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Gold Coast, Queensland – Small businesses across the Gold Coast, South East Queensland (SEQ), and Northern NSW are entering a critical window of operational risk, as a ‘perfect storm’ of macro-economic pressures and regulatory shifts threatens to trigger a localised solvency crisis.
Glenn O’Kearney, Managing Director of the leading insolvency and restructuring firm GT Advisory, is urging business owners to ignore the debate over a national technical recession and instead focus on the ground-level recession currently affecting sectors with high exposure to discretionary spending and logistical costs.
According to Mr O’Kearney, while infrastructure pipelines remain strong (particularly in Queensland), the reality for the average small-to-medium enterprise (SME) is a tightening vice of rising fixed costs and softening turnover.
“The immediate issues are well-known, but their cumulative impact is only now reaching a breaking point,” says Mr O’Kearney.
“Hospitality, retail, transport, tourism, and construction trades are feeling the strain most acutely. Higher fuel and freight costs, coupled with interest rates that have continued to tighten in early 2026, mean that margins are being obliterated. If you are reliant on fuel, imported inputs, or subcontractor labour, you are essentially trading in a high-volatility zone.”
O’Kearney notes that the most significant risk in the current market is not the economic conditions themselves, but the delay in acting upon them.
“The businesses that survive this period are those that act early, not those that wait for a crisis to force their hand,” Mr O’Kearney said.
“Reviewing numbers monthly or quarterly is simply too slow in this environment. If you aren’t monitoring your cash flow, debtor collections, and creditor obligations on a weekly basis, you are driving blind.”
GT Advisory is currently seeing an increase in businesses from across the region seeking help only after warning signs – such as mounting ATO debt or extended creditor terms – have become critical.
Mr O’Kearney is reframing the conversation around restructuring and insolvency advice, urging directors not to wait for a formal recession announcement before seeking help.
“A recession isn’t technically called until we see two quarters of decline, but for a local cafe or a sub-contractor, the recession is happening right now at the bowser and the checkout,” says O’Kearney.
“My advice to Gold Coast business owners is to look at Small Business Restructuring (SBR) pathways now, as seeking professional advice early is not a sign of failure; it is a practical step to ensure you keep control of the options. Early engagement allows for the renegotiation of terms, price resetting, and operational restructuring before the pressure becomes terminal – good financial information might be the difference between remaining solvent or going under.”
Glenn’s Practical Roadmap for SEQ Business Owners:
- High-Frequency Pricing Reviews: Don’t wait for year-end to adjust for fuel and freight surcharges.
- Tighten Working Capital: Prioritise debtor collections and protect your cash reserves.
- Utilise ‘Safety Valves’: Work with advisors to explore Small Business Restructuring (SBR) pathways or potential government cash-flow offsets.
- Audit Management Accounts: Ensure your data is up to date, reliable, and reviewed weekly.
About GT Advisory:
GT Advisory & Consulting was founded by Principal Glenn O’Kearney in 2016. Previously, Glenn spent more than a decade with two of Australia’s leading corporate restructuring and advisory firms. However, after recognising the need for a more boutique and localised practice on the Gold Coast, GT Advisory & Consulting was born.
We are one of the few accounting practices on the Gold Coast with the qualifications and expertise to navigate the complex areas of insolvency and restructuring, with our professional team having more than 45 years of combined industry experience. We are dedicated to upholding the highest levels of professionalism and integrity – qualities that shape our approach to every engagement.
For more information or to book a strategic audit, visit gtadvisory.com.au
To view Glenn’s interview in the Courier Mail please click here.
ENDS