Founded in 1984, Jirsch Sutherland has helped many Australian businesses, particularly small-to-medium businesses, turn-around, recalibrate and grow and have worked with scores of tradespeople, including subbies who’ve been the collateral damage when a head contractor gets into financial trouble.

We’re proudly independent and are the country’s leading voluntary insolvency firm. We offer a local presence and national reach, with a network of offices in metropolitan and regional hubs on the Eastern Seaboard and in WA, and a team of specialists committed to servicing metro as well as regional, rural and remote areas.

What makes us different is our empathy and our tailored solutions. We work closely with our clients and their trusted advisers, including accountants and lawyers, to identify and develop the best-outcome solution for businesses that find themselves in financial distress. We recognise that at the heart of every business issue are people’s lives and livelihoods. We pride ourselves on being open, honest and empathetic.

I understand first-hand the challenges faced by tradies. Not only have I assisted many in my role as a Registered Liquidator and Bankruptcy Trustee, but I’m also the wife of a small business owner who runs a joinery/kitchen business in regional NSW. I manage my husband’s books and have assisted with implementing various processes to help him run his business. Over the years I have witnessed the pressures faced by others in the industry – including tradies and suppliers – so I know it can be tough at times (particularly when you’re juggling business and family. I get it, my husband and I are parents of two young children).

It’s been a really rough few years for small businesses – particularly those in the building & construction sector – with COVID, cost-of-living crisis, inflation and high interest rates. Then there’s the ATO, which has ramped up its debt collection activities. You might have received or heard about Director Penalty Notices (DPNs), one of the statutory ‘weapons’ the ATO uses to recover unpaid tax. The ATO has issued thousands of DPNs in the past couple of years and is unlikely to let up any time soon. If you receive a DPN or are in danger of receiving one, you can’t muck around. You need advice urgently. That’s where I can help.

At Jirsch Sutherland we offer a range of specialist services including:
- Formal restructuring processes including Small Business Restructuring (SBR) plans, Voluntary Administration, and Deeds of Company Arrangements (DOCAs).
- Informal ‘work out’ solutions (allowing a company to renegotiate the terms of trade with their creditors).
- Personal insolvency solutions including bankruptcy and Personal Insolvency Agreements (an alternative to bankruptcy).
- Consulting services tailored to improve a business’s operations and profitability.
Should you be experiencing financial distress, I’m happy to chat – and there’s no obligation or cost for that initial chat. I just like helping people find the right path. Early advice is key - the sooner you act, the more options there might be.

E: [email protected]

W: www.jirschsutherland.com.au

MONEY TROUBLE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS

At Shaw Gidley, we understand the crucial role Tradie Wives play in the success of their partners' businesses. We also understand that navigating the financial aspects of business can sometimes be daunting or even distressing - we're here to offer our expertise and support.

With over 100 years of combined experience among 20 specialist staff across three offices, we focus on small-medium companies and individuals in financial distress.

We specialise in helping tackle debts including ATO debts, offering proactive solutions tailored to your needs:

- We understand that dealing with financial challenges can create anxiety, but the process doesn't have to be scary. Our professional, friendly approach and experience ensures that you do not feel overwhelmed and receive the best advice possible.
- We recently assisted a client who was overwhelmed by a tax debt upwards of $600,000, and unable to meet obligations under a repayment plan. We assisted them with a Small Business Restructure and now they have settled their debts including the tax debt for 20 cents in the dollar and have managed to keep their business. They are now back on their feet and feeling back in control of their finances.

Our friendly team is here to explain your options around Director Penalty Notices (DPN) and help protect your personal assets:

- If you receive a Director Penalty Notice (DPN), it's crucial to seek advice promptly. We are here to listen, explain your options and help protect your personal assets.
- We assist clients on a daily basis where they are facing a DPN. It is scary how many professional advisors do not fully understand how DPNs work and as a result are not able to properly advise on them. We can advise and offer formal insolvency solutions to avoid personal liability.

Whether you're seeking assistance in relation to your Company or your personal finances we have the solutions:

- From a personal perspective, bankruptcy can seem terribly daunting and an absolute last resort. To the contrary, bankruptcy is now a relatively discrete option that is designed to deal with personal debt and give you a fresh financial start. Additionally, there are formal options that avoid bankruptcy that we have years of experience in and can advise you on.
- We recently assisted a client facing the daunting prospect of a liability in excess of $800,000 to the ATO under an expired DPN. We assisted them with a personal insolvency agreement where they paid creditors 10 cents in the dollar and avoided bankruptcy. The whole process took less than 6 months to get them back on their feet.

Take the proactive step towards getting back on top of your financial situation by booking an obligation-free consultation with us.

E: [email protected]

W: https://shawgidley.com.au/

F: https://www.facebook.com/shawgidley/

L: https://au.linkedin.com/company/shaw-gidley-insolvency-&-reconstruction

At Business Reset, we help small businesses under financial pressure, particularly those in building and construction businesses that are struggling with ATO debt or cash flow issues.

Many tradies and builders are still doing it tough after COVID. Costs are rising, payments are getting slower, and the ATO is getting aggressive to collect debts. When that happens, it can be hard to see a way forward — but there are options available.

If a business is still viable, we help directors reduce their ATO debt through a Small Business Restructure (SBR). This process can reduce tax debt by up to 70%, while allowing the company to keep trading and stay under the director’s control. Our director, Jarvis Archer, handles more small business restructures than any other liquidator with a success rate of over 96%.

If an SBR is not suitable, we look at alternatives available for the business to continue, or if it can't continue, we help directors close the company with confidence through liquidation. Our approach is no surprises, fixed fees and relatively fast timeframes with a focus on clients feeling informed, clear and respected through the process.

We’ve worked with hundreds of businesses in the construction sector and understand the unique challenges tradies and builders face. That experience means we know about insolvency and licensing laws and what works.

The good news is that an SBR does not automatically cancel a building licence. But it’s important to manage things properly. QBCC licences are mostly fine, NSW and VIC can be tricky — so it’s best to get the right advice from a team that understands the construction industry.

We also work closely with accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors to make the process as smooth as possible.
If your business is under pressure or struggling with ATO debt, getting early advice can make a big difference. You don’t need to go through it alone. All discussions are free and confidential, there's only a cost if you decide to implement our solution.

To learn more, visit www.businessreset.com.au, email [email protected] or send us a message. We’re here to help.

W: www.businessreset.com.au 

E: [email protected]

I: https://www.instagram.com/businessresetteam/