Business loans in Australia, made simple

At a glance

• Two routes: property-secured (no financials) or unsecured (bank statements only)
• Property-secured loans from $20,000 to $5 million, 1st or 2nd mortgage
• Unsecured loans need an ABN and at least six months of trading
• Sole traders, partnerships, companies and trusts welcome
• The form takes about 60 seconds and won't touch your credit score
• A real human reads it and gets back to you with next steps

How do business loans in Australia work here?

Business loans in Australia work here in one of two ways: you borrow against property you own, or you borrow against the cash flow your business already earns. That's the whole menu. Two options, clearly labelled, no fine-print maze.

You tell us a little about your business in a short online form. A person (a real one, with a phone) looks at it, figures out which route makes sense, and gets in touch. You never have to guess which product you should be applying for.

We built it this way because most business owners don't want a finance degree. They want money for a job, a van, a tax bill or a shop fit-out, and they want the process to feel about as hard as ordering lunch.

What are the two routes to business funding?

The two routes are a property-secured private loan and an unsecured cash-flow loan. Here's how they stack up side by side.

If you own property, the secured route usually gives you the widest choice and the lightest paperwork. If you don't, or you'd rather leave the house out of it, the unsecured route leans on your bank statements instead.

Who can apply for a business loan?

Most Australian business owners can apply, whatever the structure. You might be:

• A sole trader running a mobile dog-grooming van in Newcastle
• Two partners with a busy cafe in Fremantle
• A Pty Ltd building company working across south-east Queensland
• A family trust that owns a farm outside Wagga Wagga
• An online store selling from a spare room in Hobart

Industries? Every one we can think of. Tradies, transport, hospitality, retail, health, agriculture, manufacturing, beauty, fitness and professional services all apply through the same form. If your business is real and legitimate, it's worth a look.

What do people actually use business finance for?

People use business finance for the everyday stuff that keeps a business moving, plus the odd big opportunity. Common reasons include:

1. Paying suppliers so you keep your trade discounts and good standing
2. Clearing an ATO debt before it snowballs into something grumpier
3. Buying stock ahead of Christmas, EOFY sales or a busy season
4. New equipment like an excavator, commercial oven or a second ute
5. Buying a business or buying out a partner
6. Bridging until a property sells or a refinance comes through
7. Covering a gap while you wait for a big client to pay

Picture an electrician in Ballarat who has just landed a big commercial contract. The job needs materials bought upfront, but the first progress payment is six weeks away. A short-term business loan fills that gap, and the incoming contract payment becomes the plan for repaying it.

What paperwork do I need for a business loan?

You need far less paperwork than a bank would ask for. It depends on the route.

For a property-secured loan, bring your ID, the property details, details of any existing loan on it, what the money is for and how you plan to repay it. That repayment plan is called your exit: it might be selling something, refinancing, or a payment you're expecting. No tax returns. No profit and loss. No accountant's letter. See our no doc business loans page for the full picture.

For an unsecured loan, the main thing lenders look at is your business bank statements. These are often shared through a secure, read-only bank link that takes a few minutes. More on that over on unsecured business loans.

Either way, you're not assembling a 40-page folder. Promise.

Can I get a business loan with bad credit?

Often, yes. Credit files with defaults, arrears, tax debt or recent credit events are looked at case by case.

With a property-secured loan, the security matters more than your credit history, so a past stumble doesn't automatically shut the door. With an unsecured loan, weaker credit can be considered as long as your cash flow comfortably supports the repayments. Our bad credit business loans page walks through the details without any finger-wagging.

How is this simpler than going to a bank?

It's simpler because there are fewer steps, fewer documents and fewer people you have to convince. Here's the short version of the difference:

• Banks tend to want two years of financials, tax returns, business plans, projections and a long wait while it all goes up the chain.
• Our lending partners focus on the few things that matter: your security or your cash flow, what the funds are for, and how the loan gets repaid.
• Banks often suit long-term loans for businesses that tick every box.
• Private and specialist lenders are built for flexibility, so they can say yes to situations a bank's checklist can't handle.

Many owners come to us after a bank has said "not right now" or asked for one document too many. Others skip the bank queue altogether because they already know how that story goes.

How do I get started?

You get started by filling in the 60-second form. That's it. Here's what happens next:

1. Tell us the basics. Loan amount, what it's for, whether you own property, and how long you've been trading.
2. A person reviews it. Not a robot, not a call centre script. Someone who knows business lending.
3. We call or text you back with the route that suits and exactly what's needed next, usually just a handful of items.

There's no cost to enquire, and checking your options won't leave a mark on your credit file. Every loan is subject to approval by the lender, and the pricing comes down to your circumstances, but finding out where you stand costs you about a minute.

Just business. Just loans. Just the bits that matter.

FAQs