Business finance questions, answered plainly.

Most unsecured business lenders size a loan against turnover rather than assets, commonly to a share of monthly or annual revenue. On our panel, unsecured facilities generally run from around $5,000 to roughly $500,000, with larger amounts usually requiring security or stronger financials. The actual figure depends on your trading history, cash flow, existing commitments and credit profile. We can tell you the realistic range for your business before any application is submitted, but no amount is guaranteed until a lender approves it.

A business loan advances a fixed amount that you repay over a set term. An overdraft is a limit attached to a transaction account that you draw on and repay as needed, with interest charged only on the balance used. A loan suits a defined purchase or a one-off cost; an overdraft suits timing gaps between paying suppliers and being paid. Overdrafts often carry a line fee whether or not you draw the limit, so compare the total cost of holding the facility.

Yes, acquisition finance is available, though lenders assess it more closely than a working capital loan. They typically want the target business financials, the sale contract, a handover plan and evidence you have relevant experience. Goodwill on its own is difficult to lend against, so many deals combine a cash deposit, vendor finance and a loan secured by property or the acquired assets. Franchise purchases are often assessed against the franchisor system rather than the individual site.

No. An unsecured business loan can still require a personal or director’s guarantee. A guarantee may make you personally responsible if the business cannot repay the loan. We explain the lender’s security and guarantee requirements before you decide.

Timing depends on the lender, your application and the documents available. Tell us your deadline so we can explain the likely timing and what is needed to move forward. Funding is subject to lender approval and completion of any conditions.

Often no deposit is required, particularly for established businesses buying standard assets from a dealer. A deposit is more likely where the business is new, the asset is older or specialised, the credit profile is weaker, or the amount is large relative to turnover. Deposits typically range from around 10% to 30% in those cases. Putting money in reduces the amount financed and can improve the terms offered, but it is not always necessary.

Yes, that is a sale and leaseback. You sell an unencumbered asset to a financier and lease or finance it back, receiving the sale proceeds as working capital while keeping the asset in use. Lenders will want proof you own it outright, a valuation, and evidence the funds are for a legitimate business purpose. It is a useful option when capital is tied up in plant, but it converts an owned asset into a monthly commitment, so the cash flow effect needs checking first.

Terms usually run from 12 to 84 months. The ceiling is generally set by the expected working life of the asset: heavy earthmoving and trucks often stretch to five or seven years, while IT hardware and point-of-sale systems are commonly kept to two or three. Lenders also look at the age of the asset at the end of the term, so a ten-year-old machine will attract a shorter term than a new one. Longer terms lower repayments and raise total interest.

Yes. A master facility agreement lets a lender approve an overall limit, then draw down individual assets against it using a commitment schedule for each one. Each drawdown has its own term and repayment, but you avoid re-applying every time you buy. It suits businesses buying regularly through the year. Limits are usually reviewed annually and the lender can decline a particular asset even where the limit is available.

With a chattel mortgage your business owns the equipment from purchase and the lender holds security over it. With a finance lease the lender owns the equipment and you pay to use it for the term. The choice affects GST, tax deductions and what happens at the end of the term.

We compare options for Australian businesses. Lenders look at factors such as trading time, turnover, cash flow, credit history and the amount you need. Tell us about your business and we will explain which options may fit. There is no single minimum that applies across every lender on our panel.

We start with a conversation about your business. To assess your options, lenders commonly need identification and recent business bank statements. Depending on the loan, they may also request BAS, financials or statements for existing debts. Your broker gives you a clear list for your situation.

It varies by lender and product. Many unsecured business lenders want at least six to twelve months of trading, while some asset finance lenders will consider a new ABN where the director has industry experience, a clean credit file and often property ownership or a deposit. Registration for GST is frequently expected once turnover reaches the threshold. A short ABN history is not an automatic decline, but it narrows the panel and usually affects the rate and structure offered.

Yes, some lenders offer low-doc pathways. Low-doc does not mean no documents or automatic approval. The information required depends on your business, the amount and the lender. Your broker will explain what is needed.

No. Plenty of finance is written for non-property owners, especially asset finance where the equipment itself is the security, and unsecured lending assessed on cash flow. That said, property ownership widens the panel and often improves pricing, because it gives a lender an additional avenue if things go wrong. If you do not own property, expect more weight on trading history, bank conduct and the quality of the asset being financed.

Costs depend on your business, the lender, amount and term. Your broker will explain how the rate is calculated, your repayments, lender fees, any broker fee, ongoing charges and the scheduled total cost. We also explain any early-payout conditions.

