Viability Determination

A clear answer before you commit more cash, time, or reputation.

When a business is under pressure, the most dangerous question isn’t “How do we fix this?” It’s “Should we continue at all — and if so, under what conditions?”

This service gives owners and directors a decision-grade determination — before irreversible decisions are made.

No coaching. No fixing. No pressure to proceed.

Fit check only — no advice, no pitch.
Director decision under pressure
The problem

When the next decision carries real consequences

Most businesses don’t fail suddenly. They drift into danger one decision at a time:

  • cash tightens, but revenue still looks “okay”
  • advisors disagree on what to do next
  • everyone wants action, but no one owns the downside
  • directors carry continuation risk under pressure
The point
Action without clarity is how value gets destroyed. The Viability Determination exists to answer one question safely: Is continuing economically defensible — or not?
Decision meeting
Structured determination
What this is

A decision-grade determination — not advice

The Viability Determination is a short, structured diagnostic that establishes whether the business is still economically viable, what conditions must hold for continuation, and what decisions would increase risk rather than reduce it.

The output is not an open-ended discussion. It is a written determination suitable for owners, boards, lenders, and advisors.

No determination → no treatment.
We separate determination from execution to preserve independence and credibility.

If the safest decision is to pause or stop, we help you reach that outcome earlier and cleaner.

What we look at

Establishing viability boundaries

Minimum facts for a safe call

We focus on the minimum evidence required to make a defensible decision under pressure.

  • cash reality and timing (not just profitability)
  • liquidity pressure and near-term obligations
  • unit economics and contribution logic
  • constraints and structural bottlenecks
  • balance sheet stress points
  • dependence on growth, funding, or optimism
What we don’t do in this service

We are not trying to “fix” the business at this stage. We are establishing whether fixing makes sense at all.

  • no turnaround program
  • no growth plan
  • no implementation
  • no reassurance-seeking
The aim
Replace assumption with evidence, and urgency with discipline — so you can make the next decision safely.
What you receive

A written determination with clear outcomes

Every Viability Determination provides a clear outcome and the conditions that must hold for continuation to remain defensible.

Determination outcomes
  • Proceed — continuation is reasonable under current conditions
  • Proceed with Conditions — continuation is reasonable only if specific conditions hold
  • Pause — defer action until key facts or risks are resolved
  • Stop — continuation is not defensible under current conditions
  • a concise written brief suitable for directors, lenders, and advisors
  • explicit viability boundaries and cash guardrails
  • defined next steps only where justified
Written determination
Why it matters

Decision safety under pressure

This work is most valuable when downside is real: refinancing, covenant stress, stakeholder pressure, or personal exposure. By separating determination from execution, we preserve independence and credibility — and reduce the risk of making the next move blind.

Where deeper cash evidence is required, we escalate to a Cash Reality Determination (13-week + 3-way) as a supporting service.

Fit

Who this is for

  • owners and directors carrying a continuation decision under cash pressure
  • businesses where previous fixes didn’t work
  • situations where the next decision matters (funding, payroll, tax, suppliers)
  • advisors needing an independent view for a client under pressure

Who this is not for

  • those seeking motivation or reassurance
  • situations where execution has already been decided
  • businesses unwilling to face a “pause” or “stop” outcome
Quiet corridor
FAQ

Common questions

No. It’s a decision-grade determination designed to establish viability boundaries and cash risk for decision-making. Where formal opinions are required, we recommend the appropriate specialists.

Not as part of this service. If continuation is supported, implementation is considered only under a separate engagement (Performance Fix Sprint or Turnaround & Stabilisation). There is no automatic progression.

A short fit check plus basic financial and cash timing inputs. If records are incomplete, we’ll confirm the minimum needed to proceed safely.
Contact

Request a Fit Check

A short fit check to confirm whether a Viability Determination is the right next step. No advice. No pitch.

Typical starting point
Most clients start here when cash pressure is real and the next decision matters.
Serving NZ and AU. Fixed-fee. Non-contingent.
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