Loan types
Business loans for Australian businesses
The main ways to borrow for a business, explained by what each one is good for, what it asks of you and when another option would serve you better.
Business finance, matched to the purchase
Tell us what you're buying. We'll fund it.
Utes, machines, fit-outs, stock, a whole business. Tell us what you're buying and a real person works out the funding that fits it, from $5k to $5m.
- No credit check to ask
- One match, not a mailout
- A real person calls
What are you buying?
Vehicles
Work vehicles are some of the easiest purchases to fund. Newer ones can be financed against themselves; older or private-sale vehicles often suit an unsecured business loan.
See vehicle finance →Equipment
Match the term to how long the machine works for you. Resaleable gear can secure itself; specialised or used gear is often simpler with a business loan.
See equipment loans →Fit-outs
Most of a fit-out can't be resold, so it's usually funded with an unsecured or property-backed loan, on a term inside your lease.
See fit-out finance →Stock
Stock should be repaid as it sells. A short loan or a line of credit sized on turnover usually fits best.
See stock finance →Buying a business
Goodwill can't be repossessed, so most acquisitions lean on property equity, often alongside vendor finance and your own contribution.
See acquisition funding →Something else
If it's for the business, there's usually a way. Tell us what it is, what it costs and what it'll earn, and a real person will work out the fit.
Tell us what it is →No credit check to ask
Telling us what you're buying doesn't leave a mark on your credit file. A check only comes up once you choose to go ahead.
One match, not a mailout
Your enquiry isn't fired off to a long list of lenders. One person works out which option suits the purchase and talks it through with you.
A real person calls
Someone who knows business lending reads your enquiry and rings you. Give accurate answers on the form and the first option we bring you is far more likely to be the right one.
Four ways in
Start with the thing you're buying
Every purchase has its own best way to pay for it. Pick the one closest to yours.
Equipment & fit-outs
Equipment loans and fit-out finance
Machinery, kitchens, computers, clinic gear, solar and shop fit-outs. How to fund the kit that earns its keep without draining the bank account.
Cars, utes, vans & trucks
Business car loans and vehicle finance
Cars, utes, vans, trucks and electric vehicles used for work. How business vehicle finance works and how to buy without stalling your cash flow.
Big-ticket buys
Funding big business purchases
Buying a business, a premises deposit, a large stock order or the cash to start a big contract. The purchases that change the size of a business.
Free tool
Will it pay for itself?
Put in what the purchase costs and what it earns or saves each month. You'll see how long it takes to pay its way, before you talk to anyone.
The full purchase payback calculator also compares paying cash with financing, and shows how much buffer you'd keep.
The LendFriend rule
Match the money to how long the purchase earns
The most common mistake is paying for something long after it's stopped earning. Here's the rough guide we work from.
BuyingUsually earns forSensible termCommon way to fund it
Laptops, POS, phones2–4 years2–3 yearsShort loan, rental or line of credit
Utes, vans and cars4–8 years3–5 yearsVehicle-secured or business loan
Machinery and plant5–15 years4–7 yearsEquipment-secured or property-backed
Fit-outsLength of the leaseInside the leaseUnsecured or property-backed loan
Seasonal stockMonthsUntil it sellsShort loan or line of credit
A business or premises depositMany yearsLongProperty-backed loan
General guide only. The right structure depends on the business, the asset and any property behind it.
How it works
Three steps, one person
- 1
Tell us what you're buying
About a minute online: the purchase, the price, your business and any property. No credit check to ask.
- 2
A real person calls
Someone who knows business lending reads it, works out the structure that fits the purchase, and rings you to talk it through.
- 3
Buy it and get it working
Once you choose to go ahead, we tell you exactly what's needed. Funds go to you or straight to the seller.
Straight talk
Four things people get wrong when buying for the business
The lowest repayment is the cheapest loan.
Longer terms shrink each repayment and grow the total. Compare total dollars over the time you'll keep the loan.
Paying cash is always smarter.
Not if it empties the buffer you need for wages in a quiet month. If the purchase pays its own repayment, keeping cash can be worth more.
Buy it before 30 June and it's basically free.
A tax deduction returns a slice of the cost, not all of it. And the asset has to be installed ready for use by 30 June to count.
Applying with five lenders improves your odds.
Several formal applications can stack enquiries on your credit file. Ask first: enquiring with us doesn't involve a credit check.
Guides
Before you buy, read these
Personal Loan vs Business Loan: Which Suits Your Business?
Should you use a personal loan for business costs? How personal and business loans differ on assessment, tax, liability and limits, and when each makes sense.
How to Compare Business Loan Offers (A Step-by-Step Method)
A practical way to compare business loan offers in Australia: total cost in dollars, cash received, fees, early repayment and questions to ask.
Buy Outright or Finance Equipment? How to Decide
Paying cash or financing equipment: how to weigh cash reserves, payback, the cost of finance and tax timing, with a simple test any Australian business can use.
Questions owners ask us
What can LendFriend help me buy?
Anything with a business purpose: vehicles, equipment and machinery, fit-outs, technology, stock, solar and energy upgrades, a premises deposit or a whole business. We match the funding to the purchase, so the term fits how long it earns for you.
How much can I borrow?
Unsecured and cash-flow options for trading businesses typically run from $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements. Property-backed business loans run from $20,000 to $5,000,000 against residential or commercial property.
Will asking about finance affect my credit score?
No. There's no credit check when you first enquire. A credit check is only discussed once you decide you want to go ahead with a specific option.
Do you send my details to lots of lenders?
No. A real person reads your enquiry and works out which option suits your purchase. Your details aren't sprayed across a list of lenders.
Do you publish interest rates?
No. Every business loan is priced on the business's situation: security, term, credit history and the purchase itself. We give you the full cost in dollars once we understand what you need.
Can you help if my credit history isn't perfect?
Often, yes. Past credit issues and ATO debt are considered case by case, and property security can make a big difference. Be upfront on the form and we'll tell you honestly what's realistic.
Is LendFriend for personal loans?
No. LendFriend is for business purposes only. If you're unsure whether a purchase is personal or business, our guide to personal loans versus business loans explains the difference.
Business purposes only. LendFriend never publishes interest rates; every loan is priced on the business's situation.
Got something to buy?
Tell us what it is and what it costs. One person works out the funding that fits, and calls you to talk it through. No credit check to ask.
No credit check to ask
One match, not a mailout
A real person calls