A comparison rate combines the interest rate with most standard fees into a single figure, so two loans can be compared on a like-for-like basis. It is required for consumer credit regulated by the NCCP Act, such as a personal car loan. Business and commercial lending is generally not regulated that way, so a comparison rate may not be quoted. For commercial finance, ask instead for the scheduled repayment, all fees and the total amount payable over the term.

The common ones are an establishment or documentation fee charged at settlement, a monthly account-keeping fee, and a PPSR registration fee for recording the lender's interest in the asset. A brokerage fee may also apply, which we disclose to you in writing before anything is submitted. Some agreements include an early termination or break cost. Fees vary by lender and are typically a modest part of total cost compared with the interest, but they should still be compared.

Because they are pricing different levels of risk and using different funding. A bank with a long assessment process and full financials can price sharply; a fintech approving in hours from bank statements charges more for that speed and the lighter verification. Asset type, age, term, deposit, credit history and whether directors own property all move the number. That is the point of a panel — the same deal can land very differently, so it is worth comparing rather than accepting the first quote.

Most facilities can be paid out early, but the cost depends on the structure. Fixed-rate equipment finance often includes a break cost or an early termination fee that recovers part of the lender's expected interest, so paying out in year one rarely saves the full remaining interest. Some short-term unsecured loans have a fixed total repayable, meaning early repayment saves little or nothing. Ask for the payout figure in writing before you decide.

Making an initial enquiry is not the same as applying to a lender. We discuss your circumstances and likely options first. Your broker will explain any credit check that is required and obtain your consent before proceeding.

We are a finance broker. We compare suitable options from our lender panel and help you through the process. We explain any broker fee and how we are paid before you proceed. The lender assesses and decides the application.

No. You can review the options and ask questions before deciding. Nothing is submitted to a lender without your go-ahead.

We hold accreditations with a panel of more than 18 lenders, spanning major banks, non-bank asset financiers, specialist commercial funders, invoice and trade finance providers and short-term fintech lenders. A panel matters because credit appetite varies enormously: an asset or an industry that one funder avoids may be routine for another. We select from the panel based on your circumstances rather than sending the same application everywhere.

Lenders typically pay us a commission when a loan settles, and in some cases a broker fee applies which we disclose before you proceed. We explain how we are paid for your specific loan before anything is submitted.

Yes. Commercial property lending, including owner-occupied, investment and SMSF purchases, is arranged through Lyft Financial, part of Lyft Capital. The same broker can coordinate your property and equipment finance.

Commercial lending is usually written to a lower loan-to-value ratio than residential, so expect to contribute more. Owner-occupied purchases commonly sit around 65% to 80% LVR depending on the property type and the strength of the business, meaning a deposit of roughly 20% to 35% plus costs. Specialised premises attract tighter LVRs than standard offices, warehouses or retail. Using equity in an existing property can reduce or replace the cash deposit.

It is possible where the property is genuine business real property and the arrangement complies with superannuation law, typically through a limited recourse borrowing arrangement. The fund borrows, a bare trust holds the asset, and the business pays market rent to the fund under a lease. Lenders apply conservative LVRs and want the fund to hold a liquidity buffer. This is an area where you need advice from your accountant and a qualified SMSF adviser before you commit.

Plan for six to twelve weeks from application to settlement in most cases. The steps that take time are the full financial assessment, a formal valuation of the property, legal documentation and any conditions the lender imposes before funding. Purchases with tight contract dates need the finance clause negotiated realistically at the outset. Refinances of an existing loan can be quicker where the property and the borrower are straightforward.

A novated lease is a three-way arrangement between an employee, their employer and a financier, where the employer deducts the vehicle payments from the employee's salary. It is only available to employees whose employer offers salary packaging, not to a business buying its own vehicle. The tax treatment involves fringe benefits tax rules, and concessional treatment applies to some eligible electric vehicles. Your payroll department and accountant should confirm the position before you sign.

Yes, most asset lenders fund private sales, with extra checks. The lender will run a PPSR search to confirm no existing finance is registered against the vehicle, verify the seller's identity and bank details, and may require an inspection or valuation. Funds are paid to the seller after signing, not to you. Private sales usually settle a little slower than dealer purchases and there is no GST credit to claim unless the seller is registered and issues a tax invoice.

The finance structures are the same — chattel mortgage, lease or novated lease — but a few things change. Some lenders offer specific EV or low-emissions products, residual and balloon settings can be more conservative because resale values are still stabilising, and charging infrastructure can sometimes be financed alongside the vehicle. For employees, eligible electric vehicles under the luxury car tax threshold may attract an FBT exemption on a novated lease. Confirm current rules with your accountant.

