Small Business Restructuring Statistics Australia
6,074 SBR appointments since January 2021. 40x growth in three years. Here's every data point from ASIC's insolvency statistics, broken down by year, industry, and state.
Australian SBR — Fifteen Key Data Points
The most-cited figures from the dataset, consolidated for quick reference, citation, and snippet extraction. Sourced from ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2 (March 2026) and ASIC Report 810 (June 2025).
- Total SBR appointments (Jan 2021 – Feb 2026)
- 6,074
- Growth since FY22
- 40x (70 → ~4,000+ in FY26)
- Share of all insolvency appointments (FY25)
- 20.1%
- Construction share
- 27.5% (1,668 appointments)
- Hospitality share
- 21.7% (1,318 appointments)
- Professional services growth (YoY)
- +150% (fastest growing)
- NSW share
- 37.7% (2,292 appointments)
- VIC share
- 24.8% (1,506 appointments)
- QLD share
- 23.0% (1,397 appointments)
- Plan approval rate (ASIC Report 810)
- 87%
- Plan approval rate (range by source)
- 79–92%
- Appointment-to-plan conversion
- ~73%
- SBR companies with ATO debt
- 93%
- Active restructuring practitioners
- 459
- Primary data sources
- ASIC Series 1 & 2 (Mar 2026), Report 810 (Jun 2025)
Data refreshed 19 April 2026. For specific source citations, see the Methodology and Data Source sections below.
6,074
Total SBR Appointments
Jan 2021 – Feb 2026
459
Active Practitioners
Registered with ASIC
~79-92%
Plan Approval Rate
Creditor voting outcomes
20.1%
Share of Insolvency
Of all FY25 appointments
SBR Appointment Growth: 40x Increase in Three Years
SBR appointments have grown from 70 in FY22 to nearly 3,000 in FY25, with FY26 on track to exceed 4,000.
* FY26 figure is projected based on Jul 2025 – Feb 2026 data. Source: ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2, March 2026.
SBR has moved from niche insolvency option to mainstream restructuring pathway
The growth in appointments is not random. Rising ATO enforcement, tighter funding conditions, and greater practitioner familiarity have pushed SBR into the core toolkit for viable small companies under pressure.
ATO pressure is the biggest catalyst
Most companies entering SBR are dealing with accumulated tax debt and director risk, not just trade creditor strain.
Usage is spreading beyond construction
Hospitality, professional services, healthcare, and transport are all showing strong year-on-year growth.
Practitioner adoption is deepening
As more firms gain experience with the process, SBR becomes easier for directors and advisers to implement quickly.
Small Business Restructuring by Industry — Construction, Hospitality & More
Construction and hospitality together account for nearly half of all SBR appointments. Professional services is the fastest-growing sector.
Construction
+96% YoY1,668 total appointments
Hospitality
+114% YoY1,318 total appointments
Other Services
+108% YoY548 total appointments
Professional Services
+150% YoY516 total appointments
Retail Trade
+98% YoY234 total appointments
Healthcare
+73% YoY252 total appointments
Manufacturing
+69% YoY254 total appointments
Transport
+137% YoY163 total appointments
Source: ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2. Appointments Jul 2021 – Feb 2026. Growth = FY24 vs FY25.
SBR Appointments by State — NSW, VIC, QLD Lead
NSW, Victoria, and Queensland account for 85% of all SBR appointments, reflecting population and business concentration.
Source: ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2, March 2026.
ATO Debt and Small Business Restructuring — 93% of SBR Companies Have Tax Debt
Tax debt is the dominant driver of SBR appointments. 93% of companies entering SBR have the ATO as a creditor.
93%
SBR companies with ATO debt
26,000+
Director Penalty Notices issued FY24
~73%
Appointment-to-plan conversion
From July 2025
GIC no longer tax deductible
SBR Practitioner Market — 459 Active Restructuring Practitioners
The SBR practitioner market is concentrated. A small number of firms handle the majority of appointments.
