How to Find a Qualified SBR Practitioner in Australia

If you're searching for a small business restructuring practitioner, you're probably not starting from scratch.

You've done some research. You've heard that SBR might be a way to deal with your ATO debt without losing your business. Now you need to work out who to actually call.

The practitioner you choose will have a direct impact on your chances of getting a plan across the line. Choose well and the process can be smooth and successful. Choose poorly and you may lose your one shot.

This article walks you through what a qualified SBR practitioner actually is, what they do, and — most importantly — how to find and evaluate one.

If you're still working out whether SBR is the right path for your business check your company's eligibility using our free eligibility calculator. It takes about 30 seconds.

Ready to start looking? Browse the SBR practitioner directory →

Who Is Actually Qualified to Do an SBR?

This is worth getting clear on early, because it trips a lot of people up.

Under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), only a registered liquidator under ASIC can legally act as a small business restructuring practitioner. That's not a technicality — it's the law. 'SBR practitioner' and 'restructuring practitioner' are specific legal titles, not general business descriptions anyone can use.

Your accountant may know a lot about SBR. A debt consultant might have helped clients prepare for one. That's fine — those people can play a supporting role. But they cannot act as the formal practitioner, run the process, or sign off on your restructuring plan. Only a registered liquidator can do that.

You can search our practitioner directory or firm directory to find a registered practitioner.

Watch out for unqualified advisors

Some businesses promoting SBR services are not registered liquidators — and therefore cannot legally complete the process. If you engage someone who isn't properly qualified, you risk losing time, money, and the window to restructure before creditors take action.

SBR gives you one shot. Make it count.

What Does an SBR Practitioner Actually Do?

It helps to know what you're getting before you engage someone. Here's what the practitioner's role actually looks like in practice.

Once appointed, the practitioner takes on a formal, independent role. They owe duties to your creditors — not just to you. That might sound like a problem, but it's actually important. It's precisely that independence that gives the ATO and other creditors confidence to vote 'Yes' on your plan.

In practical terms, they will:

• Review your financial position and confirm whether (1) your company meets the eligibility criteria for an SBR and (2) the proposed SBR would have a good chance of creditor support
• Work with you to develop a restructuring plan — what you'll pay, over what period, and to which creditors
• Manage the formal restructuring period (up to 20 business days), during which most creditor recovery actions are paused
• Prepare an independent report to creditors so they can assess the plan fairly
• Oversee the creditor vote — more than 50% by value of voting creditors must approve the plan
• If accepted: monitor repayments and formally discharge the remaining debt when the plan is completed
• If rejected: the SBR ends and you'll need to consider other options, such as liquidation

For a full walkthrough of the process from start to finish, see the brief SBR process overview on the SBR Success homepage.

Looking for someone to guide you through this? Search the practitioner directory →

How to Find and Evaluate the Right Practitioner

There's no shortage of people offering SBR-related services. Here's a practical checklist that cuts through the noise.

1. Confirm ASIC registration before anything else

It only takes 30 seconds and it's the one non-negotiable. Check the ASIC registered liquidators register before you spend any more time in conversation with someone. Any practitioner worth their salt will have no issue with you doing this.

2. Look at their SBR experience specifically

SBR is its own process — it's not the same as liquidation or voluntary administration, even though it involves some of the same professionals. General insolvency experience is a starting point, but you want someone who has actually run SBRs, not just read about them.

Ask how many SBR appointments they've completed and what their plan acceptance rate looks like. This information is publicly available from ASIC — and this SBR Success website pulls it together in one place so you can compare practitioners side by side based on real data. Browse the practitioner directory, or if you'd prefer to work with a firm rather than an individual, check out the firm directory instead.

3. Think about industry experience

Some practitioners work heavily in particular sectors — construction, hospitality, retail, professional services. If your business is in a specialist industry, it can be worth finding someone who knows the terrain. SBR Success lets you browse by industry across 19 categories, all drawn from ASIC appointment data.

4. Ask about fees upfront — and how they get approved

Before engaging an SBR practitioner, make sure you understand the fee structure. Most practitioners charge an upfront engagement fee, which is paid by the director to assess the business, prepare the restructuring proposal and get the process underway. If the restructuring plan is approved by creditors, the practitioner's ongoing remuneration for administering the plan is typically included in the plan itself and is approved as part of the creditors' decision to accept the plan.

Ask upfront what the initial costs will be, what fees would apply if the plan is accepted, and how those fees are calculated. A good practitioner will explain this clearly. If someone is evasive about costs or asks for substantial payments without first explaining the process or assessing your circumstances, that's a red flag.

5. Make sure you can actually work with them

It's easy to focus on qualifications and experience, but don't overlook the importance of the working relationship. Throughout the SBR process, you'll be working closely with your practitioner and their team for up to nine weeks as they guide your business through the restructuring process and give it the best chance of success.

That means you need to be able to communicate openly and honestly. You should feel comfortable asking questions and trust that your practitioner will give you clear, practical advice — even if it's not what you were hoping to hear.

One of the strongest signs of a good practitioner is that they take the time to properly assess your business before the formal process begins. SBR is a one-shot opportunity, so careful preparation is critical. If someone is pushing you to sign an appointment without first understanding your circumstances and testing whether SBR is the right solution, that's a good reason to slow down and ask more questions.

One more thing: be wary of the 'best rate' pitch

If someone leads with a fixed debt reduction figure — "we get 80% written off every time" — treat that as a warning sign, not a selling point.

SBR outcomes depend entirely on your company's specific financials and compliance history. No reputable practitioner can guarantee a particular percentage before they've done a proper assessment. A higher advertised number is often a sign you're not dealing with a registered practitioner — it's a sales pitch, not a professional assessment.

Where to Start

Finding the right SBR practitioner doesn't have to be complicated — but it does require looking in the right places and asking the right questions.

Start with ASIC registration. Then look at real SBR experience. Then make sure whoever you engage is willing to do a proper upfront assessment before they ask you to commit to anything.

SBR Success brings together ASIC appointment data for practitioners and firms across Australia, so you can compare on real numbers rather than marketing claims. You can also use our free eligibility calculator to get a sense of where your company stands before you speak to anyone.

Find a practitioner — sbrsuccess.com.au/practitioners →

Check your eligibility — Free eligibility calculator →