Fleet arrangements put several vehicles under one approved limit, so each new vehicle is drawn down against an existing facility rather than assessed from scratch. That saves time and gives consistent pricing across the fleet. Larger fleets can add maintenance, registration and fuel management into a single monthly cost. The trade-off is an annual review of the overall limit and, in some cases, tighter reporting requirements from the financier.

Most heavy vehicle lenders look at the age of the truck at the end of the proposed term rather than its age today. A common ceiling is around 15 to 20 years at term end for a prime mover, with trailers often treated more generously because they hold value and have fewer mechanical parts. An older unit can still be financed, usually with a shorter term, a deposit or a higher rate, and sometimes with an inspection or valuation required.

It is possible and we arrange these regularly, but it is assessed more carefully than a repeat purchase. Lenders want to see relevant driving experience, a licence class matching the vehicle, and ideally a signed contract, sub-contract agreement or letter of intent showing where the work is coming from. Property ownership or a deposit of around 10% to 20% strengthens the file considerably. Nothing here guarantees approval — each lender makes its own decision.

They are usually written as separate contracts even when bought together, because the assets have different lives and resale patterns. That lets you set a longer term on the trailer and a shorter one on the prime mover, or pay one out ahead of the other. Some lenders will bundle them under a single master facility with two commitment schedules, which keeps the paperwork simple while preserving separate terms for each asset.

Low-doc reduces the financial statements required; it does not remove verification. A lender will still check identity, ABN and GST registration, credit files for the business and the directors, and usually recent bank statements or BAS to see turnover and conduct. For asset finance, they will also verify the asset and the supplier. Expect a declaration from you about servicing capacity, and sometimes an accountant's letter. Providing more information often improves the terms available.

Possibly, depending on the size, age, type and whether it is paid. A small telco or utility default from four years ago is treated very differently from a recent unpaid default to a finance company. Some lenders on our panel specialise in impaired credit and will consider defaults, judgments and past arrangements, generally with a higher rate, a deposit or a shorter term. We will be straight with you about what is realistic rather than lodging applications that are likely to be declined.

No, though it narrows the options considerably and timing matters. Lenders generally want the bankruptcy discharged and a period of clean trading afterwards, and they will look closely at what caused it. A director of a company that entered administration will be asked to explain the circumstances. Files like these are usually placed with specialist funders, at a higher cost, and often with security or a substantial deposit. Each lender applies its own policy.

It can. Every formal application usually creates an enquiry on your credit file, and a cluster of enquiries in a short window suggests to the next lender that you have been shopping hard or declined elsewhere. That is one practical benefit of using a broker: we assess the fit first and lodge selectively rather than scattering applications. We explain any credit check and obtain your consent before submitting anything.

Yes, a number of lenders on our panel will fund tax debt, either as an unsecured business loan or secured against property or equipment. The usual purpose is to replace ATO general interest charge with a structured repayment and to clear a debt that is blocking other finance. Lenders will want the ATO portal statement showing the balance and whether an arrangement is in place. Refinancing tax debt changes the term and total amount you repay, so compare that against staying on an arrangement.

The ATO can disclose business tax debts to credit reporting bodies where the debt is above a threshold, has been outstanding for a set period, the business has an ABN, and it is not effectively engaging with the ATO to manage the debt. Once disclosed, the debt can appear on a commercial credit report and affect lender decisions. Entering and maintaining a payment arrangement is the usual way to avoid disclosure. Check the ATO's current criteria directly.

Often yes. Many lenders view a maintained arrangement more favourably than an ignored debt, because it shows engagement. They will typically ask for the arrangement letter, the current integrated client account balance and evidence the instalments are being met from the business account. The arrangement payments are counted as a commitment when assessing servicing. A broken or defaulted arrangement is a bigger obstacle than the debt itself.

A director penalty notice is a notice from the ATO that can make a company director personally liable for certain unpaid company obligations, principally PAYG withholding, GST and superannuation guarantee charge. There are strict time limits and the options available depend on whether the amounts were reported on time. This is a serious legal matter, not a finance question — speak to your accountant or a registered insolvency or legal adviser promptly if you receive one.

A personal car loan is consumer credit regulated by the National Consumer Credit Protection Act. That brings responsible lending obligations on the lender and the broker, a requirement to quote a comparison rate, and access to consumer dispute resolution. Business vehicle finance for a genuine business purpose generally sits outside that regime and is assessed on the business rather than household budget. The security over the vehicle can look similar; the disclosure, protections and tax treatment do not.

