Pre-Insolvency & Restructuring Advisory

When the pressure mounts,
clarity is everything.

Ashborne Advisory works with directors, business owners, and individuals facing ATO debt, Director Penalty Notices, and financial distress. We protect what matters. We find the path forward.

$0
Unnecessary liability left on the table
100%
Confidential & obligation-free
Early
The earlier you act, the more we can do

The Ashborne Difference

Most people don't know their options until it's too late.

A Director Penalty Notice doesn't mean the end. ATO pressure doesn't mean you must lose everything. What it means is that time matters — and you need the right advice, fast, clear, and confidential.

Ashborne Advisory exists for exactly this moment. We sit between you and the consequences, identify every legitimate option available to you, and help you act decisively before windows close.

Our Services

What We Do

Specialist advisory for those under financial pressure. Every engagement is confidential, direct, and results-focused.

Director Penalty Notice Defence

A DPN is one of the ATO's most powerful weapons against directors personally. We act quickly to identify your options, challenge the notice where possible, and minimise personal exposure.

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ATO Debt Negotiation

Accumulated tax debt is manageable with the right approach. We negotiate payment plans, interest remissions, and debt compromises directly with the ATO on your behalf.

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Pre-Insolvency Planning

Before formal insolvency becomes necessary, there are often legitimate steps that protect you, your assets, and your future. We identify and map them while options remain open.

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Asset & Liability Structuring

Compliant, defensible structuring to separate personal exposure from business risk. For those who want to ensure the problem stops at the company door.

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Who We Help

Built for anyone at a financial crossroads.

You've worked hard to build something. The last thing you need is to lose it — or your personal assets — because of a cash flow crisis, a tax dispute, or a notice you didn't see coming.

  • Directors with outstanding ATO debt or unpaid superannuation
  • Business owners who have received a Director Penalty Notice
  • Individuals facing personal liability from company obligations
  • Those referred by accountants or mortgage brokers
  • Anyone seeking advice before a crisis escalates
Common situations we resolve
Director Penalty Notices
Personal liability for company tax obligations. Time-critical — the window can close within 21 days.
ATO Debt & Pressure
Accumulated PAYG, GST, or super debt with the ATO actively pursuing recovery.
Insolvent Trading Risk
Concerns about continuing to trade while the company cannot meet its obligations.
Pre-Crisis Restructuring
Pressure building — acting now to restructure before the situation becomes irreversible.
"We didn't know we had options until Ashborne Advisory sat down with us. Within a week we had a clear plan — and for the first time in months, we could sleep."
Business Owner, Construction Industry

Take Action

Time is the one thing you can't recover.

The sooner you get the right advice, the more options you have. Consultations are strictly confidential and obligation-free.

Our Services

What We Do

Specialist pre-insolvency advisory for directors, business owners, and individuals facing financial pressure. Practical, confidential, and focused on outcomes.

01

Director Penalty Notice Defence

A Director Penalty Notice means the ATO is seeking to hold you personally liable for your company's unpaid PAYG withholding, GST, or superannuation guarantee charge. The timeframes are short and the consequences of inaction are severe — including personal bankruptcy.

We act immediately: assessing whether the DPN is lockdown or non-lockdown, identifying your 21-day window where it exists, and advising on the full range of responses available to you.

DPN AssessmentPersonal Liability21-Day ResponseATO Liaison
02

ATO Debt Negotiation

Accumulated tax debt is not automatically a death sentence for your business. The ATO has formal and informal mechanisms for managing debt — including payment plans, interest remission, and in the right circumstances, debt compromise.

We engage the ATO directly on your behalf, presenting a structured case that demonstrates viability, good faith, and a credible path to resolution.

Payment PlansInterest RemissionDebt CompromiseATO Engagement
03

Pre-Insolvency Planning

There is often a window before formal processes become inevitable where legitimate, proactive steps can dramatically change the outcome. We identify that window, map your options, and help you move before it closes.

Creditor ManagementRestructuring OptionsSafe HarbourDirector Obligations
04

Asset & Liability Structuring

Compliant, defensible structuring to separate personal exposure from business risk. This is properly separating what belongs to the person from what belongs to the business — in ways that hold up and serve long-term goals. Not shortcuts. Not concealment. Proper structure.

Personal ExposureTrust StructuresAsset SeparationCompliance
05

Small Business Restructuring Advice

Australia's Small Business Restructuring process allows eligible companies to restructure debts while remaining under director control — a powerful alternative to voluntary administration. We advise on eligibility, the restructuring plan, and creditor engagement.

SBR EligibilityCreditor VotesRestructuring PlanDirector Control

How It Works

Our Process

Clear, confidential, and built for people who need answers fast.

01

Confidential Consultation

You speak with an adviser directly. No forms, no waiting. We assess your situation quickly and honestly, and tell you exactly what your options are.

02

Options Assessment

We map every legitimate path available to you — including ones most people don't know exist. Every option is laid out clearly: what it costs, what it achieves, and what it risks.

03

Strategy & Execution

Once you choose a path, we move with you. We engage the ATO, coordinate with insolvency practitioners where needed, and manage the process so you can focus on your business.

