Stage 1
Loans 101
Start here if you've never borrowed for a business before. Nine short lessons on how business loans work, what they cost and the words you'll hear along the way.
All 9 lessons →Business Loans 101 · For first-time borrowers
Your first business loan, explained from zero
How business loans work, what lenders look at and how to get loan-ready, in words that make sense. Then, when you're ready, a real person helps you find a loan that fits.
- No credit check to enquire
- No spray and pray
- $5k – $5m for business purposes
No credit check to enquire
Asking a question doesn't leave a mark on your credit file. A credit check only comes up later, and only if you choose to go ahead.
No spray and pray
We don't fire your details off to a crowd of lenders and hope one bites. Your enquiry stays with the person working on it.
A real person, in plain English
Someone who knows lending reads your answers, calls you and explains your options without the jargon. Accurate answers help us get it right first time.
One favour: fill in the form accurately. Honest answers mean we can match you properly the first time.
The free course
Three stages from "no idea" to "I've got this"
Work through at your own pace. Each lesson takes about five minutes, uses real Australian examples and ends with what to do next.
Stage 2
What lenders check
Lenders aren't mysterious once you know their checklist. Here's what they look at, why each thing matters and how to show yours in the best light.
All 8 lessons →Stage 3
Your first loan
Get loan-ready, work out how much to borrow, pick the right kind of loan and know what happens next. Plus illustrative first-loan stories that show how it all fits together.
All 10 lessons →Try it now
Are you loan-ready? A 30-second check
Four quick questions from our full loan-readiness quiz. Your answers stay on this page.
- The full quiz has 11 questions and a score out of 100
- It tells you the one thing to fix first
- And which kinds of loans might suit you
Jargon buster
Lender-speak, translated
Tap a card to see what it really means. There are more than 60 terms in the full jargon buster.
SecurityWhat does it mean?
Something valuable the lender has a legal claim over until the loan is repaid.
Read the lesson →LVRWhat does it mean?
Loan-to-value ratio: the loan amount compared with the property's value.
Read the lesson →Personal guaranteeWhat does it mean?
Your personal promise to repay a business loan if the business can't.
Read the lesson →ServiceabilityWhat does it mean?
Lender-speak for whether you can afford the repayments.
Read the lesson →CaveatWhat does it mean?
A notice lodged on a property's title telling anyone who searches it that someone else has an interest in the property.
Read the lesson →Total costWhat does it mean?
Everything you'll repay over the life of a loan, including interest and all fees, minus the amount borrowed.
Read the lesson →How your first loan happens
Five steps, no surprises
You do the learning at your own pace. We do the matching, the explaining and the chasing.
- 1
Learn the basics
Ten minutes with Loans 101 and the jargon buster, so nothing in the process surprises you.
- 2
Check you're loan-ready
Take the readiness quiz and fix the one thing that matters most.
- 3
Tell us what you need
A 60-second enquiry. No credit check. Please answer accurately so we can match you properly.
- 4
Talk to a real person
Someone who knows lending calls you and explains your options in plain English.
- 5
Choose, sign, grow
Only if it suits you. You'll know the total cost, the repayments and what you're signing.
Myth busting
Things first-timers are told that aren't quite true
MythYou need two years of trading to borrow.
ActuallyMany lenders consider newer businesses, especially with steady deposits or property security.
MythAsking about a loan hurts your credit score.
ActuallyOur enquiry involves no credit check. It's a conversation first.
MythBad credit means an automatic no.
ActuallyBad credit and ATO debt are considered case by case. Honesty helps most.
MythApply to lots of lenders to improve your odds.
ActuallyMultiple applications can mark your credit file. One well-matched enquiry is smarter.
First-loan stories (illustrative)
See how it fits together
Three made-up businesses, three different first loans. Each story walks through the purpose, the amount, the repayment test and the choice of loan.
Illustrative
First-loan story: a café funds its second coffee machine
An illustrative first business loan story: how a café owner works out the amount, tests repayments and uses an unsecured loan for a second coffee machine.
Read the story → IllustrativeFirst-loan story: a tradie uses home equity to grow
An illustrative first business loan story: a young electrical business uses home equity and a second mortgage to fund a second van, tools and a new hire.
Read the story → IllustrativeFirst-loan story: an online shop funds peak-season stock
An illustrative first business loan story: an online homewares store uses a line of credit to buy Christmas stock, then repays as orders roll in.
Read the story →Guides
Money basics for your first years in business
Before you ever need a loan: cash flow, BAS, EOFY and the big decisions, explained gently.
Money basics
Your First Cash Flow Forecast: A 13-Week Beginner's Template
Build your first cash flow forecast in an afternoon: a simple 13-week template, what to include, a worked example and how to spot cash gaps before they bite.
Read the guide → Tax timeYour First BAS: A Beginner's Guide for New Businesses
Your first BAS, explained for new business owners: what a business activity statement is, what goes on it, the quarterly due dates and how to set cash aside.
Read the guide → Tax timeYour First EOFY in Business: A Beginner's Checklist
Your first end of financial year in business, made simple: an EOFY checklist for records, stock, super, assets and tax time, plus what to do in July.
Read the guide →Questions first-timers ask
How do business loans work?
A lender gives your business money now, and the business repays it over an agreed term, plus interest and fees. The lender decides how much to offer by looking at your trading history, bank statements, credit history and any property security. Our Loans 101 lessons explain each part from scratch.
Can I get a business loan if it's my first one?
Yes. First-time borrowers use the same loans as everyone else. What helps most is being loan-ready: an active ABN, one business bank account, BAS lodged, a clear purpose and a realistic amount. Our readiness quiz shows where you stand.
How much can a small business borrow?
Unsecured, cash-flow and line-of-credit options for trading businesses are typically $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements. Property-secured business loans range from $20,000 to $5,000,000.
What do lenders look at?
Mainly your ABN, how long you've traded, turnover and bank statements, credit history, tax position (including any ATO debt), what the money is for and whether there's property security. Stage 2 of our course explains each one.
Will enquiring affect my credit score?
No. There's no credit check when you first enquire. A credit check only comes up later, once you've seen your options and decided to go ahead.
Will my details be sent to lots of lenders?
No. We don't do spray and pray. Your enquiry goes to a real person who works on your situation and matches it carefully, rather than broadcasting it to a crowd of lenders.
Can I borrow with bad credit or ATO debt?
Bad credit and ATO debt are considered case by case, and property security can widen the options. Being upfront about them on the form is the best way to find the right fit.
Why don't you show interest rates?
Because every business loan is priced on the borrower's own circumstances. A published number would be wrong for most people. We'd rather show you real options for your business.
Class is out. Let's look at your business.
Tell us what you need in about 60 seconds. There's no credit check to enquire, your details aren't sprayed around, and a real person explains your options in plain English.
No credit check to enquire
No spray and pray
A real person, in plain English