Business Debt Restructuring · Commercial Finance
One repayment the cash flow can carry, instead of five it can’t.
ATO arrears, short-term loans, an overdraft that never clears: facilities that no longer fit can usually be consolidated and re-termed. Tell us what the business owes and you get a straight answer.
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What happens next
For most business lending the lender pays us a commission on settlement, so you do not pay us directly. Where a restructure is complex enough to warrant a fee for service, it is explained in full before anything starts: half before the application is prepared, the balance only once the loan is formally approved.
Why commercial through Evolve
Commercial is where we do our best work
Every facility, one view
ATO, overdraft, equipment finance, private loans and guarantees are laid out together, so the plan fixes the position rather than one loan.
Lenders comfortable with arrears
Deep working relationships with 15 to 20 lenders, several of which will refinance tax debt, arrears and fresh financials that the majors decline.
Alongside your accountant
Structure, tax and the ATO side stay with your accountant. We handle the lenders, and the two of us work from the same numbers.
The exit, mapped first
Where a specialist facility is the right first step, the route back to mainstream pricing is set before you sign, not hoped for later.
Example scenario
Six facilities and a tax plan, brought back under control
A commercial services business with fifteen years of trading had strong revenue and good contracts, but thinner margins. An overdraft that never reduced, equipment finance, a short-term loan, trade creditors and an ATO payment arrangement were competing for the same cash every month. We set the whole position out in one view, separated the short-term cash gap from the long-term debt, built a 13-week cash flow forecast and opened early talks with the main lender, with refinance and asset sales assessed alongside. Repayment terms were revised and the directors had a plan instead of a monthly scramble. A composite example drawn from several client files; details changed.
“It is refreshing to deal with a expert who really knows his stuff. At no time do you feel Mark and his team are not focused on delivering the very best for your situation. Thank you Mark and the team at Evolve Lending & Finance.”
Daniel, Google review
“Evolve Lending & Finance have looked after us a number of times we have always found the team to be very friendly courteous and they just get the job done we would not go anywhere else.”
Lyn, Google review
In plain terms
Corporate debt restructuring, without the insolvency label
Business debt rarely arrives all at once. It builds: an equipment loan here, an overdraft there, a tax bill deferred through a hard year, a short-term loan taken to cover the gap. Each facility made sense on its own. Together, the repayments can swallow the cash a busy business needs for wages and materials, and none of that means the business has failed.
Corporate debt restructuring is the practical fix: consolidating and re-terming what the business owes so repayments match the way cash flows. Done early, it is a lending solution, well short of insolvency. We read the whole position, work alongside your accountant and take the file only to lenders comfortable with tax debt. Where new business lending options are the answer, we arrange them; where paid business debt advice without a loan is, we say so.
Tell us what the business owes and to whom. The answer will be straight: possible now, possible with changes, or not yet, and what changes it.
How it works
From the full picture to one repayment
- Step
The first conversation
A call, usually within one business day, about what is owed, to whom, what each lender has said and when a decision is due.
- Step
Documents and the debt schedule
Financials, BAS, ATO portal statements, facility letters and a full debt schedule, read the way an assessor reads them before any lender sees the file.
- Step
The recommendation
Structure, lender, costs and any fee, in writing: consolidate, re-term, refinance the tax debt, or wait. Nothing is lodged until you agree.
- Step
Application to settlement
One complete application to the lender that fits. We manage the valuation, payout figures from each existing lender and settlement through to one repayment.
Understanding debt restructuring
The questions behind a restructure
What is business debt restructuring?
Business debt restructuring is reorganising the debt a business already carries so the repayments fit its real cash flow. In practice it means consolidating several facilities into one, extending terms, or securing the lending against an asset to bring the cost down.
It is different from borrowing more. The aim is existing debt made serviceable with headroom left to trade, so the work starts with a review of every facility: its cost, term, security and conditions.
Can ATO debt be included in a restructure?
Yes. Several lenders we work with will refinance a tax debt or payment plan as part of a broader consolidation. Options narrow as arrears age, so early action matters.
Two rules sharpen the timing: ATO interest has not been tax deductible since 1 July 2025, and a business tax debt over $100,000 and more than 90 days overdue can be reported to credit bureaus unless a payment plan is in place and kept. The ATO itself sits with you or your tax agent; we handle the lending side.
What do lenders look for in a restructure?
Lenders want to see that the restructured repayment is affordable from current trading, what security supports it and a plain account of how the debt built up. Property security opens the widest field of lenders and the longest terms.
Fresh financials, BAS and bank statements matter more than last year’s tax return. Where property is not available, equipment, invoices or a director’s guarantee can carry a smaller restructure at a higher cost.
When is restructuring the wrong answer?
When the business cannot pay its debts as they fall due, more lending makes it worse. Restructuring through lending suits a viable business with a timing or structure problem, not one that needs its debts reduced.
A company with total liabilities under $1 million can use the small business restructuring process: a registered practitioner puts a plan to creditors while the directors stay in control. Where a position sits there, we say so early and point you to your accountant or a practitioner rather than lend into it.
Keep exploring
Paid advice on a debt position, whether or not a loan follows.
Working capital, contracts and growth funding for trading businesses.
A short-term facility with the exit planned from day one.
Guide · Refinancing an ATO debt or payment plan into one repayment
Guide · Funding the gap between paying wages and being paid
Start with the full picture
Call 1300 112 355
Questions to ask before you restructure
How much can I borrow?
Your borrowing capacity depends on factors such as your income, existing debts, living expenses, deposit, credit position, and the lender’s assessment criteria. Online calculators can be a rough guide, but they often do not reflect how a lender will actually assess the deal. A proper assessment gives you a clearer view of what may be possible before you start making offers.
Should I get pre-approval before buying a property?
In many cases, yes. Pre-approval can help you understand your likely budget, narrow your search, and act with more confidence when the right property appears. It can also help identify issues early, before you are negotiating under time pressure or committing to a contract.
What is the difference between pre-approval and formal approval?
Pre-approval is an initial indication that a lender may be prepared to lend, subject to conditions. Formal approval (also referred to as unconditional approval) happens later, once the lender has completed its full assessment, including checks on your documents, financial position, and the property itself. Pre-approval can be useful, but it is not the same as unconditional approval.
How long does pre-approval last?
Pre-approval periods vary by lender, but they commonly last around 60 to 90 days. Some lenders may reassess the application if your circumstances change, documents expire, or the approval period runs out before you secure a property.
Can my home loan still be declined after pre-approval?
Yes. Pre-approval does not guarantee formal approval. A loan can still be declined if the property does not meet lender requirements, the valuation comes in short, your financial position changes, or issues emerge during final credit assessment. That is one reason lender fit and proper upfront assessment matter.
What deposit do I need to buy a property?
The deposit required depends on the lender, the property, and your overall scenario. You also need to allow for other costs such as stamp duty, legal costs, and government or lender fees where applicable. In some cases, borrowers can proceed with a smaller deposit, but that depends on the lender’s policy and the broader structure of the deal.
How long does it take to get a home loan approved?
Timeframes vary depending on the lender, the quality of the application, how quickly documents are provided, and whether a valuation is required. Some approvals move quickly, while others take longer. Where a purchase is involved, preparation upfront can make a material difference to timing and execution.