
Business situation
Finance for non-property owners, shaped around how you get paid.
Not owning property does not stop you borrowing. It changes which lenders will look at the file, how much they will advance, and what it costs.



One broker from your first call through to funding.
See which options fit your situation.
Tell us what you need. A Lyft Money broker who knows non-property owners compares 48+ lenders and explains the rate, fees and repayments before you decide.
Access to 32+ non-property owners lenders
Lenders on our panel that fund non-property owners.
At a glance
Non-property owners: the numbers that matter.
- Typical amounts
- $5,000 – $5,000,000
- Typical speed
- Same day to 48 hours for low-doc
- Indicative rates
- 6.9% – 16% p.a.
- Finance options
- 5 structures compared
- Lenders active here
- 4+ on our panel
In plain English
Finance for non-property owners: how it works.
Non-property owner business finance is lending to businesses whose directors do not own real estate, relying on asset security, trading performance and receivables rather than property equity, usually at higher rates and lower limits.
Most Australian business lenders ask whether directors own property, and many use the answer as a pricing input. A business without director property behind it will generally see lower unsecured limits and rates a few points higher than an otherwise identical applicant with a mortgage. That is the market reality, and pretending otherwise helps nobody. The practical response is to lean on the strengths you do have: trading history, consistent banking, a strong debtor book, or an asset worth securing against.
Asset finance is where non-property owners do best. When a lender takes registered security over a machine or a vehicle, the absence of property equity matters far less because there is a tangible recovery path. Invoice finance works on the same principle using receivables. Both let a business borrow meaningfully without a director’s home in the picture. Where unsecured working capital is genuinely needed, twelve months of clean trading, GST registration and consistent deposits will open more of the panel than any other single factor.
The cash-flow pattern we plan around
Assessed on business trading performance, banking consistency and available asset or receivables security rather than on director property equity.
What non-property owners typically fund
- Vehicles and equipment without property security
- Working capital based on trading history
- Funding against unpaid invoices
- Growing without a director guarantee over property
Documents lenders usually ask for
- ABN, GST registration and 12 months of bank statements
- Asset quote where equipment is being financed
- Aged receivables report where invoices are the security



