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The joint statement, issued by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), the Affiliation for Business Resilience and Turnaround, the Commercial & Asset Finance Brokers Association of Australia, CPA Australia, and the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, called on business owners to engage with trusted advisers such as brokers as cost pressures intensify and key regulatory changes approach.
The organisations are encouraging businesses to engage with mortgage brokers, as well as accountants and bookkeepers, to help manage finances, access funding, and plan ahead.
“Finance and mortgage brokers play a critical role in helping small businesses navigate periods of uncertainty,” Anja Pannek said.
“Brokers work closely with business owners to understand their full financial position, explore a range of lending options and structure finance in a way that supports both immediate cash flow needs and longer-term growth.”
“Small businesses are not just dealing with one issue at a time, they are managing multiple pressures simultaneously,” Skye Cappuccio said.
“In this environment, the difference between a sound decision and a costly one often comes down to having access to the right advice at the right time and acting on it early.”
A story of pressure
Small and medium-sized enterprises are facing a convergence of financial and regulatory pressures.
Even before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East and the resulting fuel shock, businesses were contending with cash flow strain and looming compliance changes.
In February 2026, Broker Daily reported on mounting concerns around small business debts owed to the Australian Taxation Office.
SMEs are also preparing to adjust cash flow settings ahead of the upcoming Payday Super reforms, which could reduce borrowing power by as much as 15 per cent.
Then, war broke out in the Middle East. With fuel prices spiking and inflation back on the rise, business confidence has fallen to record lows.
While some sectors have remained relatively resilient, industries heavily reliant on fuel and other key inputs, including fertiliser, such as logistics, transport, and agriculture, have been hit hard.
Smaller operators have also been more exposed than larger businesses.
Loan applications among SMEs have fallen, while business arrears with the Australian Taxation Office are rising rapidly.
In response, the federal government unveiled a $1 billion package of new interest-free loans at the start of April aimed at supporting businesses most affected by fuel shortages.
Brokers fill the void
The increasingly difficult operating environment has also created an opening for brokers to deepen their role as trusted advisers to SME clients.
While borrowing behaviour has become more defensive, SMEs are still seeking ways to access finance to shore up their position and stabilise cash flow.
According to one recent study, 40 per cent of SMEs identified access to finance as the single largest obstacle to growth, while a further 15 per cent said they were struggling to access grants that could support expansion.
The group of industry bodies outlined ways brokers can support their clients, including managing rising fuel and input costs, preparing for Payday Super, and navigating payment and surcharging changes.
It said finance and mortgage brokers can also help strengthen cash flow and financing by assisting small businesses to assess borrowing capacity, restructure existing facilities, refinance high-cost debt, and access a broader range of lenders and funding options where traditional lending pathways may be constrained.
Pannek added: “In a more complex economic environment, such as the one we find ourselves right now, early engagement with a broker as one of your trusted advisers can make a meaningful difference, helping businesses access the right funding options, avoid costly decisions and build resilience.”
Similarly, Connective’s head of commercial and asset finance, Brent Starrenburg, said the financial context is changing how and why businesses are accessing finance, creating opportunities for a more complex, advisory-led approach among brokers.
“Nobody wants tough times, but if you can be there, even just as a sounding board, and look at what they’ve got, whether it’s a debt restructure, a cash flow loan, a second mortgage or trade and debtor finance, that’s what builds trust,” he said.
“If you can help them now, they’ll trust you moving forward, and that’s where repeat and referral business comes from.”
[Related: AI uptake surges among SMEs]
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