Business loans, overdrafts and asset-backed capital raise

Not every business need is an asset purchase. Unsecured business loans, overdraft facilities and capital raises fund stock, staffing, marketing, fit-outs and cashflow gaps without tying the borrowing to a specific machine or vehicle.

Lenders assess the business itself, looking at trading history, revenue consistency and existing commitments. Some lenders do this from recent business bank statements. Amounts and terms vary widely between lenders, with unsecured terms typically running three months to five years.

Because there is no asset security, these products price differently to asset finance, and the approval rests on the cashflow you can show.

Speed is the main benefit. Some unsecured lenders assess from bank statements, and straightforward applications can be funded in days, which matters when a stock deal or a contract has a deadline.

An overdraft facility works differently. It sits behind your transaction account as a buffer you draw only when needed, so quiet weeks and invoice gaps stop being emergencies.

Used well, this kind of funding is what lets a business say yes, whether that is the bulk stock buy, the second location or the extra crew for a big contract.

Match the product to the purpose. A one-off investment suits a term loan with a defined payoff. Recurring cashflow gaps suit an overdraft, and a mix of both may serve better than forcing one product to do two jobs.

Work out the true cost over the time you will actually use the money. On a short-term facility, what you pay depends on how long the balance runs, so read the terms closely.

Borrow against a plan, not a gap. Lenders want a clear purpose and a clear source of repayment, and you should want the same before you sign.

One enquiry puts your business in front of the unsecured and facility lenders on our lender panel. Your broker matches the application to lenders whose criteria your trading history actually meets.

Have your ABN details handy. Some lenders also ask for recent business bank statements, and I'll let you know if yours does. Recent financials help but are not always required, and pre-approval is possible the same day for many straightforward applications.

Keep your business banking separate from personal spending. Lenders read those statements line by line, and a clean account is easier to say yes to.

Size the facility to what you need rather than to the maximum offered. Know your seasonal pattern too, so the repayments line up with your strong months.

Review your facilities each year. A business that has outgrown the position it was first assessed on often qualifies for better terms.