A clear next step
How to get finance for non-property owners.
Our AI helps check lender fit across 48+ lenders. Your broker reviews the options and explains what they mean for you.
- 01
Asset and supplier details
Quote or invoice, asset age and condition.
- 02
Match the lender
Specialist vs bank, low-doc vs full-doc.
- 03
Settle
Funds paid to the supplier; you take delivery.
The lender makes the final credit decision. Available options depend on your business and the lender’s assessment.
Before you make a decision
Estimate equipment loan repayments.
Know what lands and what leaves. Adjust the amount, rate and term to see the repayment and total cost.
- Number of repayments
- 48
- Total interest (est.)
- $15,443
- Total repaid (est.)
- $90,443
This calculator is a guide only. It uses simplified assumptions, excludes fees and charges unless stated, and is not an offer or quote. Actual repayments are confirmed by the lender in its loan contract.
From Lyft Money clients
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People who stay in touch.
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Finance options for non-property owners
Equipment loan
Equipment finance is the single most useful product for a business without property behind it. The lender registers security over the machine on the PPSR and has a clear recovery path, so director property equity matters far less to the decision.
Chattel mortgage
A chattel mortgage delivers the same ownership and GST treatment to a non-property owner as to anyone else: you own the asset from settlement and generally claim the GST on the purchase price in your next BAS if registered. The difference appears in the rate and the deposit, both of which reflect the absence of property equity.
Invoice finance
Invoice finance is one of the few working capital products where director property ownership is close to irrelevant, because the security is your debtor book and the assessment is largely about who owes you money. A business with $400,000 owed by solid commercial customers can access a meaningful facility without a mortgage anywhere in the picture.
Unsecured business loan
Unsecured lending is available to non-property owners, at a price. Expect a rate several points above what a property-owning director would be quoted, a lower limit and a shorter term.
Low-doc business loan
Where financials are not available and there is no property to fall back on, a low-doc facility assessed on bank statements is sometimes the only route. Pricing reflects the double absence of documentation and security, typically running well above standard unsecured rates.
Lenders active in this space
Prospa, OnDeck, ScotPac, Angle Asset Finance — among others on our panel of 48+. Your broker checks fit before anything is submitted.
Key terms
Non-property-owner business loan
A non-property-owner business loan is finance approved without any real estate security or director property equity, assessed instead on trading performance, banking conduct and the value of the asset or receivables offered.
Asset-backed alternative
An asset-backed alternative is a structure that substitutes registered security over equipment, vehicles or invoices for the property equity a lender would otherwise look for, allowing a non-property owner to borrow at reasonable cost.
Can I get business finance if I do not own property?
Yes. Equipment and vehicle finance is secured by the asset itself, invoice finance is secured by your receivables and unsecured loans are assessed on trading, so none of them needs property. Limits are lower and rates a little higher than for property owners, but established businesses with clean credit are approved routinely.
Is equipment finance easier to get without property?
Yes. Because the machine or vehicle is the security, lenders focus on the asset and the business rather than director property, and low-doc approvals up to around $150,000 to $250,000 are common for businesses with two years of ABN history and clean credit. A deposit helps for larger amounts or newer businesses.
How much can a non-property owner borrow unsecured?
Typically up to around $250,000 to $500,000 for established businesses with strong bank statements, and less for newer businesses, over terms of six months to three years. Lenders assess turnover, consistency of deposits, existing commitments and credit history. A broker matches the amount to the lenders that lend it without property.
Can invoice finance replace property security?
Often, yes. Businesses that invoice other businesses can borrow against their receivables, with the facility growing as sales grow, and lenders look at the quality of the debtors rather than director property. It suits contractors, wholesalers, labour hire and services businesses with 30 to 90 day terms.
Do I need a deposit for equipment finance?
Often no deposit is required, particularly for established businesses buying standard assets from a dealer. A deposit is more likely where the business is new, the asset is older or specialised, the credit profile is weaker, or the amount is large relative to turnover. Deposits typically range from around 10% to 30% in those cases. Putting money in reduces the amount financed and can improve the terms offered, but it is not always necessary.
Can I finance equipment I already own to release cash?
Yes, that is a sale and leaseback. You sell an unencumbered asset to a financier and lease or finance it back, receiving the sale proceeds as working capital while keeping the asset in use. Lenders will want proof you own it outright, a valuation, and evidence the funds are for a legitimate business purpose. It is a useful option when capital is tied up in plant, but it converts an owned asset into a monthly commitment, so the cash flow effect needs checking first.
How long can I finance equipment for?
Terms usually run from 12 to 84 months. The ceiling is generally set by the expected working life of the asset: heavy earthmoving and trucks often stretch to five or seven years, while IT hardware and point-of-sale systems are commonly kept to two or three. Lenders also look at the age of the asset at the end of the term, so a ten-year-old machine will attract a shorter term than a new one. Longer terms lower repayments and raise total interest.
Can one facility cover several pieces of equipment?
Yes. A master facility agreement lets a lender approve an overall limit, then draw down individual assets against it using a commitment schedule for each one. Each drawdown has its own term and repayment, but you avoid re-applying every time you buy. It suits businesses buying regularly through the year. Limits are usually reviewed annually and the lender can decline a particular asset even where the limit is available.
How long does my ABN need to be active?
It varies by lender and product. Many unsecured business lenders want at least six to twelve months of trading, while some asset finance lenders will consider a new ABN where the director has industry experience, a clean credit file and often property ownership or a deposit. Registration for GST is frequently expected once turnover reaches the threshold. A short ABN history is not an automatic decline, but it narrows the panel and usually affects the rate and structure offered.
Do I have to own property to get business finance?
No. Plenty of finance is written for non-property owners, especially asset finance where the equipment itself is the security, and unsecured lending assessed on cash flow. That said, property ownership widens the panel and often improves pricing, because it gives a lender an additional avenue if things go wrong. If you do not own property, expect more weight on trading history, bank conduct and the quality of the asset being financed.

Your business. Your decision.
See your options.
Know the costs.
Decide with confidence.
One broker to explain it. Clear numbers before you proceed.
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