Deadline planner

How the deadline planner works

Most business funding deadlines are missed for one of two reasons: the owner started too late, or the paperwork arrived in pieces. The planner is built to fix both. It turns your deadline into a countdown of real working time, tells you honestly what tends to be possible in that window, and lists the documents that usually decide whether "possible" becomes "done".

1. The countdown

The clock counts down to the time on your deadline day that the money has to land. Underneath, it shows business days — weekdays between now and then — because that's the time lenders, valuers, solicitors and banks actually work. A Monday deadline set on a Friday afternoon looks like three days on the calendar but is barely one working day. The planner doesn't know your state's public holidays, so check the Fair Work Ombudsman's list if one falls in your window.

2. What's realistically possible

The window is matched to the lending facts we use across the site. With residential or commercial property as security, $20k to $250k is possible the same day and up to $5m is possible within 24 to 48 hours once the property is assessed. Without property, unsecured and cash-flow options for trading businesses are typically $5k to $500k, sized on turnover and bank statements, and same-day funding is possible for smaller unsecured amounts. None of these timeframes is guaranteed; they're what's achievable when the security, the borrower and the documents are straightforward.

If the amount you need is larger than unsecured options usually reach, the planner says so — and suggests where property security could change the picture.

3. Work-back dates

Funding is a chain: enquiry, documents, assessment, signing, release. The planner works backwards from your deadline to suggest the latest sensible day for each link, leaving a buffer where there's room. If any of those dates has already passed, that's your cue to ring today.

4. The checklist

Every deadline needs the same core items — ID for every signatory, bank statement access, your ABN or ACN, and the bill or notice that sets the date. The planner then adds items for your situation: the ATO statement of account and payment reference numbers for tax deadlines, the DPN itself for director penalties, the contract and security clause for tenders, the settlement statement and solicitor's details for settlements, and property details where there's security. The ready-to-call guides explain each item.

Using the result

If the verdict says your window is tight, ring rather than email — 1300 752 188 — and have the checklist in front of you. If you've got more time, send the 60-second enquiry and use the extra days to compare options properly. Either way, asking what's possible doesn't involve a credit check, your details aren't spread across a list of lenders, and a real person reviews what you send. Please answer the enquiry accurately — the real amount, the real deadline and any property — so the first call can be about solutions rather than corrections.

Want the deadline explained in more depth? Start with need it today, need it by Friday or DPN: 21 days.

Deadline planner questions

Is the deadline planner an offer or approval?

No. It's a general guide to what's typically possible in a given window, based on whether there's property security and the amount involved. A specialist confirms what's actually possible once they've seen your situation.

Why does it count business days, not calendar days?

Because banks, lenders, valuers and solicitors mostly work business days. A deadline on Monday gives far less working time than the calendar suggests if you start on a Friday afternoon. The planner doesn't know your state's public holidays, so check those yourself.

Why does property security change the answer so much?

Property-secured business loans open up larger amounts and some of the fastest outcomes: $20k to $250k is possible the same day and up to $5m within 24 to 48 hours, where the property and paperwork are straightforward. Unsecured options are usually smaller, typically $5k to $500k, and sized on turnover and bank statements.

Does using the planner share my details?

No. Everything happens in your browser. Nothing you choose is sent anywhere unless you separately fill in the enquiry form.

What should I do once I've used it?

Gather the items on the checklist, then ring the hotline or send the 60-second enquiry. If you'd like a one-page summary to have in front of you, use the Call-ready sheet.

Does it work for ATO deadlines and director penalty notices?

Yes. Choose the ATO or DPN option and the planner adds the relevant notes — for example, that a DPN's 21 days run from the date the ATO posted it, and that ATO payments can take up to four business days to show online.