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As the year draws to a close, it’s a natural time to pause, take stock, and reflect on the journey so far.
For many in the drilling sector, 2025 has been a year of both opportunity and challenge - shaped by market shifts, economic uncertainty, and evolving industry dynamics.
Australia’s drilling industry is also facing a major generational change. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 800,000 Australians are expected to retire over the next five years. Against this backdrop, business owners face an important choice: drill down and grow, or step back and retire.
Key questions for the year ahead
This is the ideal moment to ask ourselves some hard questions. Are we ready for another lap around the block, or is it time to hang up the boots? Do we still have the passion and energy to expand operations and capture new opportunities as others exit the market?
These decisions are personal but also strategic. Taking time to reflect ensures our next steps align with both our goals and the realities of a changing sector. Surrounding yourself with trusted advisers can make this process clearer and less stressful, helping to clarify your options and guide your planning.
Whether your goal is growth, consolidation, or transition, it’s essential to have a tailored strategy. Accountants, financial advisers, and advisory boards can help you set a clear direction, identify risks, and hold you accountable as you move forward.
“The best outcomes come from business owners who plan early, seek good advice, and execute with purpose - long before life forces their hand.”
- Rob Zammit
Planning for growth or sale
If your focus is on growth, your accountant can analyse your financial position, identify efficiencies, and build robust forecasting models suited to the drilling industry’s unique cash flow cycles.
If you’re preparing for a sale or succession, early planning is key. An experienced accountant can help you value your business and assets, structure the sale to maximise after-tax returns, and ensure financial records are ready for due diligence. For most owners, the business represents their largest asset – and understanding its fair value, liabilities, and surplus assets can make a big difference to the final outcome.
After years of working with business owners, I’ve seen the best results come from those who plan early and execute with discipline. Poor outcomes often result from reactive decisions triggered by health issues, unsolicited offers, or lack of preparation - situations that can be avoided with forward planning.
Planning for life beyond work
Many people work too long and too hard, leaving limited time to enjoy the rewards of their efforts. A skilled financial planner can help assess your current position, project your future needs, and design an investment plan to sustain your lifestyle in retirement.
If you’re unsure whether you’re financially ready - or perhaps being overly cautious - now is the time to review your plans. Engaging early with experienced advisers gives you more options, better outcomes, and the confidence to move into your next chapter, whether that’s growth or well-earned rest.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please contact Rob Zammit
This article was featured in Australasian Drilling Magazine, p. 63, December-January Edition 2025/2026
