Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility and qualification
To apply for a small business loan through Sure Capital you need an active ABN, photo ID, at least 3 months of trading history, a minimum of $5,000 in monthly turnover and 6 months of business bank statements. Those 4 items cover the minimum criteria across most of the lender panel.
Beyond the minimums, Sure Capital looks at cash flow consistency, existing debts and the purpose of the loan. Stronger figures open up lower rates and longer terms. If you fall short on one criterion, a secured loan or a smaller facility may still be available.
Banks, non-bank lenders, fintech online lenders, equipment financiers and invoice financiers can all finance an Australian business. Sure Capital is a business loan broker, not a lender: it matches your application to a panel of lenders and is paid by the lender on settlement
Which option suits you depends on speed, security and trading history. Banks often offer the lowest rates but typically take weeks and ask for 2 years of financials. Non-bank and online lenders can often approve within 24 hours on 3 to 6 months of statements. A broker like Sure Capital compares both in a single application.
For most business loans arranged by Sure Capital you need 3 documents: your driver licence or passport, your ABN details and 6 months of business bank statements. Bank statements can be supplied through a secure read-only link, so you do not need to download PDFs.
Larger or secured loans need more. Loans above roughly $250,000 typically require 2 years of financial statements, the latest BAS and an ATO portal summary. Secured loans also need evidence of the asset, such as a council rates notice for property. Sure Capital tells you upfront exactly which documents your chosen lender wants.
Sure Capital arranges business loans from $5,000 up to $5,000,000 or more, depending on the product and security. Unsecured loans and lines of credit go up to $500,000. Equipment finance goes up to $2,000,000. Secured business loans backed by property run from $100,000 to $5,000,000 plus.
As a rule of thumb, unsecured lenders cap borrowing at roughly 1 to 2 months of turnover, so a business turning over $50,000 a month could expect an unsecured offer in the $50,000 to $100,000 range. Security, trading history and profit all push the ceiling higher.
Sure Capital arranges business loans from $5,000 up to $5,000,000 or more, depending on the product and security. Unsecured loans and lines of credit go up to $500,000. Equipment finance goes up to $2,000,000. Secured business loans backed by property run from $100,000 to $5,000,000 plus.
As a rule of thumb, unsecured lenders cap borrowing at roughly 1 to 2 months of turnover, so a business turning over $50,000 a month could expect an unsecured offer in the $50,000 to $100,000 range. Security, trading history and profit all push the ceiling higher.
Low doc and no doc business loans
Low doc business loans suit business owners who cannot produce up-to-date tax returns or financial statements but can show income through bank statements. Through Sure Capital, you qualify with an active ABN, ID, 3 months or more of trading, at least $5,000 monthly turnover and 6 months of bank statements.
Typical applicants are sole traders, tradies, new businesses, owners mid-way through a tax year and businesses whose accountant is behind. You do not need perfect credit, but you do need real, regular deposits. Low doc does not mean no income verification; it means verification by bank statement rather than by accountant.
A low doc business loan through Sure Capital needs 3 things: photo ID, your ABN and 6 months of business bank statements. No tax returns, no profit and loss statements and no accountant letter are required for most lenders up to about $250,000.
Some lenders accept 3 months of statements for smaller amounts. Larger low doc facilities, or low doc commercial property loans, may ask for a signed income declaration, your latest BAS or an accountant’s letter in place of full financials. Sure Capital confirms the exact list before you apply so nothing is submitted twice.
Low doc business loans arranged by Sure Capital range from $5,000 to around $500,000 unsecured. Low doc secured loans, backed by residential or commercial property, can reach $5,000,000 or more. The amount is driven by monthly turnover and the security offered rather than by tax returns.
As a guide, unsecured low doc lenders advance roughly 1 to 2 times monthly turnover, so $40,000 a month in deposits supports an offer of about $40,000 to $80,000. Property security lifts the limit to a percentage of the asset value, often 65% to 80%.
Yes, low doc business loans usually cost more than full doc bank loans, typically 2% to 6% a year more, because the lender is taking on more uncertainty. The trade-off is speed and access: Most low doc applications Sure Capital submits are approved within 24 hours rather than weeks.
Whether the extra cost is worth it depends on what the money earns. A low doc loan at a higher rate that lets you take a contract this week can beat a cheaper bank loan that arrives in 6 weeks. Secured low doc loans narrow the gap considerably. Rate ranges on this page are indicative, as at [month year].
