Guides
Business loan guides
60 in-depth guides on borrowing for a business in Australia, from your first application to reading the fine print on an offer. Pick a topic or browse everything below.
Getting started
All 10 guides →How business loans work, what lenders want and how to prepare.
How business loans work in Australia
How business loans work in Australia, explained plainly: the parties, how loans are assessed, priced, secured and repaid, and the main types you will meet.
How to get a business loan, step by step
A step-by-step plan for getting a business loan in Australia: define the need, size it, pick a loan type, prepare documents, apply and review the offer.
How much can my business borrow?
How lenders work out how much a business can borrow: turnover, profit, existing debts, security and LVR, with a simple way to estimate your own figure.
Documents you need for a business loan
The documents Australian lenders ask for, by loan type: ID, ABN, bank statements, BAS, financials, tax returns, ATO statements, asset and property details.
Business loan eligibility requirements explained
The eligibility requirements Australian business lenders look for: ABN age, time trading, turnover, credit history, GST and ATO status, purpose and security.
Secured vs unsecured business loans: how to choose
Secured versus unsecured business loans compared: amounts, terms, costs, risks, speed and approval, with a simple test to decide which suits your business.
Reviewing a loan offer
All 10 guides →Checklists, red flags and the fine print to read before you sign.
How to review a business loan offer before you sign
A step-by-step checklist for reviewing any business loan offer: total cost, fees, repayments, security, guarantees, payout terms and the default clauses.
Business loan red flags: 12 warning signs
Twelve warning signs in a business loan offer or lender, from upfront fees and pressure to sign, to vague costs, broad security and unfair payout terms.
How to read a business loan contract
A clause-by-clause guide to business loan contracts: parties, amount and fees, repayments, security, guarantees, covenants, default, payout and variations.
Business loan fees explained
Every business loan fee explained: establishment, valuation, legal, account, line, dishonour, default, variation, early repayment and discharge fees.
How to work out the total cost of a business loan
Work out the real total cost of any business loan in dollars: repayments, fees, cash received, cost per dollar and per month, with a worked example.
How to compare two business loan offers fairly
A fair way to compare business loan offers: line up cash received, total cost, cost per month and repayments, then weigh security, guarantees and exit terms.
Costs and comparing
All 6 guides →How business credit is priced and how to compare offers fairly.
Factor pricing on business loans, explained in dollars
How factor pricing works on short-term business loans and cash advances, how it differs from interest, what early repayment does and how to compare it.
Daily, weekly or monthly repayments: which suits your business?
How repayment frequency affects business cash flow: daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly repayments compared, with a simple test against your banking pattern.
Fixed or variable pricing on a business loan?
Fixed versus variable pricing on business loans: certainty, flexibility, break costs and when each suits, plus questions to ask before you choose.
Balloon payments explained: lower repayments, bigger finish
How balloon and residual payments work on business vehicle and equipment finance, their pros and cons, how to size one safely and your options at the end.
How lenders price business loans
What drives the price of a business loan: funding costs, risk, security, term, size, documentation and competition, and how you can influence your price.
The business finance comparison checklist
A practical checklist for comparing business finance options side by side: purpose fit, cash received, total cost, repayments, security, flexibility and exit.
Cash flow and working capital
All 8 guides →Bridging the gap between paying out and getting paid.
How to manage cash flow gaps in a small business
Practical ways to manage cash flow gaps: find the cause, forecast the gap, fix timing without borrowing, then choose finance that fits if you still need it.
How to fund seasonal stock without straining cash flow
How to fund stock for Christmas, EOFY, summer or harvest peaks: sizing the buy, timing finance, choosing a facility and avoiding leftover stock and debt.
Should you borrow to pay suppliers early for a discount?
How to work out whether borrowing to take a supplier's early payment or bulk discount makes sense, with a simple dollar comparison and the risks to check.
Financing payroll and wages when cash is tight
Options for covering payroll when cash is tight: timing fixes, lines of credit, invoice finance and short-term loans, plus super and PAYG duties.
How to use a business line of credit well
Good habits for using a business line of credit: sizing the limit, drawing for the right reasons, repaying regularly, watching fees and avoiding permanent debt.
How to build a cash flow forecast for a loan application
How to build a cash flow forecast lenders trust: structure, timing, assumptions, tax and repayments, plus the mistakes that make forecasts look unreliable.
Credit and approval
All 8 guides →Credit files, bank statements, declines and how to improve your odds.
How business credit scores work in Australia
How business and personal credit files and scores work in Australia, what lenders see, what lowers a score, how to check your file and how to improve it.
How lenders read your business bank statements
What lenders look for in business bank statements: turnover, consistency, balances, dishonours, existing debts, ATO payments and red flags, plus how to prepare.
How to improve your chances of business loan approval
Practical steps to improve business loan approval odds: clean statements, current lodgements, credit fixes, a clear purpose and the right lender.
