Chattel mortgage · Landscaping
Chattel mortgage for landscaping
Landscaping finance is seasonal, asset-backed lending for landscape construction and maintenance businesses, funding mini excavators, tippers, trailers and mowing equipment plus working capital across the winter trough.
How a chattel mortgage works for landscaping
Tippers, utes and the plant that goes with them are usually written as a chattel mortgage. Your business owns the asset from day one and, if you are registered for GST, generally claims the GST on the purchase price in the following BAS rather than across the term. Interest and depreciation are deductible to the extent of business use. For landscapers the immediate GST claim on a tipper truck often funds the trailer to go behind it. Confirm the treatment with your accountant.
The cash-flow pattern we plan around
Strong spring-to-autumn trade with a pronounced winter slowdown, against equipment repayments and retained crew wages that continue year round.
What landscaping typically fund
- Mini excavators, skid steers and compact plant
- Tipper trucks and plant trailers
- Ride-on mowers, turf equipment and chippers
- Materials and plant purchases ahead of a large job
- Working capital through the winter trough
Chattel mortgage for landscaping: the numbers
| Typical amounts | $10,000 – $2,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Term | 12–84 months |
| Indicative rates | 6.9% – 14.5% p.a. |
| Repayments | Monthly (weekly or fortnightly available) |
| Speed | 24–48 hours for low-doc up to $150k; longer for full-doc |
| Documents landscaping usually need | ABN and any required contractor licensing · 6–12 months of business bank statements · Supplier quote for the machine or trailer |
Rates are indicative, change without notice and depend on the lender, product, asset, term and your credit profile at the time of application. They are not an offer of finance. Comparison rates, where shown, are true only for the example given.
Key terms
Landscaping equipment finance
Landscaping equipment finance is secured lending for compact plant, tippers, trailers and turf equipment used in landscape construction and maintenance, usually written over three to five years against the asset.
Seasonal trough funding
Seasonal trough funding is short-term working capital that carries a weather-dependent business through its quiet months so that fixed equipment repayments and retained wages continue to be met.
What is a chattel mortgage?
A chattel mortgage is a business loan used to buy a movable asset (a chattel) such as a ute, truck, excavator or equipment. The business takes ownership immediately and the lender registers a security interest over the asset until it is paid off.
Chattel mortgage balloon payment
A balloon is a lump sum, typically 0–40% of the purchase price, paid at the end of the term. It lowers regular repayments but must be paid, refinanced or covered by selling the asset when the term ends.
Questions from landscaping
Can a landscaper finance a mini excavator, trailer and tipper together?
Yes. A mini excavator, its plant trailer, attachments and a tipper or ute can go on one contract or a small facility, so the whole working set-up settles together at one rate. Established landscapers are usually approved on low documentation and new businesses with a deposit and a clean credit file.
How do landscapers fund the winter slowdown?
A line of credit drawn in winter and repaid across spring and summer is the cheapest option, and equipment repayments can sometimes be structured seasonally with lower winter instalments. Applying in spring while trade is strong gets the best terms.
Can I consolidate equipment loans and a credit card into one repayment?
Yes. A debt consolidation loan or a refinance secured against your equipment rolls several repayments into one, often at a lower total cost and with a repayment that suits your season. Lenders assess the equipment’s equity and recent trading. A broker checks the early payout costs on the existing loans first.
Can a new landscaping business get equipment finance?
Yes. Landscaping equipment is modest and easily resold, so several lenders fund ABNs under two years with a deposit, a clean personal credit file and evidence of work or a trade background. Established businesses qualify low-doc with no deposit. Lyft Money knows which lenders back start-ups.