Startup, ABN and no trading history
Yes, but the options are narrower. Sure Capital’s minimum for a standard unsecured loan is 3 months of trading and $5,000 monthly turnover, so a business with 0 months of trading needs a different route: a secured loan against property, equipment finance on the asset being bought, or a personal-guarantee facility based on the owner’s income.
Lenders on the Sure Capital panel that fund pre-revenue businesses typically want a property asset, a signed contract or purchase order, or a director with strong personal credit and income. Pure startup cash with nothing behind it is rarely funded by any lender, broker or bank.
Sure Capital’s minimum is 3 months with an active ABN and trading, alongside $5,000 a month in turnover. Some panel lenders want 6 months, and banks typically want 12 to 24 months with full financials.
A freshly registered ABN on its own does not unlock funding; lenders want to see deposits flowing through a business account under that ABN. If your ABN is older but the business has changed direction, lenders assess the current activity, not the registration date.
Yes. Several lenders on the Sure Capital panel assess ABN loans on bank statement cash flow rather than credit score, so defaults older than 12 months or a score below 500 are not automatic declines. You still need 3 months of trading and $5,000 monthly turnover.
Expect a higher rate, a shorter term (3 to 18 months) and a personal guarantee. Unresolved defaults to other lenders, current bankruptcy or a Part IX debt agreement are usually hard stops. Sure Capital screens this before submitting which reduces the chance of a decline being recorded against your credit file.
Bad credit business loans
Yes. Bad credit business loans are available through Sure Capital from lenders that assess cash flow rather than credit score. You need an active ABN, 3 months of trading, $5,000 a month in turnover and 6 months of bank statements, plus ID.
Bad credit narrows the panel and raises the price: expect a rate premium of roughly 3% to 10% a year over clean-credit pricing, shorter terms of 3 to 18 months and a personal guarantee. Paid defaults, a low score or a past late payment are all workable, subject to each lender’s assessment; current bankruptcy generally is not.
Apply through a broker that knows which lenders place less weight on credit scores, supply 6 months of bank statements showing steady deposits, and be upfront about the credit issue. Sure Capital assesses your file before lodging so that only lenders likely to approve see the application.
Three things improve your odds: offering security such as property or a vehicle, reducing the loan amount to under 1 month of turnover, and clearing or entering a payment plan on any unpaid default. Each lodgement can add an enquiry to your credit file, so 1 well-targeted application beats 5 speculative ones.
Non-bank and fintech lenders fund most bad credit business loans in Australia; the major banks rarely do. Sure Capital is a broker with [VERIFY: number] lenders on its panel, several of which specialise in credit-impaired or cash-flow-assessed lending, and is paid by the lender on settlement.
Going direct to one online lender works if you already know they accept your credit profile. Going through a broker works better when you do not, because a broker can avoid lodging with lenders likely to decline, limiting enquiries on your file. Sure Capital reports most approvals within 24 hours and in Sure Capital’s experience [99]% of clients funded inreceived funds within 24 hours of approval.
Cash flow lenders assess 5 things from your bank statements: average monthly deposits, the number of deposit days, closing balances, dishonours and existing loan repayments. Sure Capital’s panel lenders use these to set the loan amount, typically 1 to 2 months of turnover.
They also look at how long you have traded (minimum 3 months), your industry, ATO debt and whether the credit issue is old, paid and explained. A 3-year-old paid telco default carries little weight with most panel lenders; an unpaid default to another business lender from last month is not.
How hard is it, and declines
It depends on where you apply. Getting a business loan from a major bank is typically harder: expect 2 years of financials, security and often 2 to 6 weeks of processing (as at [month year]). Getting a business loan from a non-bank lender through Sure Capital is not hard if you have an ABN, 3 months of trading, $5,000 monthly turnover and 6 months of bank statements.
Sure Capital assisted more than 8,000 Australian businesses and received over $320 million in loan enquiries in, with most complete applications approved within 24 hours, based on Sure Capital’s data. The difficulty is not finding a lender; it is finding the right lender for your file, which is the broker’s job.
For an established business with 12 months of trading, steady deposits and clean credit, a small business loan is straightforward and applications with that profile are usually approved within 24 hours. The difficulty rises sharply below 3 months of trading, below $5,000 a month in turnover, or with recent unpaid defaults.
Small loans (under $50,000) are generally easier than large ones because the lender’s exposure is smaller and the assessment is automated. Above $250,000 most lenders move to manual credit assessment and ask for financials, which adds 2 to 10 business days.
