Questions owners ask us, answered plainly

No. There's no credit check when you first enquire. A credit check is only discussed once you've decided to go ahead with an option.

No. We don't spray enquiries across a panel of lenders. One team works on your situation and a real person calls you, so your phone won't light up with strangers.

Because in a deadline situation, the details decide what's possible. The letter type and date, the amount owed, your turnover and any property tell us which route fits — getting them right first time saves days.

A real person who deals with ATO and creditor deadlines reads your enquiry and calls you. You can also call us on 03 9639 6511.

21 days. The ATO says the period starts on the day it posts the DPN or leaves it at your ASIC-registered address, not the day you open it.

A non-lockdown DPN can be cleared by paying, appointing an administrator or small business restructuring practitioner, or winding up. A lockdown DPN — where PAYG withholding or GST wasn't reported within three months of the due date, or super guarantee charge wasn't reported by its due date — can only be cleared by paying.

21 days from service to pay, settle or file and serve an application to set it aside. The debt must be at least $4,000. If nothing happens, the company is presumed insolvent and can be wound up.

No. A garnishee takes effect once the third party receives it and can continue until the debt is paid, or until the ATO varies or withdraws it, for example after a suitable payment arrangement.

It's the letter the ATO sends before reporting a business tax debt to credit bureaus, where at least $100,000 is overdue by more than 90 days and the business isn't engaging. You have 28 days from receiving it to act.

Property-secured business loans range from $20,000 to $5,000,000 — first mortgages, second mortgages and caveat loans over residential or commercial property. Unsecured, cash-flow and line-of-credit options for trading businesses are typically $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements.

Yes, it's considered case by case. Lenders look at the security or cash flow, what caused the debt, and how the new facility will be repaid.

A director's home or a related party's property can often be used as security for a business-purpose loan, with every owner's informed agreement.

No. Every facility is priced on the business's circumstances, so a published rate would be misleading. When comparing, ask for the estimated total cost of finance.

Often, but never guaranteed. It depends on the security, the documents and the days remaining. Enquire the day the letter arrives, and have your document pack ready.

No. Everything we arrange is for business purposes only.

Sometimes that's the right decision, but check whether the business can be funded out first. ASIC's July 2026 review found 44% of voluntary administrations reached a deed of company arrangement, and only 15.4% for companies with liabilities of $1 to $250,000.

A protection in section 588GA of the Corporations Act for directors who, after suspecting insolvency, develop a course of action reasonably likely to lead to a better outcome than immediately appointing an administrator or liquidator. It can be lost if employee entitlements aren't paid or tax lodgements aren't kept up.

Then more debt isn't the answer, and we'll tell you so. Getting independent advice about an orderly process is the right next step.