Free tool · Signature checklist
Emergency action checklist for business
Pick what happened. Get a calm, ordered list: the first 24 hours, the first week, who to call, help and grants to check, funding options and the documents to save.
When the gap is clear
Need funding for what's left?
Once insurance, grants and hardship arrangements are moving, a real person can help you fund the gap — property-secured from $20,000 to $5,000,000, or unsecured typically $5,000 to $500,000. Please fill in the form accurately so we can match you properly on the first call.
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Telling us what happened and what you need leaves your credit file untouched. A credit check only comes up if you decide to proceed.
No spray-and-pray
In a crisis the last thing you need is ten lenders ringing. Your enquiry isn't auctioned or broadcast — one team works on it.
A real person on your case
Someone reads your situation and calls you to work through it. Accurate answers on the form help us match you properly the first time.
How to use this emergency action checklist
A crisis scrambles the order of things. Everything feels urgent, so the important jobs — the ones that are hard to fix later — get skipped. This checklist puts them back in order. Pick the event that best matches what happened, then work down the six compartments: the first 24 hours, the first week, who to call, help and grants to check, funding options and the documents to save.
Tick items off as you go. Your ticks stay in this browser, so you can close the page and come back. If you share the work with a partner, manager or bookkeeper, press Print or Copy as text and send it to them.
Why this order?
Every list follows the same principles, whether the crisis is a flood, a fire, a broken machine or a hacked inbox:
- People first. Safety, then your team. No stock or paperwork is worth a risk.
- Evidence before clean-up. Photos, video, a loss list and receipts make every later step faster — insurance, grants and tax. See our guide to documenting damage for insurance.
- Call before due dates, not after. The ATO, your bank, landlord and suppliers all have more options when you call early.
- Free help before borrowing. Grants, concessional loans, deferrals and free counselling come first. Our guide to finding disaster help shows where to look.
- Fund only the gap. Size any funding with a forecast — the shutdown cash runway tool is a quick start — and match the term to a clear exit.
What the checklist isn't
It isn't a substitute for emergency services, your insurer's instructions or professional advice. Disaster assistance changes event by event, so always check what's open for yours on business.gov.au and DisasterAssist. The phone numbers here were checked against official sources in October 2026.
Keep a copy before you need it
The best time to read this is on a quiet day. Print the checklist for the two or three events most likely to hit your business and put it in your emergency grab bag, alongside your one-page continuity plan.
And if a crisis has already arrived and the numbers don't add up, tell us what happened. There's no credit check when you first enquire, your details aren't sent out to a list of lenders, and a real person will call you back.
Frequently asked questions
What should a business do first in an emergency?
Keep people safe and follow emergency services' directions. Once it's safe, record the damage or the incident before cleaning up, notify your insurer, and tell your staff what's happening. Money decisions come after that — starting with free help such as ATO deferrals and any disaster assistance activated for your area.
Is this checklist free to use?
Yes. It's free, needs no sign-up and doesn't collect any details. Your ticks are saved only in your own browser so you can come back to them.
Can I print the checklist?
Yes. Pick your event and press Print. The printout includes every section, so you can keep a copy in your emergency grab bag or hand it to a staff member.
Are the phone numbers current?
They were checked against official sources in October 2026, including the ATO Emergency Support Infoline (1800 806 218), business.gov.au (13 28 46), the Small Business Debt Helpline (1800 413 828) and the Australian Cyber Security Hotline (1300 292 371). Programs change by event, so always confirm what's open for yours.
Does using the checklist mean I need a loan?
No. Most of the checklist is about safety, evidence, insurance and free official help. Funding is the last step, for whatever gap is left once those are in motion.
What if my crisis isn't listed?
Pick the closest match — the principles are the same: people first, evidence before clean-up, notify insurers and the ATO early, check free help, then fund the gap. Or tell us about it through the enquiry form and a real person will call.
Checklist done? Let's look at the gap.
A short enquiry, no credit check to enquire, and one real person working on your situation — not a crowd of lenders.
No credit check to enquire
No spray-and-pray
A real person on your case