A word from Maxiron Capital
At Maxiron Capital, we’re proud to support brokers and accountants who are making a real difference for their SME clients. Being part of the 2025 SME Bootcamp was an exciting opportunity to connect, share insights, and help businesses move forward with confidence.
We know that in small business, timing is everything. That’s why our lending process is built to be Flash Fast – quick, simple, and flexible. Whether your client needs working capital, commercial funding, or cash flow support, we’re here to make it happen with minimal fuss.
With over 250 five-star Google reviews, brokers trust us not just for our speed – but for being reliable, responsive, and easy to work with. We take the time to understand your clients’ needs and deliver funding solutions that add real value.
Let’s keep growing together and helping Australia’s SMEs succeed – one smart solution at a time.
As economic conditions have tightened, Australian business owners have faced mounting pressure on margins, cash flow, and overall confidence. Yet as delegates discovered at the SME Bootcamp 2025, opportunities to serve, support, and grow client bases remain present in every economic cycle.
The one-day event, hosted by The Adviser with support from principal partner Maxiron Capital, travelled to Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and Sydney in September, equipping hundreds of accountants and mortgage brokers with the strategies, tools, and insights needed to stay relevant and proactive as trusted advisers to their SME clients.
Delegates walked away feeling energised and confident about writing more commercial finance and helping keep the engine room of the economy turning.
Strategic partnership in a changing economy
The core message of the 2025 SME Bootcamp was that success in a challenging market is “all about understanding your client”, as noted by SME finance specialist and Accendo partner, John Sgambelluri.
The program was led by Sgambelluri and fellow Accendo partner Trent Carter, who shared decades of combined experience working with brokers, bankers, and business owners. They stressed that opportunity is always there, even in the toughest of markets, and that businesses could be “won and done” in all economic cycles.
The bootcamp focused on helping finance professionals become true strategic partners to their clients. This meant moving beyond transactional interactions to anticipate evolving needs, interpret financial statements beyond the numbers, and deliver funding solutions that add genuine value.
In the opening session, Carter explored how to ‘Cycle-proof your business’, urging attendees to position themselves and their clients for success regardless of economic conditions. The session offered insights on how to spot opportunity in uncertain times, build financial resilience, and turn market challenges into revenue. He also focused on the client conversion cycle, providing strategies to help brokers and accountants reinvest their time into high-impact actions, increase revenue per client, and escape the ‘commission roller coaster’ by building long-term value through better conversion discipline.
Practical frameworks for success
A significant part of the bootcamp was dedicated to practical, real-world application. Sgambelluri led an interactive session, ‘Beyond the data – understanding your client’, where participants worked through a real-life SME case study. The goal was to teach attendees how to quickly dissect financials and uncover the true story behind the numbers, allowing them to interpret data through the lens of their clients’ strategy and connect financial health to long-term goals.
Building on this insight, his session ‘Translating financial success measures’ helped attendees turn client understanding into action. Participants learned how to quickly assess the viability of a deal, explore lender appetite, and lay the groundwork for a credit memorandum. This transitioned seamlessly into a discussion on how to charge for their expertise, outlining the steps to a successful client mandate letter and fee engagement.
Sgambelluri also provided essential guidance on ‘Presenting to lenders with impact’, teaching professionals how to structure and deliver a compelling finance submission. The focus was on leading with the right narrative, highlighting strengths, addressing potential risks, and using clear structure to drive faster decisions, ultimately helping delegates get their deals over the line.
Lenders to the rescue
While strategic advice formed the foundation of the bootcamp, the role of lenders in providing the actual fuel for SME growth was equally pivotal. Throughout the day, a series of focused fireside chats and panel discussions put the spotlight on diverse funding options, positioning various lenders as the lynchpin to help SMEs tackle their challenges and realise their ambitions.
From the latest in cash flow finance and lines of credit to specialised commercial mortgages and asset finance, attending partners demonstrated how their innovative and flexible solutions can be deployed at the most opportune time.
This focus reinforced the message that brokers and accountants, armed with a deeper understanding of their clients’ financials, are best positioned to match a business’s specific need to the right capital partner, ensuring SMEs are able to sustain productivity and invest cautiously in growth.
Maximising value and income
Towards the end of the day, Sgambelluri outlined how finance professionals could achieve more business with the same client by maximising their value as an SME adviser. Using a real brokerage case study, he broke down the financial impact of cross-selling and holistic client service. He showed attendees where untapped value already exists in their business and how to position themselves as a true SME finance partner, not just a transaction handler.
The 2025 SME Bootcamp reinforced the powerful message that brokers and accountants are the trusted advisers for the SME sector. By adopting the practical skills and strategic mindset shared at the event, finance professionals can confidently guide their clients through challenging economic waters, ensuring they not only survive, but also grow.
