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How finance works and what to compare. Choose a guide for context, then use a worksheet or calculator when it helps with a specific decision.
Getting finance ready
A default, court judgment or past insolvency doesn't always rule out business finance, but it narrows your options and usually raises the cost. Checking your credit reports and fixing any errors is the first step.
6 min read
Business finance explained
You can often use residential or commercial property as security for a business loan, which can open up larger amounts and longer terms. The trade-off is that the property is at risk if the business can't repay.
6 min read
Business finance explained
Your repayments depend on how often you pay, how the loan is structured and whether the rate is fixed or variable. Understanding each one helps you choose a loan your cash flow can carry and compare the total cost.
6 min read
Getting finance ready
Most delays in business lending come from gaps that could have been fixed before applying. A few weeks of preparation can mean a faster answer, more lender choice and fewer surprises.
4 min read
Business finance explained
Equipment finance spreads the cost of a business asset over time, with the asset itself usually acting as security. The structure you choose affects who owns the asset, how GST is claimed and what you owe at the end.
7 min read
Getting finance ready
How much your business can borrow depends mainly on what it can afford to repay from cash flow and, for secured loans, the value of the security. Time trading, existing debts, credit history and purpose adjust the number up or down.
5 min read
Getting finance ready
LVR, or loan-to-value ratio, is the loan amount as a percentage of the value of the property or asset securing it. Lenders use it to decide how much they will lend against security.
5 min read
Business finance explained
Cashflow finance is business lending assessed mainly on the money flowing through your business rather than on property or other assets. It can be quicker to arrange, but it usually costs more and often has frequent repayments.
5 min read
Business finance explained
Invoice finance lets a business borrow against invoices it has issued to other businesses, so it gets most of the cash now instead of waiting for customers to pay. The rest, less fees, arrives when the customer pays.
6 min read
Business finance explained
Trade finance is short-term funding tied to buying or selling goods. It pays your supplier now and gives you time to repay once the goods are sold, or helps exporters fund orders and manage the risk of overseas payment.
6 min read