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The Commercial & Asset Finance Brokers Association of Australia (CAFBA) and the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) have partnered to launch a joint member resource that aims to provide guidance to mortgage and finance brokers looking to support small-business borrowers in a challenging environment.
In the ‘Supporting Your Small Business Clients’ resource, brokers are provided with guidance on how to identify early signs of financial pressure and initiate timely conversations.
The joint resource provides brokers with practical conversation prompts, early indicators of financial pressure, and clear actions to support clients before issues escalate.
It also reinforces the role brokers play in helping clients stay alert to scams and high-risk offers, acting as a trusted filter between clients and the market.
It outlines practical strategies for managing risk, such as recognising trigger points, like tax debt arrears or cash flow shifts, and provides a framework of questions to help assess a client’s financial health.
Moreover, the guide lists various external support resources, including dispute resolution through AFCA and mental health coaching via Beyond Blue, to ensure clients can navigate complex debt and growth decisions.
The resource comes as small businesses – which represent more than 97 per cent of all businesses in Australia and employ millions of Australians – face increasing financial pressure as a result of rising costs, higher interest rates, and cash flow constraints.
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.
With interest rates having now increased for the third consecutive time, SME borrowers are expected to require more finance and credit advice than ever.
By equipping brokers with practical tools to engage sooner, CAFBA and the MFAA are seeking to help small businesses make more informed decisions and avoid issues escalating.
Speaking of the new resource, CAFBA’s chair of advocacy, David Gandolfo OAM, said commercial and asset finance brokers were often at the frontline of supporting small businesses through periods of change.
“Brokers are uniquely positioned to see early signs of stress, whether that’s tightening cash flow, increased reliance on short-term funding or difficulty managing tax obligations,” he said.
“By engaging early, brokers can help clients explore options such as restructuring, refinancing or adjusting funding strategies before those pressures become more acute and while there is still a broader range of options to address them.”
MFAA CEO Anja Pannek said early engagement between brokers and their clients was critical in preserving options and improving outcomes.
“Small business clients often manage interconnected financial pressures across their business and household. In that environment, timing matters,” she said.
“Brokers play a critical role in helping clients navigate that complexity, not just by arranging finance, but by helping them understand their options, manage risk and make more informed decisions.”
The MFAA CEO added that the joint initiative reflects the broader role brokers play in supporting small business resilience.
“In a more complex environment, access to the right advice at the right time can make a meaningful difference,” she said. “This resource is about equipping brokers with practical tools to support better conversations, earlier action and ultimately better outcomes for their clients.”
The resource is available to MFAA and CAFBA members via the MFAA and CAFBA websites and is designed to support client conversations, particularly where financial pressure is emerging.
The joint initiative builds on both associations joining a broader alliance led by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) – alongside the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association (ARITA), CPA Australia, and the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) – encouraging small businesses to engage early with trusted advisers and seek support before financial pressures escalate.
Earlier this month, the organisations joined forces to encourage businesses to engage with mortgage brokers, as well as accountants and bookkeepers, to help manage finances, access funding, and plan ahead.
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.
[Related: Finance access emerges as top hurdle for SME growth]
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