Alternative Business Finance Group

Consultant Mentoring

Brisbane, Australia

Join a capped group of 20 independent consultants and be personally mentored by Tony Puls, founder of Australia's first equity crowdfunding platform — 40 years building the infrastructure, now open to a select few.

Background of Founder Tony Puls

Founding Chairman, ASSOB

Australian Small Scale Offerings Board — one of the world's first equity crowdfunding platforms. Oversaw more than $150 million raised for over 300 Australian start-ups and early-stage businesses. Cited by the World Bank as the world's most successful equity crowdfunding platform.

Helping SMEs access alternative funding

Developed the market infrastructure underpinning Section 708 of the Corporations Act 2001 — the legislation that governs small-scale private equity capital raising in Australia today.

Industries Commission — Availability of Capital

Contributed to the Industries Commission study on the availability of capital for Australian business, commissioned by the Keating Government.

SEC & FINRA, Washington DC — 2013

Invited by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA to Washington to help develop crowdfunding regulations as part of President Obama's JOBS Act — one of a small number of international practitioners consulted.

Coined 'Initial Private Offer'

The term now used by SMEs across Australia, the USA and Europe to describe a compliant private equity raise under small-scale offering exemptions.

Life Member, Crowdfunding Institute of Australia

Recognised for contribution to the development of equity crowdfunding regulation and practice in Australia.

Four consultants are already personally mentored through this program, helping their own clients raise capital via Headwaters.

Meet them →

Alternative Business Finance Group

Headwaters Capital itself is open to any consultant, adviser or firm for $99/month — unlimited Capital Planner scenarios and the ability to list your clients' Initial Private Offers. This program is different: I'm personally mentoring a small, capped group of 20 independent consultants to help Australian SMEs raise equity capital through an Initial Private Offer under Section 708 of the Corporations Act — without a prospectus, without surrendering control, and without the cost of a public listing. No AFSL required.

$595 one-time — full access from day one

Your registration buys the training, tools and mentoring you need to land your first client — the Consultant Playbook, document templates, Capital Planner access, and your live profile on the Find a Consultant directory, all unlocked immediately. Your $99/month subscription only begins once you've secured that first client. See full pricing & details ↓

INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT AGREEMENT

An Agreement Between: TICX Pty Ltd t/a Alternative Business Finance Group (ABFG) | ABN: 51 611 857 875
and; The Applicant named and signed below.

Introduction

The Alternative Business Finance Group (ABFG) is operated by TICX Pty Ltd t/a Alternative Business Finance Group, an Australian-Pacific capital markets education, documentation, and consulting support platform. ABFG assists SMEs to raise growth capital lawfully and cost-effectively under small-scale offer exemptions available in most jurisdictions, in Australia it's Section 708 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Our goal: to help you become a fully competent and capable Independent ABFG Consultant, operating your own advisory practice within the ABFG framework.

1. Purpose of Agreement

This Agreement governs participation in ABFG's Referral & Independent Consultant Program, under which Participants provide independent business consulting and capital readiness services using ABFG systems, tools, and documentation frameworks.

2. Registration & Subscription Fees

Registration Fee (one-time): $595.00 — payable at the time of application. This fee provides immediate access to the Consultant Playbook, document templates, the Headwaters Capital Planner, and the training materials described in this Agreement, together with the Participant's live profile on the Independent Consultant directory.

Monthly Subscription: $99.00 per month — recurring, commencing once the Participant has secured their first paying client engagement. The Participant must notify ABFG promptly upon securing a first client, at which point ABFG will activate the subscription.

Both payments are processed via the Stripe payment platform. This Agreement takes effect, and the Participant's access to ABFG systems and resources commences, upon payment of the Registration Fee.

3. Nature of Relationship

This Agreement creates an independent contractor relationship only. Nothing in this Agreement constitutes a partnership, employment, agency, or joint venture.