Under the NCCP Act, we must make reasonable enquiries into your requirements and objectives and your financial situation, take reasonable steps to verify what you tell us, and assess whether the credit is not unsuitable for you. In practice that means questions about income, expenses, dependants and existing debts, and asking for payslips or bank statements to verify them. It is not paperwork for its own sake — it exists so you are not put into a loan you cannot afford.

Because a comparison rate folds most standard fees and charges into the interest rate to give a single figure for comparison. A loan with a low headline rate and a large establishment fee will show a noticeably higher comparison rate. The rate is calculated on a standard example amount and term set by regulation, so it will not match your loan exactly, but it is the fairest quick comparison between two consumer loans. Always look at both figures plus the total repayable.

Yes. Leisure asset lending is available for caravans, camper trailers, boats, jet skis, motorbikes and horse floats, secured against the asset itself. Because these are bought for private use, the loan is regulated consumer credit with responsible lending obligations and a comparison rate. Terms are commonly up to seven years, sometimes longer for larger caravans and boats. Lenders consider the asset's age and type as well as your income and existing commitments.

Lenders publish maximum residual or balloon percentages that fall as the term lengthens, because the asset is worth less at the end of a longer term. For a vehicle, a common pattern is up to roughly 50% on a two-year term, reducing to around 20% to 30% on a five-year term. The ATO also sets minimum residual values for finance leases. A larger balloon lowers monthly repayments but increases total interest and leaves a lump sum to deal with at the end.

You generally have three practical choices: pay the residual and take ownership, refinance the residual over a further term, or return or sell the asset and settle the residual from the proceeds. Under a finance lease the financier owns the asset during the term, so the documentation sets out exactly what the options are. Check the agreement early rather than in the final month, and speak to your accountant about the tax effect of each choice.

An operating lease suits assets you want to use but not own — typically technology that dates quickly, or equipment you replace on a fixed cycle. The financier retains ownership and residual risk, you pay for use over the term and hand the asset back at the end, often with fair wear and tear and usage conditions attached. It keeps replacement predictable, but you build no equity, and exceeding the agreed usage can trigger additional charges.

It is far less common than it once was. Under hire purchase the financier owns the asset and you hire it, with ownership transferring automatically after the final instalment. Since the GST changes that made chattel mortgage more attractive for businesses accounting on a cash basis, most equipment lending is written as a chattel mortgage or lease instead. Some lenders still offer commercial hire purchase, and your accountant can advise whether it suits your circumstances.

The Personal Property Securities Register is the national register of security interests in personal property, including vehicles and equipment. When a lender finances an asset, it registers its interest so the security is publicly recorded and its priority is protected if the asset is sold or the business fails. It also means a buyer searching the register will see the finance. The registration is released once the contract is paid out, and a small registration fee is usually passed on to you.

The lender pays the supplier directly, not you. For a dealer purchase, the financier settles against the dealer's tax invoice once signed documents and any conditions are complete, and the dealer releases the asset. For a private sale, the funds go to the verified seller after the PPSR check and identity verification, and you sign a receipt confirming delivery. If you have already paid a deposit, that is shown on the invoice and reduces the amount financed.

Yes, in almost all cases. Most lenders on our panel issue contracts through a secure electronic signing platform, with identity verification done digitally or by video. That is what allows a straightforward asset finance deal to move from approval to settlement within a day or two. A small number of documents — some property security and certain guarantee documents — may still require witnessed wet signatures, and we will tell you upfront when that applies.

Asset finance is usually the most accessible starting point, because the equipment provides security. Lenders with start-up or new-ABN policies will typically consider a first vehicle, ute or machine where you have verifiable industry experience, a clean personal credit file, and often property ownership or a deposit of around 10% to 20%. Unsecured working capital is much harder in the first six to twelve months. As BAS and bank history build, the panel available to you widens.

Several things carry weight in place of financials. Lenders look at your industry experience and prior employment in the same trade, licences and tickets, signed contracts or letters of intent showing where income will come from, personal credit history and bank conduct, property ownership, and any deposit you can contribute. Interim figures from your accountant and lodged BAS help once you have them. The more of these you can evidence, the wider the panel available and the better the terms.

It counts for a great deal, particularly in asset finance. A lender assessing a first truck, ute or machine wants to know the person operating it knows the work and has a source of income. Years of employment in the same trade, a current licence of the right class and a subcontract with your former employer or another operator address exactly that. It does not remove the short ABN history, but it often turns a decline into an approval with a deposit.