The 5 most common reasons Sure Capital sees for business loan declines are: fewer than 3 months of trading, turnover below $5,000 a month, too many existing short-term loans, unpaid defaults or ATO debt, and bank statements showing frequent dishonours or negative balances.
Less obvious causes include an industry the lender excludes (some decline hospitality, construction or transport, a recent change of ABN or business structure, and applying to several lenders at once, which stacks enquiries on your credit file. Most declines are a mismatch of lender and applicant, not a verdict on the business.
Application process and speed
Applying for a business loan through Sure Capital takes 3 steps: complete the online enquiry with your ABN, loan amount and purpose (about 5 minutes), supply ID and 6 months of bank statements via a secure link, and receive lender offers, usually within 24 hours. Sign electronically and funds follow.
Sure Capital is a broker, so you submit 1 application and it is matched across a panel of lenders rather than lodged with each one separately. You can also call 1300 198 514 and apply over the phone.
Most business loans through Sure Capital are approved within 24 hours of a complete application, and 99% of clients have funds in their account within 24 hours of approval. Same-day funding may be available from some lenders on unsecured loans when documents are received by.
Secured and larger loans take longer. Commercial property loans can complete in as little as 72 hours, though valuation and legal work typically push this to 2 to 4 weeks. Equipment finance usually settles in 1 to 5 business days once the supplier invoice is received.
After you apply, Sure Capital reviews your bank statements and credit position, identifies the best-matched lenders on its panel and submits your file. Approval normally comes back within 24 hours, at which point you receive a contract setting out the amount, term, rate and repayments.
Once you sign electronically, the lender releases funds, with 99% of clients funded within 24 hours of approval. Sure Capital stays the point of contact through to settlement and is paid by the lender, so [VERIFY: confirm no borrower fee] there is no separate invoice to you on loans where the lender pays the commission.
Sure Capital’s initial assessment is based on your bank statements. [VERIFY: confirm no credit bureau enquiry, including any soft enquiry, is made at this stage.] A credit enquiry is recorded when a lender formally assesses your application. A hard credit enquiry is recorded only when a lender formally assesses your application, usually after you have accepted an indicative offer.
One well-placed enquiry has a small, temporary effect. Applying to 4 or 5 lenders directly in the same month creates 4 or 5 enquiries and is read as credit stress. That is the main credit-file advantage of using a single broker application.
Rates and cost
Business loan interest rates in Australia currently range from roughly to a year, indicative as at [month year], depending on security, trading history and lender type. Secured loans through Sure Capital sit at the lower end; unsecured short-term loans and bad credit loans sit at the upper end.
Three factors move your rate most: security (property-backed loans are cheapest), time in business (2 years plus opens bank pricing) and credit conduct. Sure Capital compares the rate offers from its lender panel in a single application and discloses each lender’s rate before you sign.
Commercial property loan rates in Australia are indicatively a year as at [month year], with full doc loans at the lower end and low doc or short-term bridging loans at the upper end. Sure Capital arranges commercial loans from $100,000 to $5,000,000 plus.
Loan-to-value ratio also moves the rate: borrowing 60% of a property’s value is priced lower than borrowing 80%. Rates may be fixed or variable, and rates may be fixed or variable; fixed-period pricing can be higher or lower than variable depending on the lender and market conditions. Figures here are indicative only and change with lender funding costs.
Sure Capital is paid by the lender, as a commission on settlement, not by the borrower . The commission is typically between and of the loan amount and Sure Capital discloses its commission to you in writing before you sign . If the loan does not settle, Sure Capital is not paid.
Broker vs bank vs online lender
A business loan broker assesses your business, matches it to lenders likely to approve, packages and submits the application, and negotiates the offer. Sure Capital does this across a panel of [VERIFY: number] lenders, assists more than 8,000 Australian businesses a year and is paid by the lender on settlement.
The practical value is in placement: knowing that Lender A declines hospitality, Lender B wants 12 months of trading, and Lender C prices secured deals lowest. A direct applicant discovers this one decline at a time; a broker knows it before lodging.
Go direct to your bank if you have 2 years of clean financials, property security and no urgency; bank rates are usually the lowest and your existing relationship helps. Use a broker like Sure Capital if you need funds within 24 hours, have under 2 years of trading, are low doc, have credit issues, or have already been declined.
A broker does not replace a bank; it compares it. Sure Capital’s panel includes bank and non-bank options, so you can see whether the bank’s longer process is worth its lower rate against a 24-hour approval elsewhere.
Prospa, OnDeck, Lumi and Moula are direct online lenders: each lends directly to the borrower under its own criteria and pricing. Sure Capital is a broker: it does not lend, it compares offers from lenders, which may include some of those names , and is paid by the lender on settlement.
