“My business is still viable, but the debt is unmanageable…”
If your business still has customers, a genuine product or service, and real revenue, you may not need to close. Small Business Restructuring is a government-backed process that allows eligible businesses to restructure their debts while continuing to trade.
BCR Advisory is one of Australia’s leading firms by volume of SBR appointments. We’ve helped businesses stay operational and keep staff employed.
Small Business Restructuring“I need to close the business, but I want to do it properly…”
Delaying action or winding down a business incorrectly compounds a director’s exposure to insolvent trading claims and ATO penalties. A Creditors Voluntary Liquidation is the recognized, legally sound pathway to stop trading, address debts orderly, and manage your regulatory duties.
Our team manages the entire process, so you can move on with certainty and confidence.
Creditors Voluntary Liquidation“My business is struggling, but I want to fight for it…”
Sometimes a business just needs experienced hands and a clear plan. Our Business Turnaround service is built for directors who are committed to their business but need help identifying what’s driving losses and where costs can be controlled.
The sooner you engage us, the more options you have.
Business Turnaround“I’m dealing with a complex corporate matter or insolvency appointment…”
For situations including receiverships, court liquidations, voluntary administrations, and multi-entity corporate structures, our Corporate Recovery and Insolvency team has the depth and experience to manage appointments of all scales.
We also offer Corporate Advisory services for businesses navigating restructures and business sales that fall outside formal insolvency processes.
Corporate Recovery & Advisory“I’m not sure what I need yet…”
That’s completely normal. Contact BCR Advisory or call us directly on 02 9128 3838 for a confidential, no-obligation conversation. We’ll help you understand your situation and your options without jargon or pressure.
Get in TouchWhy Australian Directors Trust BCR Advisory
Registered Liquidators, Legally Qualified
All formal insolvency appointments in Australia must be conducted by a Registered Liquidator. BCR Advisory’s principals hold this credential and are fully authorised to act across every type of corporate insolvency administration.
100+ Years of Combined Experience
Our team brings over a century of combined experience across insolvency, corporate recovery, restructuring, and business advisory. Our principals previously held senior roles at BDO, PKF, and Ferrier Hodgson.
A Balanced Approach
BCR Advisory supports business owners and directors through complex corporate transitions. We focus on achieving balanced, transparent outcomes for both directors and creditors, managing the process with professional care and absolute discretion.
National Reach, Boutique Service
We have advisers and offices across Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Cairns. National coverage with the hands-on, director-led approach that large firms simply can’t offer.
No “Top-End-of-Town” Fees
Our SME and enterprise clients receive the expertise and rigour of a major firm without the fees that come with it. The real benefit is top-end capability at a boutique price.
Confidential, No-Obligation Initial Consultation
You can understand your situation and your options before committing to anything. Call us on 02 9128 3838 or reach out to a senior adviser today at no cost.
Proven Outcomes for Distressed Businesses
A Financial Services Firm Restructures $1.1M in Debt
The Problem
A viable financial services business in NSW had accumulated $1.1 million in creditor debt. The director was under significant pressure from creditors and at risk of losing the business entirely.
The Solution
BCR Advisory assessed the company’s financial position and determined it was eligible for Small Business Restructuring. We managed the SBR process end-to-end:
- Prepared the restructuring plan
- Negotiated with creditors
- Ensured compliance with all statutory obligations
The Result
Creditors accepted an SBR plan totalling $900,000 in structured repayments. The business continued trading, staff retained their jobs, and the director regained control of operations.
Property Services Operators Restructure $2.8M Across Multiple Entities
The Problem
A group of property services operators in NSW were carrying $2.8 million in combined creditor debt. Cash flow had deteriorated to the point where meeting obligations was impossible without intervention.
The Solution
BCR Advisory worked across multiple entities to structure individual SBR processes, coordinating timelines and creditor communications to deliver a coherent outcome across the group.
The Result
Creditors approved SBR plans totalling $1.5 million in repayments, significantly reducing total liability. Jobs were protected, supply chain relationships were preserved, and operations continued without disruption.
Common Questions Business Owners Ask
Voluntary administration is a process where an independent administrator is appointed to assess a company’s options. It may include restructuring, a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA), or ultimately liquidation. The goal is to explore every avenue to rescue the business or maximise the return to creditors before a final outcome is decided.
Liquidation, by contrast, is a situation where a company’s assets are sold, debts are paid in order of legal priority, and the company is deregistered.
Voluntary administration is generally the better option when the business may still be viable. Liquidation is appropriate when there is no realistic path to recovery.
Small Business Restructuring (SBR) is a formal insolvency process introduced by the Australian Government in 2021 specifically for small businesses. It allows an eligible company to propose a debt repayment plan to creditors while the director remains in control of the business.
To be eligible, your company must:
- Have total liabilities of less than $1 million (excluding certain employee entitlements)
- Be up to date with employee entitlements and tax lodgements
- Not have used the SBR process in the previous seven years
If you’re unsure whether you qualify, speak with BCR Advisory and we will assess your eligibility at no cost.
When a company enters liquidation, the liquidator is required to investigate the company’s affairs and the conduct of its directors. Directors may face personal liability in the following circumstances::
- They have engaged in insolvent trading, incurring debts at a time when they knew or ought to have known the company was insolvent
- They have unpaid PAYG withholding, or GST that was lodged with the ATO more than 90 days late, or unpaid superannuation guarantee charges
This is one of the key reasons why the sooner you engage an adviser, the more options you have to manage your personal exposure.
A Director Penalty Notice (DPN) is a formal notice issued by the Australian Taxation Office that makes a company director personally liable for certain unpaid tax debts, including PAYG withholding, GST, and superannuation guarantee charges.
There are two types of DPNs:
- Lockdown DPNs that leave directors with very limited options
- Non-lockdown DPNs, which allow directors to remit the penalty by placing the company into voluntary administration or liquidation within 21 days
If you have received a DPN, you need to act immediately. Contact BCR Advisory on 02 9128 3838.
In some circumstances, yes, but it requires careful, professional guidance and carries real legal risk. A director who continues to incur debts when a company is insolvent can be held personally liable for those debts. If you believe your business may be insolvent and you want to explore trading through, speak with BCR Advisory before taking any further steps.
Receivership is commonly initiated by a bank or financier who holds a security interest over the company’s assets. The receiver’s primary obligation is to the secured creditor, not the company or its unsecured creditors.
Voluntary administration, by contrast, is initiated by the company’s directors and places the interests of all creditors (and the company’s future) at the centre of the process.
Both appointments involve an external practitioner taking control of some or all of the company’s affairs, but they serve very different purposes and produce different outcomes for different stakeholders.
It depends on the complexity and nature of the appointment. For a formal appointment such as a liquidation or voluntary administration, the practitioner’s fees are typically paid from the company’s assets and are subject to creditor approval. For advisory and restructuring work, fees will depend on the scope of the engagement.
BCR Advisory offers an initial, confidential consultation at no charge, so you can understand your situation and your options before committing to anything. Call us on 02 9128 3838 or reach out to a senior adviser today.
Financial pressure rarely resolves itself. But it can be managed with the right advice.
BCR Advisory offers a confidential, no-obligation initial consultation for business owners across Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Cairns.
Our senior advisers will help you understand your situation and your options without jargon, pressure, or obligation.
