Guide: Business Loans Australia
Reviews of small business lending products available in Australia in 2026. Providers reviewed are regulated by ASIC where consumer credit laws apply, and commercial lending is additionally governed by the Banking Code of Practice (for bank lenders) and general obligations under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001. Both unsecured and secured options are covered.
Business loans in Australia range from short-term working capital facilities of a few thousand dollars to secured term loans well into six figures, and are generally used for cash-flow gaps, equipment purchase, stock, expansion or refinancing existing business debt. Unlike consumer loans, business lending is largely exempt from the National Consumer Credit Protection Act, so the specific protections and dispute-resolution rights can differ — always read the facility agreement carefully.
Unsecured business loans rely on the strength of the business's trading history and cash flow (often assessed via bank-feed data or accounting software integration) and are usually faster to approve but carry a higher rate. Secured loans, backed by property, equipment or invoices, generally offer a lower rate and larger limit but take longer to settle.
To apply you will typically need an active ABN, a minimum trading history (commonly 6-12 months, sometimes longer for the cheapest rates), recent business bank statements, and for larger facilities, financial statements or tax returns. Many fintech lenders now assess applications same-day using automated bank-statement analysis.
Before signing, compare the total cost of credit (not just the headline rate), check whether repayments are fixed or linked to daily/weekly sales (common with merchant cash advances), and confirm there is no penalty for early repayment if you expect to clear the facility ahead of schedule.
Business loans cover a wide range of products: unsecured working-capital loans, secured term loans, lines of credit, invoice finance and equipment or asset finance. Genuine business-purpose lending is generally exempt from the consumer protections in the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009, which only applies to credit provided wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic or household use — so it is worth asking a lender directly how they assess a loan application and what recourse exists if something goes wrong, since the usual consumer responsible-lending checks may not apply in the same way.
Most lenders look at trading history (often a minimum of 6–12 months), an active ABN, and recent business bank statements or accounting software data (e.g. Xero or MYOB feeds) rather than a personal credit score alone, which is why newer or seasonal businesses may find non-bank lenders more flexible than a traditional bank. Unsecured loans are usually smaller, faster to approve and carry higher rates; secured loans (against property, equipment or invoices) tend to offer larger amounts and lower rates in exchange for collateral.
Before signing, check for a personal guarantee requirement (common even on loans issued to a company), any establishment or monthly fees, and whether early repayment reduces the total interest owed or is calculated as a fixed charge regardless of payout date — the two structures can produce very different real costs for the same headline rate.