The practical difference is breadth. Applying to one online lender gives you one answer against one set of rules. Applying through Sure Capital gives you one application assessed against the whole panel, including secured and commercial property options that many online-only lenders do not offer. Comparison accurate as at [month year]; competitor criteria change.
A broker is not worth it when your need is small, simple and unhurried: a $10,000 top-up from a lender you already use, a bank overdraft increase on a long-standing relationship, or a business that comfortably meets bank criteria and can wait 4 weeks. In those cases going direct saves a step.
Sure Capital will say so. A broker adds value when there is choice to be made or risk of a decline: low doc, under 2 years of trading, bad credit, secured or commercial lending, or any loan over $250,000 where lender pricing varies widely.
Secured vs unsecured
A secured business loan is a loan backed by an asset, usually property, equipment or vehicles, that the lender can claim if the loan is not repaid. Sure Capital arranges secured business loans from $100,000 to $5,000,000 plus for expansion, acquisition, development and refinancing.
Because the lender’s risk is lower, secured loans carry lower rates, longer terms (up to 25 or 30 years on property) and higher limits than unsecured loans. The trade-off is time: valuation and legal work mean 72 hours at the very fastest and 2 to 4 weeks more typically.
Secured business loans use an asset as collateral; unsecured business loans rely on cash flow and a personal guarantee. Through Sure Capital, unsecured loans go up to $500,000 with approval in 24 hours, while secured loans run from $100,000 to $5,000,000 plus at lower rates but with valuation and settlement time.
Plainly: unsecured is faster, smaller and dearer; secured is slower, larger and cheaper. Unsecured terms are typically 3 to 36 months; secured terms run 1 to 30 years. If the loan is under $150,000 and needed this week, unsecured usually wins on total cost once legal and valuation fees are counted.
Yes. Sure Capital arranges unsecured business loans up to $500,000 with no property or asset security, assessed on 6 months of bank statements, 3 months or more of trading and $5,000 monthly turnover. Most complete applications are approved within 24 hours, based on Sure Capital’s data.
“No security” does not mean “no recourse”. Almost every unsecured business loan includes a director’s personal guarantee, and the lender may register a general security interest over the business on the PPSR. Read the contract for both before signing.
Working capital, cash flow and line of credit
A working capital loan is short-term business funding used to cover day-to-day costs such as wages, stock, rent and supplier bills while waiting on customer payments. Sure Capital arranges working capital loans from $5,000 to $500,000 unsecured, usually over 3 to 24 months, with most approved within 24 hours.
It differs from growth finance in purpose and term: working capital bridges a cash flow gap measured in weeks, whereas expansion or equipment loans fund assets over years. Seasonal businesses, contractors on 30 to 90 day terms and wholesalers are the heaviest users.
Apply through Sure Capital with your ABN, ID and 6 months of bank statements; you need at least 3 months of trading and $5,000 in monthly turnover. Sure Capital matches the application across its lender panel and most working capital loans are approved within 24 hours, with 99% funded within 24 hours of approval.
Lenders size working capital loans on turnover, typically 1 to 2 months of deposits . If the gap is recurring rather than one-off, a line of credit or invoice finance is usually cheaper than repeated term loans, and Sure Capital will say which applies.
Apply through Sure Capital with an ABN, ID, 3 months or more of trading, $5,000 monthly turnover and 6 months of bank statements. Lines of credit are available up to $500,000, are revolving, and charge interest only on the amount drawn, not the approved limit.
Approval is usually within 24 hours for unsecured lines. Expect a limit set at roughly 1 to 2 months of turnover , an annual review, and in some cases a small monthly or line fee whether or not you draw. Secured lines against property carry higher limits and lower rates.
Equipment and asset finance
Equipment finance is a loan or lease used to buy business assets such as machinery, vehicles, tools, fit-outs or technology, with the asset itself serving as security. Sure Capital arranges equipment and asset finance up to $2,000,000 over terms of 12 to 84 months at low, long-term rates.
Because the asset secures the loan, equipment finance is approved more readily than unsecured lending, including for businesses with 0 to 3 months of trading when the director has a clean file. Structures include chattel mortgage, finance lease, hire purchase and rental.
Apply through Sure Capital with your ABN, ID, a quote or invoice for the asset and, for established businesses, 6 months of bank statements. Equipment finance up to $2,000,000 is typically approved within 24 hours and settled in 1 to 5 business days, paid directly to the supplier.