Participants:

Operate their own business
Set their own hours
Are responsible for all tax, GST, insurance, and compliance obligations

4. Regulatory & Licensing Position

ABFG and all Participants: do not raise capital · do not introduce or solicit investors · do not promote or sell securities · do not provide financial product advice · do not receive commissions on funds raised.

All issuing companies self-raise their own capital under their own Section 708 exemptions.

Important: Any person who introduces investors or promotes securities must hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). Participants without an AFSL must not engage in these activities under any circumstances.

INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT — Permitted Activity:

Full client advisory delivery
Capital structuring and modelling via access to Headwaters Capital Planner
Documentation preparation
Initial Private Offer (IPO) platform and Private Trading Exchange (PTX) client access
Independent client management
Offer involvement (pecuniary interest) permitted

Fee Entitlement: 100% of your own client consulting fees and charges — you set your own fees

Prohibited Activities — Applies to all Consultants

Introduce investors to any issuing company
Promote or advertise securities
Sell investment opportunities
Provide financial product advice
Negotiate investments on behalf of any party
Receive commissions on funds raised

Immediate termination applies for any breach of the above.

5. Client Ownership

The Participant retains ownership of their client relationships
ABFG acts solely as: systems provider, documentation support provider, and technical and platform support provider

6. Intellectual Property

All templates, software, tools, calculators, documentation systems, and platform resources (including ipocalc.com) remain the exclusive intellectual property of TICX Pty Ltd t/a Alternative Business Finance Group. No licence to reproduce, sublicence, or distribute any ABFG IP is granted under this Agreement.

7. Use of ABFG Name & Logo

The Participant must NOT use the Austpac, Alternative Business Finance Group, ABFG, TICX Pty Ltd, or Headwaters Capital name, logo, trademark, or branding on any marketing materials, correspondence, proposals, websites, social media profiles, or public communications without the prior written approval of ABFG in each specific instance.

Permitted description (plain text only): Participants may describe themselves as an "Authorised Independent Consultant — Alternative Business Finance Group" in plain text on their own LinkedIn profile, business card, or email signature.

Any approved use of ABFG branding is non-transferable, non-exclusive, and may be revoked at any time by ABFG in writing. Breach of this clause is grounds for immediate termination.

8. Confidentiality

Participants must keep strictly confidential all:

Client information and correspondence
Business systems, tools, and processes
Platform architecture and documentation frameworks

9. Non-Circumvention

The Participant agrees that during the term of their participation with ABFG, and for a period of twenty-four (24) months after cessation, they will not directly or indirectly circumvent, bypass, interfere with, or avoid ABFG's systems, clients, investors, referral networks, capital-raising processes, or commercial relationships introduced by ABFG, for the purpose of obtaining a benefit or avoiding payment of fees or consideration to ABFG.

10. Restraint of Trade (Non-Compete)

The Participant must not, without the prior written consent of ABFG, during the term of this Agreement and for a period of twenty-four (24) months after termination, directly or indirectly: carry on, be engaged in, be concerned with, provide services to, consult to, invest in, or hold any financial or beneficial interest in; or otherwise assist any business that is substantially similar to or competitive with the core business of ABFG.

11. Term & Termination

This Agreement commences upon payment of the Registration Fee
Either party may terminate with 30 days' written notice

Immediate termination applies for:

Any compliance or regulatory breach
Engaging in securities activity without an AFSL
Investor solicitation or promotion of securities
Misrepresentation to clients or ABFG
Breach of Clause 7 (use of ABFG name or logo)

12. Limitation of Liability

ABFG provides systems and advisory support only and makes no guarantee regarding capital raising outcomes, company valuations, or investor participation. All commercial risk remains with the issuing company. ABFG's liability to any Participant under this Agreement is limited to the total subscription fees paid in the three months preceding the relevant claim.

13. Insurance

Each Participant is responsible for maintaining, at their own cost:

Professional indemnity insurance
Public liability insurance
All required business registrations and compliance obligations

14. Governing Law

This Agreement is governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia. The parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland.