Business loan declined: what to do next
What to do after a business loan decline: find out why, check your credit file, fix the cause, consider other loan types or security, and reapply the smart way.
Credit defaults and business finance: what lenders really consider
How a default on your credit file affects business finance: what lenders weigh, paid versus unpaid defaults, how long they stay, and practical steps to recover.
Comprehensive credit reporting: what it means for business owners
How comprehensive credit reporting works in Australia, what repayment history shows, how it affects directors seeking business finance, and how to use it well.
Tax and the ATO
All 6 guides →BAS, ATO debt, deductions and finance around tax time.
ATO payment plan or business loan: how to decide
An ATO payment plan versus a business loan to clear tax debt: costs, interest deductibility, cash flow, director penalties and which suits you.
Got a director penalty notice? What it means and what to do
How the ATO uses director penalty notices, the company tax debts in scope, why lodging on time matters and the steps directors can take within the deadline.
BAS and GST cash planning for small businesses
How to plan cash for BAS, GST and PAYG so the quarter never ambushes you: holding accounts, forecasting due dates, pricing and what to do if you fall short.
Is business loan interest tax deductible?
When interest and borrowing costs on business loans are generally deductible, why the use of funds matters, mixed-use loans and what to ask your accountant.
The instant asset write-off and equipment finance
How the instant asset write-off interacts with financing equipment: eligibility basics, timing, chattel mortgages versus leases, cash flow and common mistakes.
End of financial year finance planning
An EOFY finance checklist for small businesses: reviewing facilities, planning asset purchases, tax timing, cash for July and lender reporting.
Property and security
All 6 guides →Using property, LVR, mortgages, caveats and exit plans.
Using your home equity to fund a business
How using home equity for business finance works, the options (refinance, second mortgage, caveat), the real risks to your family home and safer alternatives.
Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) for business loans
How LVR works for property-secured business loans: calculating it, combined LVR, how property type and location change limits, valuations and improving yours.
First mortgage or second mortgage for business finance?
First versus second mortgages for business finance: ranking, cost, speed, consents, combined LVR and when keeping your existing loan makes sense.
Caveat or registered mortgage: what is the difference?
Caveats and registered mortgages compared for business loans: what each records on title, speed, lender rights, cost, conversion and what to check.
Commercial or residential property as security for a business loan
How lenders treat commercial and residential property as security for business loans: valuations, LVR limits, specialised property, leases and resale risk.
Exit strategies for short-term secured business loans
Why short-term secured business loans need an exit strategy, what makes an exit credible, common exits, buffers and what to do if the exit slips.
Equipment and growth
All 6 guides →Funding assets, expansion and buying a business.
Should your business lease or buy equipment?
Leasing versus buying equipment compared: total cost, cash flow, tax, ownership, upgrades and risk, with a simple way to decide for each asset.
How to finance used equipment and vehicles safely
Financing second-hand equipment, machinery and vehicles: how lenders assess used assets, age limits, private sales, PPSR checks, inspections and pitfalls.
Buying a business: due diligence that protects your finance
Due diligence checks that matter when financing a business purchase: verifying sales, the lease, staff, debts, securities, tax and how lenders use it.
How to finance a second location or business expansion
How to fund opening a second site or expanding: testing the numbers, fit-out and equipment finance, working capital for ramp-up and what lenders want to see.
Fit-out finance: how to fund a new or refreshed premises
How to fund a business fit-out: equipment versus building works, matching the term to the lease, landlord contributions, make-good and finance options.
How to test whether new equipment will pay for itself
A simple method to test equipment return before borrowing: extra revenue, savings, full ownership cost, payback period and how finance repayments fit.
About our guides
Who writes these guides?
Every guide is written and checked by the Business Loan Reviews editorial team against official Australian sources such as the ATO, business.gov.au and ASIC's Moneysmart. Our editorial policy explains how we research and update content.
Are the guides financial advice?
No. They are general information to help you understand business finance and review offers with confidence. For advice about your own tax or legal position, speak with your accountant or solicitor.
How often are guides updated?
We review guides regularly and whenever official rules, thresholds or common lending practices change. Each guide shows the date it was last updated.
Can I ask a question about my own situation?
Yes. Make one enquiry through the Get matched page. There is no credit check when you first enquire and a real person reviews it.
Your next step
Get matched with the right kind of finance
Answer a handful of questions about your business. Enquiring is free and does not trigger a credit check, your information goes to one lending partner rather than a crowd, and accurate answers mean you hear about realistic options first time.
- No credit check to enquire. Asking a question about your options leaves no mark on your credit file. A credit check only happens later, if you decide to apply.
- One enquiry, not a lead auction. Your details are not sprayed across a list of lenders. One lending partner looks at your situation properly.
- A real person reads it. A person who works with business finance every day reviews your enquiry and calls you. Accurate answers help them get it right first time.