Businesses with 2 years of trading and clean credit can often get “low doc” equipment finance up to $150,000 with no financials at all. New businesses need a director with strong personal credit, a deposit of 10% to 20% or property ownership.
A chattel mortgage is a loan: you own the asset from day 1 and the lender holds a mortgage over it. A finance lease means the lender owns the asset and you rent it with an option to buy at the end. Hire purchase means you hire the asset and ownership transfers after the final payment. Sure Capital arranges all 3 up to $2,000,000.
Plainly: a chattel mortgage may allow the GST on the purchase to be claimed upfront if you account on a cash basis, and lease rentals may be deductible. Accounting and tax treatment differ by entity and structure, so seek independent advice from your accountant before choosing; hire purchase sits between. Which is better is a tax question, so confirm with your accountant before choosing.
Invoice finance and factoring
Invoice finance lets a business borrow against unpaid customer invoices instead of waiting 30 to 90 days to be paid. The financier advances a percentage of each invoice, typically 70% to 90%, within 24 to 48 hours, and releases the balance less fees when the customer pays. Sure Capital arranges invoice finance for businesses that sell to other businesses on credit terms.
It suits B2B businesses with creditworthy customers and growing sales, such as labour hire, transport, wholesale and manufacturing. It does not suit retail, hospitality or anyone paid at point of sale, because there are no invoices to finance.
Invoice financing is the umbrella term. Factoring means the financier buys your invoices and collects payment from your customers directly, so customers know. Invoice discounting means you keep collecting and the facility stays confidential. Sure Capital arranges both factoring and discounting through its lender panel.
Plainly: factoring suits smaller businesses that want the financier to handle collections, at a higher cost (often 1% to 4% of invoice value . Discounting suits larger businesses with their own credit control, at a lower cost but usually with a minimum turnover of $500,000 to $1,000,000 a year .
Industry-specific
Restaurant finance through Sure Capital usually combines 2 products: equipment finance (up to $2,000,000) for the kitchen, fit-out and refrigeration, and an unsecured working capital loan or merchant cash advance (up to $500,000) for stock, wages and opening costs. Established restaurants with 3 months of trading and $5,000 monthly turnover meet the minimum criteria to apply for unsecured funding; approval is at each lender’s discretion and most complete applications are assessed within 24 hours.
Lenders treat hospitality as higher risk, so some decline it outright . A strong EFTPOS history, a lease with at least 2 years remaining and prior hospitality experience are what move the needle. New restaurants generally need a deposit or property security.
Yes. Franchise finance is available through Sure Capital for buying a new or existing franchise, refurbishment and equipment. Major franchise systems have lender accreditation, which means lenders with accreditation for that system may fund up to of the total setup cost, subject to assessment of the operator.
Unaccredited or new franchise systems are assessed like independent businesses. Existing franchisees with 3 months of trading and $5,000 monthly turnover meet the minimum criteria to apply for unsecured loans of up to $500,000; approval is at each lender’s discretion and most complete applications are assessed within 24 hours for a second site or refresh.
Location FAQ template
Yes. Sure Capital arranges business loans for [city] and [state] businesses Australia-wide, from $5,000 unsecured up to $5,000,000 or more secured. You need an active ABN, ID, 3 months of trading, $5,000 monthly turnover and 6 months of bank statements. Most loans are approved within 24 hours.
Sure Capital is a broker, not a lender, so a single application is matched across lenders, including those that specialise in [city] commercial property, equipment and working capital. Sure Capital assists more than 8,000 Australian businesses a year.
Business loan approval for [city] businesses through Sure Capital usually takes less than 24 hours from a complete application, and in Sure Capital’s experience [99]% of clients funded in received funds within 24 hours of approval. Same-day funding is available on unsecured loans when documents arrive early in the day.
Secured loans against [city] property take longer because of valuation and legal work: commercial property loans can complete in as little as 72 hours but 2 to 4 weeks is typical. Equipment finance for [city] businesses settles in 1 to 5 business days.
No. Sure Capital’s application process is fully online for [city] businesses: enquiry form, electronic ID, bank statements via a secure link and e-signature. Phone support is on 1300 198 514. [Sydney version: Sure Capital’s office is in Bella Vista in Sydney’s north-west, and in-person meetings are available for larger secured loans.] [Other cities: Sure Capital is based in Bella Vista NSW and serves [city] remotely; there is no [city] branch.]
Secured loans may involve a local valuer visiting the [city] property and a [state] solicitor for settlement, both of which Sure Capital arranges.