459
Active Practitioners
Have handled at least one SBR appointment
Top 20
Handle ~40% of Volume
100-500+ appointments each
46%
Practitioner Adoption
Of registered liquidators have done SBR work
About This Data
All statistics on this page are sourced from ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2, published 16 March 2026. This dataset covers 64,100 insolvency records including 6,074 SBR appointments from January 2021 to February 2026.
Additional data points reference ASIC Report 810: Review of small business restructuring process 2022-24, published June 2025.
This page is updated quarterly when ASIC publishes new insolvency statistics. Last updated: March 2026.
How the Statistics Are Measured and Compiled
For responsible citation in board papers, advice documents, and research, understanding how each figure is defined and sourced matters as much as the numbers themselves.
What counts as an "SBR appointment"
Every formal Part 5.3B Restructuring Practitioner appointment lodged on the ASIC register. Each appointment is counted once per company, regardless of plan outcome. Appointments that were later withdrawn before any action still count toward the total.
How plan approval rate is measured
ASIC Report 810 (June 2025) measured approval as the percentage of plans put to creditors that received 50%+ by dollar value approval. This yielded 87%. Series 1 & 2 yield a slightly different result (79–92%) because they measure approval over a different time window and include matters still in progress.
Appointment-to-plan conversion
The ratio of appointments that reach an accepted restructuring plan vs appointments that do not (due to creditor rejection, director withdrawal, or other outcomes). Approximately 73%. The remaining ~27% split between rejected plans, director-initiated termination, and movement to VA/liquidation.
Data refresh cadence
ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2 are published monthly and include a lag (typically 1–2 months behind real time). ASIC Report 810 is a one-off regulatory review covering 2022-24. This page reflects the March 2026 Series 1 & 2 release and the June 2025 Report 810.
Known data limitations
ASIC data does not publish outcome-level detail (exact cents-in-the-dollar compromise, post-plan company survival beyond 3 years) in the public series. Industry sub-segment data is based on broad ANZSIC division codes, not fine-grained sub-industries — sub-segment splits in industry pages are SBR Guide estimates.
Data integrity
All figures on this page are verified against the source ASIC data and reviewed quarterly. Where SBR Guide estimates are used (e.g. industry sub-segment splits), they are labelled as such and accompanied by source methodology.
How Australian SBR Compares Internationally
The closest international equivalent to Australian SBR is the US Chapter 11 Subchapter V (introduced 2020). Major anglophone insolvency regimes compared below — SBR has grown faster than any of these since launch.
| Country | Process | Introduced | Debt threshold | Director control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Small Business Restructuring (Part 5.3B) | 2021 | AU$1M liabilities | Retain control |
| United States | Chapter 11 Subchapter V | 2020 | US$7.5M (currently) or US$2.7M debt | Retain control |
| United Kingdom | Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) | 1986 | No statutory cap | Retain control |
| New Zealand | Compromise with Creditors (Part 14, Companies Act 1993) | 1993 | No statutory cap | Varies by structure |
| Canada | CCAA / BIA Division I Proposal | 1985 / 1992 | CCAA: CA$5M+ / BIA: no cap | CCAA retains; BIA varies |
United States — Chapter 11 Subchapter V
Closest international equivalent — introduced via Small Business Reorganization Act 2019, expanded by CARES Act. Similar debtor-in-possession framework to SBR.
United Kingdom — Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA)
Established UK process for company reorganisation with creditor-approved plan. Similar 75%+ by value approval threshold. Higher complexity and cost than SBR.
New Zealand — Compromise with Creditors (Part 14, Companies Act 1993)
NZ compromise-with-creditors regime predates SBR by decades but operates at much lower volumes. No specific small-business framework equivalent to Part 5.3B.
Canada — CCAA / BIA Division I Proposal
Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) for larger companies; Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act Division I Proposals for smaller ones. No dedicated small-business streamlined process equivalent.
International comparison is indicative. Each regime operates under different legislative frameworks, creditor voting thresholds, and debt eligibility rules. For comparative legal analysis, consult local insolvency counsel.
