Questions first-time borrowers ask

Start with Lesson 1 of Loans 101, 'How do business loans work?'. It takes about five minutes. Then try the loan-readiness quiz to see where you stand. When you're ready, the 60-second enquiry puts you in touch with a real person.

We help business owners understand their options and match them with a suitable lender for their situation, rather than sending their details to a crowd of lenders. A real person works on every enquiry.

Business purposes only: equipment, stock, fit-outs, vehicles, hiring, cash-flow gaps, tax bills, growth and similar. We don't arrange personal or household loans.

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, using residential or commercial property.

No. There's no credit check when you first enquire. A credit check is only discussed after you've seen your options and decided to go ahead.

No. We don't do spray and pray. Your enquiry stays with one real person who matches it carefully, which protects your credit file from a cluster of applications and saves you from a flood of calls.

Because the options we suggest are only as good as the information we start with. Accurate details about the amount, purpose, turnover, trading time, credit and any property mean we can match you properly the first time.

No. Enquiring is free and doesn't commit you to anything.

Yes. An active ABN shows there's a genuine business to lend to. If your GST turnover has reached $75,000, you'll also need to be registered for GST.

There's no single rule. Banks often prefer two years or more; some lenders consider newer businesses with steady deposits, and property security can help businesses with a short history.

Bad credit is considered case by case. Lenders look at what's listed, how old it is, whether it's paid and what's happened since. Property security can widen the options. Please be upfront about it.

ATO debt is considered case by case. It helps a lot if your BAS lodgements are up to date and any debt is on a payment plan you're keeping.

It's harder, because unsecured loans are sized on trading history and bank statements. Property security can make a loan possible earlier. Otherwise, a few months of steady trading through a business account makes a real difference.

Every business loan is priced on the borrower's own circumstances: amount, term, security, trading history and credit. A published figure would be wrong for most people. We'll explain the total cost of any option in plain dollars instead.

No. Unsecured options exist for trading businesses. Property security is one option that can support larger amounts or trickier situations, and it's always your choice.

If your business is a company or trust, directors are usually asked to sign one. It means you're personally responsible if the business can't repay. We'll explain exactly what it covers before you sign anything.

Usually photo ID, your ABN and recent business bank statements. Depending on the loan, you may also need BAS, tax returns, financial statements, quotes, or property details for a secured loan.

A real person reads your enquiry and calls you during business hours to talk it through. If there's a good fit, they'll explain the next steps and what's needed. If now isn't the right time, they'll tell you honestly and explain what would help.