04

Resolution

We see every engagement through to a clear resolution — whether that's a payment plan, a restructured business, or a clean exit. We don't walk away when it gets hard.

Get Started

Your situation is not as unique as it feels.

We've seen it before. We know what works. Let's talk through your options in complete confidence.

Who We Help

If you're facing financial pressure,
you're in the right place.

Ashborne Advisory was built for directors, business owners, and individuals navigating financial distress. We know the landscape, the risks, and how to find a way through.

Our Clients

We work with people facing real pressure.

Directors with ATO Debt

Tax debt has accumulated and the ATO is now pursuing payment. You need to understand your options before this becomes a personal liability issue.

Common signals
ATO payment demands or garnishee notices
Unpaid PAYG, GST, or SG obligations
Debt exceeding current cash flow capacity

Director Penalty Notice Recipients

You've received a DPN. The 21-day window may already be running. You need immediate, clear advice on what it covers and what happens next.

Common signals
Received a formal DPN from the ATO
Unsure whether DPN is lockdown or not
Personal assets at risk

Directors Facing Insolvent Trading Risk

You have concerns that your company may be trading while insolvent. You need to understand your obligations and what steps can be taken now.

Common signals
Company unable to pay debts as they fall due
Creditors pressing for payment
Concern about personal liability exposure

Business Owners Before Crisis Point

The business is under pressure but not yet at breaking point. You want to understand your options and restructure your exposure before a crisis arrives.

Common signals
Cash flow tightening with creditor pressure building
Looking to restructure before problems worsen
Referred by accountant or broker for a review

Referrals from Accountants & Brokers

We work closely with accounting firms and mortgage brokers whose clients are facing financial distress. If you have a client who needs specialist advice, we're the firm to call.

What we offer referral partners
Fast turnaround and clear communication
Confidential, professional handling
Outcomes-focused advice, not just process

Directors Exiting a Business

You're winding down or stepping away. You want to ensure your exit is clean, your obligations are resolved, and you're not carrying liability into the next chapter.

Common signals
Planning to close, sell, or step back
Outstanding tax or creditor obligations on exit
Concerned about post-exit director liability

Why Timing Matters

Options narrow as time passes.

The single most common thing we hear from clients who come to us late: "I wish I had called sooner."

A lockdown DPN leaves you with almost no options. A non-lockdown DPN gives you 21 days. A business heading toward insolvency has legitimate restructuring pathways available before formal processes begin. After the appointment of an administrator, those pathways close.

The advice doesn't have to be complicated. It just has to happen now.

About Ashborne Advisory

We built this firm to fill a gap.

Most people in financial distress don't get the right advice at the right time. They get told it's too late, or handed to a process. We built Ashborne Advisory to change that.

Our Story

Practical advice for people who need it most.

Ashborne Advisory was founded on a simple insight: the window between financial pressure and formal insolvency is where outcomes are actually decided. But it's also where most people don't have access to clear, specialist advice.

Most accountants don't specialise in this space. Most lawyers focus on litigation rather than prevention. Most insolvency practitioners are engaged after the formal process has begun. That leaves a gap — and it costs directors their businesses, their assets, and sometimes their futures.

We fill that gap. We sit in the pre-insolvency space, working with clients before crisis becomes outcome, giving them the full picture of what's available to them while options still exist.

Our approach is direct. We don't dress up bad news or oversell solutions. We give you the honest picture and help you decide how to act on it.

Our Commitments

Confidentiality

Every consultation and engagement is strictly confidential. We understand the sensitivity of these situations and treat every client accordingly.

Directness

We tell you what we think. No hedging, no unnecessary complexity. You get the honest picture, every time.

Urgency

We know time is the critical variable. We move quickly and we expect that clients who engage us do too.

Outcomes

We're not here to generate paperwork. We're here to achieve the best possible result for our clients.

How We Work

Principles that guide every engagement.

No unnecessary process

Formal insolvency is sometimes the right answer. It is never the only answer we consider. We exhaust pre-insolvency options first.

Compliance first

Everything we advise is legal, documented, and defensible. We don't take shortcuts that create larger problems later.

Referral relationships

We work closely with accountants, financial advisers, and mortgage brokers who trust us with their most distressed clients.

Speed matters

We respond fast. Consultations within 24 hours. Every day in this space costs options and we treat it that way.

The Ashborne Standard

We measure success differently.

Success for us isn't billing hours or processing engagements. Success is a client who came to us under pressure and left with a clear plan, protected assets, and a way forward.

We keep our client list small enough that every engagement receives senior attention. We don't hand you off. We don't disappear after the initial advice. We stay until the job is done.

Contact Us

Let's have a conversation.

Strictly confidential. No obligation. If you're facing a DPN, ATO pressure, or any financial distress — reach out today. The sooner, the better.

Get in Touch

We respond within one business day.

If your situation is urgent — particularly if you've received a DPN — call us directly. Every contact is treated as confidential from the first interaction.

Web
ashborneadvisory.com.au
Location
Melbourne, Victoria. Consultations available nationally.

Legal Disclaimer: The information on this website is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Ashborne Advisory provides advisory services and does not provide legal representation. Nothing on this website creates a solicitor-client relationship. All enquiries and consultations are treated as strictly confidential.