Resource
Small Business Debt Helpline
Also known as: SBDH
Free, confidential, specialist financial counselling for sole traders and small business owners — tax debt, BAS, supplier pressure, insolvency options.
About this service
The Small Business Debt Helpline is operated by Financial Counselling Australia and funded by the Commonwealth. It is the only national specialist financial counselling line for small business owners. Counsellors are trained in business debt, ATO arrangements, Director Penalty Notices, Small Business Restructuring options, supplier and lease pressure, and the sole-trader crossover into personal debt. The service is genuinely free, independent of creditors, and independent of government. Call volume rose 66% in 2024, and the federal government extended funding to 30 June 2027 in a combined $8m package with Beyond Blue NewAccess.
When to use
You owe the ATO and feel stuck. You have a Director Penalty Notice. A supplier is threatening to wind you up. You're considering Small Business Restructuring, voluntary administration, or closing the business. You're a sole trader with blended business and personal debt and don't know what counts as what.
When not to use
Immediate psychiatric crisis (call Lifeline 13 11 14 or 000). Pure personal debt with no business element (use the National Debt Helpline). When you need a registered liquidator, lawyer, or accountant in writing — SBDH will tell you when you've reached that point.
Who they help
Sole traders, sole-director companies, multi-director Pty Ltds, partnerships, and trustees of trading trusts who are under financial pressure. They handle ATO debt, BAS arrears, supplier ultimatums, lease pressure, employee entitlement obligations, and decisions around restructuring, voluntary administration, or closing the business.
Who they don't help
Acute psychiatric crisis — call Lifeline 13 11 14 first. Pure personal debt with no business component — call the National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 instead. They cannot give legal advice or act as a registered liquidator; they refer to those professionals when the situation needs them.
Strengths
Specialist training on business debt and tax. Truly independent. Practical, sequenced advice. Will help you draft a payment proposal to the ATO, write a hardship letter to a supplier, or talk through SBR vs voluntary administration.
Limitations
Phone-and-webchat only — no after-hours coverage. High demand can mean waits. Sole-trader cases sometimes need both SBDH (business side) and the National Debt Helpline (personal side).
Often used alongside
National Debt Helpline
Free, confidential personal financial counselling — for the personal side of a sole trader's debts, or anyone whose business has folded and is now dealing with creditors as an individual.
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman
Federal statutory ombudsman for small business. Free assistance with disputes against other businesses or government, plus a Tax Concierge for ATO matters.
Free assistance. A $100 first-hour co-payment applies for the Small Business Dispute Help legal-advice service and for the Tax Concierge Service.
Beyond Blue NewAccess for Small Business Owners
Free six-session mental health coaching for small business owners under stress. Coaches have small business backgrounds. No GP referral required.
AFSA — Find a Practitioner
The official register of registered trustees and debt agreement administrators for personal insolvency. The sole-trader insolvency path goes through AFSA.
Search is free. Trustee and administrator fees vary; agree fees in writing before any engagement. Be wary of operators who advertise heavily — call the National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 for an independent opinion before signing anything.
ASIC — Find a Registered Liquidator
The official ASIC search for registered liquidators and small business restructuring practitioners. Verify any practitioner you're considering, before paying any fee.
Search is free. Initial consultation with a practitioner is usually free. Appointment fees vary — agree fees in writing before any engagement.
We do not refer to commercial debt-relief operators.
Every service we point you to is free or low-cost, government-funded or not-for-profit, and independent of creditors. If a paid operator is offering to negotiate your ATO debt or run a Part IX agreement for a fee, talk to the Small Business Debt Helpline first — 1800 413 828, free.
TEKVA provides information, not financial counselling or legal advice. Phone numbers, URLs, and operating hours were checked on 26 May 2026.