15. Entire Agreement

This document constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior discussions, representations, and agreements. Any variation must be in writing and signed by both parties.

First name *

Last name *

Email address *

Phone *

State / Territory *

Current profession *

Business or company name

Why are you interested in joining ABFG? *

I have read the Independent Consultant Agreement above in full and agree to be bound by its terms. I understand my $595 registration fee is payable now to activate my access, and that my $99/month subscription will begin once I notify ABFG that I have secured my first paying client. I consent to this electronic acceptance being a valid and binding record of my agreement under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth).

Submitting takes you straight to secure payment ($595 via Stripe).
Once paid, I'll personally be in touch to set up your profile on the Find a Consultant directory.

Platforms

Headwaters Capital

Equity capital for SMEs — Initial Private Offers under Section 708 of the Corporations Act. Australia's first dedicated private equity marketplace for small business.

headwaterscapital.co →

SME Bonds

Debt securities for SMEs — issue bonds to raise debt funding without a prospectus, a credit licence, or a bank. SME Bonds, Vendor Bonds, and Convertible Bonds.

smebonds.com →

Included with your membership

Your training: The Founder's Guide + the Capital Planner video

Each Independent Consultant is mentored around two core resources: The Founder's Guide to Raising Equity Capital Without a Prospectus — my step-by-step handbook, also sold separately on Amazon — and the 7-minute How to Use the Capital Planner video.

You don't need to be an accountant or an existing adviser to apply. If you have good writing skills, a professional network, and you're willing to work through the book and video, I'll personally mentor you the rest of the way. It's a genuine part-time or full-time work-from-home opportunity for savvy people looking for an extra income source.

Apply now ↑

Full pricing & what's included

A closer look at what your registration includes, realistic income scenarios, and who this opportunity suits — the detail behind the application above.

$2M

Raiseable per company without a prospectus

100%

Of client fees retained — you set the rate

AFSL or licence required to operate

What working with me directly gets you

Independent Consultant

Direct, ongoing mentoring from me — not a help desk

IPO, SME Bond & Convertible Note document templates

Headwaters Capital Planner access — model share capital raises for clients

Initial Private Offer platform & Private Trading Exchange client access

AML/CTF checklists & Section 708 compliance tools

Ongoing technical support across client engagements

Founder's Guide to Raising Equity Capital (book) + How to Use the Capital Planner (video)

100% of your own client consulting fees — you set the rate

Illustrative annual income scenarios

Part-time

$23K

2 engagements/yr

Active

$46K

4 engagements/yr

Full-time

$92K

8 engagements/yr

Income projections are illustrative only and do not constitute a guarantee of earnings. All engagements are governed by the terms of the Consultant Agreement.

One-time registration A$595 paid at signup, unlocks everything immediately

Monthly subscription A$99 /month — begins once you've secured your first client

Your $595 registration buys the education and tooling you need to land your first client: full access to the Consultant Playbook, document templates, the Headwaters Capital Planner, and your live profile on the Find a Consultant directory, plus my personal mentoring — all unlocked immediately once you register. Your $99/month subscription only begins once you've secured your first paying client; simply let me know when that happens and I'll activate it. Cancel any time with 30 days' written notice. Full terms are set out in the Consultant Agreement above.

Who this is designed for

Accountants and bookkeepers, finance and mortgage brokers, business brokers, business advisers and consultants, experienced business operators — and equally, anyone with good writing skills, a professional network, and a genuine interest in this space. You do not need to already be an accountant or adviser.

Formal financial qualifications are not required. What matters is strong written communication, attention to detail, professional integrity, and a willingness to work through the training materials and personal mentoring. No AFSL required — consultants do not raise capital, introduce investors, or promote securities.

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Contact

Email admin@austpac.au

Web austpac.au

Location Brisbane, Queensland, Australia