The First 90 Days After Buying an NDIS Business: A Practical Handover Plan

Settlement day feels like the finish line. For a registered NDIS provider, it is closer to the start. The NDIS Commission expects a change of ownership to be reported, key personnel to be updated and participants to be looked after. Some buyers also face an audit deadline. How you handle the first three months affects participant trust, staff retention and your standing with the regulator. Here is a plan you can follow. Before settlement: sort portal access You need access to the NDIS Commission's registered providers portal to report anything. The seller must approve your access request. The Commission's own tip is to make sure the buyer's access is approved before the seller loses theirs. Put it on your settlement checklist, because chasing it later wastes days. Weeks one and two: notify the Commission Notify the Commission of the change of ownership as soon as possible. Your notification should cover: who the new owner is, including qualifications and experience how many participants receive supports how participants are being informed and supported to exercise choice and control whether the change affected service delivery how the sale came about, and whether a broker was involved Draft this before settlement so you are not writing it under pressure. Next, update your key personnel and contact details. The Commission notes that a change of ownership is likely to change who holds key personnel roles, and it assesses whether the new business and staff are suitable to deliver supports. Put participants first Participants and their families or supporters must be told about the change. They cannot be moved automatically to the new owner, and they are free to choose another provider. Their privacy must also be protected throughout, in line with the Privacy and Dignity practice standard. A few practical habits help: Send a short, plain-language letter, then follow up with calls for people who rely on family or supporters. Keep familiar support workers on the roster wherever you can. Name one contact person participants can ring with questions. Avoid changing rosters, service agreements or pricing in the first weeks unless you have to. Trust is the asset you have just bought, so protect it. Check staff and worker screening People in risk-assessed roles, including key personnel, need an NDIS worker screening clearance. Registered providers are responsible for identifying and keeping records of those roles. In your first fortnight, match every clearance against your list. Include any managers you have appointed and any contractors. Meet your team early and be clear about what is changing and what is not. Uncertainty drives resignations faster than bad news does. Test your incident escalation path A reportable incident must be notified to the Commission within 24 hours of key personnel becoming aware of it. The exception is an unauthorised restrictive practice that has not caused harm, which has a five business day window. That timeframe is tight for an owner who is still learning the business. Ask yourself: Does every support worker know who to call after hours? Does the incident register carry across from the previous owner? Are there open incidents or complaints that need follow-up? Fix any gaps in week one, not after the first serious incident. Days 30 to 90: prepare for audit For changes of ownership from 1 July 2026, a buyer of a provider delivering high-risk or complex supports must complete an audit within three months if the sale significantly changes the organisation or its governance. A condition audit applies where the provider has a registration group that requires a certification audit. To stay ahead of it: Check the Certificate of Registration for the registration groups and any extra conditions. Approach an approved quality auditor in your first month, because calendars fill quickly. Tidy policies, incident and complaint records, and HR files before the auditor arrives. If you are unsure whether the requirement applies to you, ask the Commission directly. Your 90-day timeline When Focus Before settlement Portal access approved, notification drafted, participant letter ready Days 1 to 14 Notify the Commission, update key personnel and contact details, meet staff, contact participants Days 15 to 30 Verify worker screening, review incidents and complaints, confirm audit requirement, book an auditor Days 31 to 90 Complete audit preparation, review policies against the Practice Standards, check in with participants Start with the right support A smooth handover starts long before settlement. NDIS Business Brokers can match you with a business that suits your experience, guide you through due diligence and help you plan the change of ownership from day one. Ready to buy an NDIS business with confidence? Register as a buyer or book a free consultation with our team today. Find more at https://ndisbusinessbrokers.com.au/