Financial difficulty does not always mean the end. Depending on your circumstances, there may be options that preserve the business or allow an orderly wind-up that protects more value.
Informal arrangements
If your problems are manageable and creditors are willing to work with you, informal arrangements may provide breathing room without formal insolvency processes.
Creditor negotiations
Payment plans, extended terms, or partial forgiveness. Creditors often prefer to recover something rather than force formal processes that may return less.
Refinancing
New funding to bridge short-term gaps or restructure existing debt. This requires lenders who see a viable path forward for the business.
Asset sales
Selling non-core assets to generate cash. The key is acting early enough that sales can be conducted at reasonable prices rather than under distress.
Operational restructuring
Cost reduction, contract renegotiation, or changing how the business operates. Sometimes the business model is sound but costs are out of line.
Formal arrangements
When informal arrangements are not possible or appropriate, formal insolvency processes provide a legal framework for restructuring or winding up.
Voluntary administration
An administrator takes control and imposes a moratorium on creditor action while assessing options. This can lead to a restructuring arrangement (deed of company arrangement) or recommendation for liquidation.
Compromise
A formal proposal to creditors to accept less than full payment. Requires creditor voting and sometimes court approval. Can allow the business to continue while addressing debts.
Liquidation
When the business cannot continue, liquidation provides an orderly process to realise assets and distribute proceeds to creditors. A controlled liquidation usually preserves more value than collapse.
Receivership
A secured creditor can appoint a receiver to realise their security. The receiver's primary duty is to the appointing creditor, but receivership can sometimes allow a business to be sold as a going concern.
Which option applies?
The right option depends on your specific circumstances:
- - Is the underlying business viable?
- - What is the creditor profile? Who is owed what?
- - What security exists over assets?
- - Are creditors willing to negotiate?
- - What is the realistic timeline?
What we do at this stage
We assess your situation and explain which options are realistically available. We help you understand the implications of each path and what it would involve. This is about giving you the information to make informed decisions.