Technology finance for hardware, software and full implementations.

Usually not for hardware, which is typically funded at 100 per cent of the invoice for an established business. Projects with a large software or services component may require a contribution of 10 to 30 per cent because that portion has no resale value. New businesses and larger projects are assessed on financials and may be asked for a deposit or a guarantee.

Two to five business days for most projects, and same day for straightforward hardware within low-doc limits. Suppliers are paid directly against their invoices, and staged projects can be paid as each milestone is invoiced. Get the finance approved once the supplier quote is final so ordering is not held up.

An operating lease suits assets you want to use but not own — typically technology that dates quickly, or equipment you replace on a fixed cycle. The financier retains ownership and residual risk, you pay for use over the term and hand the asset back at the end, often with fair wear and tear and usage conditions attached. It keeps replacement predictable, but you build no equity, and exceeding the agreed usage can trigger additional charges.

Servers, networking and storage, fleets of laptops and workstations, point-of-sale and payment systems, security cameras and access control, audiovisual and conferencing gear, 3D printers and specialist design hardware, commercial solar and battery systems, and the software and services that go with them, including ERP and practice management implementations. Hardware is financed as an asset; software and services are funded by lenders that specialise in intangibles.

Yes, with the right lender. Software licences, subscriptions paid upfront, implementation, data migration and training have no resale value, so mainstream asset lenders will not secure against them. A group of technology lenders fund these as a rental or a business loan, often bundled with the hardware in one agreement so the whole project is on a single monthly payment. The intangible portion is priced a little higher than the hardware. Your broker knows which lenders fund what.

Lease when the equipment will be refreshed in three to four years, which is most laptops, workstations and networking, because a lease with a low residual keeps the monthly cost down and makes the refresh simple, with some lenders taking back and disposing of the old fleet. Buy with a chattel mortgage when the equipment has a long life, such as servers you will run for five years or solar systems that last decades. Your accountant advises on the tax outcome for each.

Typically one to five years, matched to the useful life of the gear: two to three years for laptops and phones, three to five for servers, networking and audiovisual, and five to seven for commercial solar. Software implementations are usually funded over the length of the licence agreement. Matching the term to the refresh cycle avoids paying for equipment after it has been replaced.

Yes. Commercial solar and battery systems are financed by many lenders over five to seven years, often structured so the monthly repayment is close to or below the electricity saving. Government rebates and certificates reduce the amount financed. The system becomes a fixture of the building, so lenders look at the lease or ownership of the premises. Your broker compares lenders that specialise in energy assets.

Yes. Many technology lenders set up a master agreement with a limit so additional hardware, licences or stages of an implementation can be added as schedules without a fresh application, each on its own term. This suits phased rollouts and businesses that add staff and devices regularly. Your broker sets the limit to cover the planned project and headroom for growth.

Yes. Terminals, tablets, printers, cash drawers, scanners, kitchen displays and installation are financed as technology equipment, and many lenders include the first one to three years of software subscription and setup in the amount financed. Ongoing subscriptions after that are paid as operating costs.