Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) · Section 588GA
Take Control Before It’s Too Late
Safe Harbour is a provision under Australian law that can protect eligible directors from personal liability for insolvent trading while they develop and take a course of action reasonably likely to lead to a better outcome for the company than immediate administration or liquidation.
But Safe Harbour is not simply about protection. It creates an opportunity to take control — to understand what is really happening in the business, correct what isn’t working, strengthen compliance and financial discipline, and build a stronger and more sustainable business.
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The provision
What is Safe Harbour?
Safe Harbour is a provision under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) that allows directors to continue trading their business, even when there are concerns about solvency, provided they are taking structured steps to improve the company’s position.
It exists for one reason: to give good businesses a chance to recover. Because without it, directors can become personally exposed to insolvent trading. And when that risk appears, many businesses make the wrong decision — they stop too early, or they continue without direction and make things worse.
Safe Harbour changes that. It creates space. It allows you to keep operating while you fix what needs to be fixed.
Legislation alone changes nothing
Safe Harbour Is the Starting Point
Safe Harbour provides the legislative framework. But legislation alone does not change the financial position of a business. That requires action.
Our role is to help turn the course of action into a practical working process. We establish where the business really stands, identify what needs to change, agree on the actions to be taken and then work with the director to implement them. We measure what happens, document the progress and make corrections when the results tell us something needs to change.
The result is a business being managed with greater clarity, discipline and accountability — where decisions are based on current information, problems are confronted earlier and progress can be measured rather than assumed.
See Clearly
Understand where your business really stands — where the money is going, where cash is being created or lost, what is happening with debtors, creditors and tax obligations, and where financial pressure is building.
Act With Discipline
Make the agreed changes, follow through consistently and measure the results. Small, deliberate improvements repeated over time build better habits and a stronger business.
Build the Evidence
Record what was decided, what was done and what happened.
Why this matters now
The environment has changed
The Australian Taxation Office is more active, more automated, and less tolerant than it has ever been. Tax debt is no longer something that sits quietly in the background — it is acted on.
And at the same time, many businesses are operating with:
- Tighter margins
- Higher costs
- Increased pressure on cash
- A tax debt that needs to be paid off
That combination creates risk. Not just for the business — but for the director personally. Safe Harbour is no longer something “nice to have.” It is becoming essential.
Why most businesses never used it
Historically, Safe Harbour has been out of reach
It has been delivered by large firms, to large clients, at the point where the business is already under serious pressure. The process has often involved:
- Complex legal structures
- Multiple advisers
- Extensive reporting requirements
And it has not been uncommon for Safe Harbour engagements to cost $20,000 to $50,000 upfront, and $5,000 to $15,000 per month ongoing.For most small and medium businesses, that simply wasn’t realistic.
What it used to be
- Complex
- Expensive
- Out of reach
What it is now
- Structured
- Practical
- Affordable
We have taken everything we have learned over more than 31 years working with Australian businesses and rebuilt Your Business Angels Safe Harbour from the ground up. So everybody can afford it. Not as a legal event — but as a practical system.
Why Your Business Angels
Built on experience, not theory
30+ Years Experience
Decades of working with Australian businesses under pressure, alongside insolvency practitioners, lawyers, and creditors.
Nearly 50 People
A full team at Your Business Angels and Fresh Numbers, combining accounting, advisory, and business recovery capability.
Practical Recovery Focus
We focus on helping you understand your position clearly, manage with structure, and make decisions based on real information.
AI-Supported Systems
We have invested heavily in tools that make this work more accessible than it has ever been.
Contact us
Talk to us
You don’t need to diagnose the problem before speaking to us. Tell us what is happening. Tell us what is worrying you. Show us the numbers.
We will start by helping you understand what questions need to be answered.