Common Questions About Interpreting These Statistics
Analysts, advisors, and researchers ask these questions most often when citing SBR statistics responsibly. Each answer clarifies what the figures mean and how to use them.
Why do different sources report slightly different approval rates?
ASIC Report 810 (June 2025) reported 87% plan approval over its 2022-24 review sample. ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2 show a range of 79-92% across different periods and measurement snapshots. Both are correct — they just measure different samples and time windows. Use 87% when citing the most recent regulator review; cite the range when discussing longitudinal trends.
What exactly is the "appointment-to-plan conversion" rate?
It is the percentage of Part 5.3B Restructuring Practitioner appointments that result in an approved restructuring plan — approximately 73%. The remaining 27% is a mix of creditor rejection (about 14% based on Report 810), director-initiated withdrawal, and movement into Voluntary Administration or liquidation during the restructuring phase.
Is there a lag between real-time SBR activity and these statistics?
Yes — ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2 are typically published 1–2 months behind real time. The March 2026 release reflects appointments through February 2026. For real-time data, consult ASIC's live company search. This page is refreshed quarterly against the latest Series 1 & 2 release.
How should I cite these statistics in a board paper or advice document?
Attribute primary data to the source (ASIC Insolvency Statistics Series 1 & 2, ASIC Report 810), not to SBR Guide. Cite the specific data release date (e.g. "ASIC Series 1 & 2 data release, March 2026"). For industry sub-segment splits below the ANZSIC division level, cite as "SBR Guide market analysis" since these are estimates, not direct ASIC counts.
Are the industry sub-segment percentages (e.g. residential vs commercial builders) exact ASIC figures?
No — ASIC publishes data at ANZSIC division level (e.g. "Construction" as a single category). Sub-segment breakdowns on industry pages (residential ~40%, commercial ~25%, etc.) are SBR Guide estimates based on company-size distribution, ACN patterns, and SBR appointment text analysis. They are directional, not audited ASIC figures.
Can I use these numbers for regulatory benchmarking or academic research?
The top-line counts (6,074 total appointments, industry and state shares, approval rates) are sourced directly from ASIC and suitable for regulatory and academic citation. For derived metrics (sub-segment estimates, growth forecasts), cite SBR Guide as the source and ASIC as the underlying data provider. All figures on this page carry a "Data refreshed" date for reproducibility.
How does SBR volume compare internationally?
Australia's SBR (introduced 2021) has grown faster than its closest international equivalent — the US Chapter 11 Subchapter V (introduced 2020). SBR now represents 20.1% of all Australian insolvency appointments, compared to Subchapter V at an estimated 5-10% of US small business insolvencies. The UK CVA regime (1986) operates at materially lower relative volumes. See the international comparison table on this page for further context.
Drill Deeper Into Specific Segments and Guidance
This page is the top-level statistics view. Industry-specific breakdowns, state-level data, and process context are available on the dedicated pages below.
Construction SBR data
1,668 appointments, sub-segment breakdown, state licensing, and QBCC MFR context.
Hospitality SBR data
1,318 appointments, liquor licensing by state, and JobKeeper reconciliation context.
Industry hub
Trades, transport, retail, healthcare, professional services breakdowns.
SBR in NSW
2,292 appointments — the largest SBR state. NSW-specific context and practitioners.
SBR in Victoria
1,506 appointments. VIC-specific context and practitioner network.
SBR in Queensland
1,397 appointments. QLD construction and hospitality dominance.
What is SBR?
Complete definitional guide to Small Business Restructuring and Part 5.3B.
How SBR works end-to-end
5-step process timeline, creditor vote mechanics, and plan execution.
SBR Guide for practitioners
Qualified lead referrals for registered liquidators. 459 practitioners have handled SBRs.
See Whether Your Business Is Eligible for Small Business Restructuring
The statistics show how widely SBR is being used. The next question is whether your company fits the eligibility rules and timing requirements.
Check Your EligibilityFrequently Asked Questions About Small Business Restructuring Statistics
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