Unsecured business loan · Renovation and fit-out finance
Unsecured business loan for Renovation and fit-out finance
Renovation and fit-out finance is funding for the works that make a commercial premises usable — joinery, services, flooring, signage and equipment — spread across the lease term rather than paid from working capital.
How an unsecured business loan works for Renovation and fit-out finance
For a smaller refurbishment — repainting, new lighting, a counter rebuild, updated signage — an unsecured term loan is often faster and simpler than a structured fit-out facility, with light documentation and funding within days. It costs more, but on a $60,000 refresh over two years the difference in dollars may be modest against the value of moving quickly. For a full fit-out running into hundreds of thousands, the purpose-built structure will be materially cheaper.
The cash-flow pattern we plan around
A single large capital outlay before the refurbished premises trade, with disruption during the works and revenue benefits arriving over the following months.
What renovation and fit-out finance typically fund
- Shop, clinic or office fit-out on a new tenancy
- Refurbishing existing premises to lift trade
- Compliance, accessibility and services upgrades
- Signage, joinery and lighting
- Equipment installed as part of the works
Unsecured business loan for Renovation and fit-out finance: the numbers
| Typical amounts | $5,000 – $500,000 |
|---|---|
| Term | 3–36 months |
| Indicative rates | 9.9% – 29.5% p.a. |
| Repayments | Daily, weekly or monthly |
| Speed | 24–72 hours after documents are received |
| Documents renovation and fit-out finance usually need | Signed lease with term and option details · Builder or shopfitter quote and scope of works · 6–12 months of bank statements or business financials |
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
Fit-out finance
Fit-out finance is lending for the non-removable works and fixtures that make a commercial tenancy operational, repaid over a term matched to the lease because the works have no resale value if the premises are vacated.
Lease term alignment
Lease term alignment is the practice of setting the finance term no longer than the remaining lease including exercisable options, so a business never pays for a fit-out in premises it has left.
What is an unsecured business loan?
An unsecured business loan is finance provided to a business without a specific asset held as security. Approval is based on trading history, bank statements and cash flow. Most lenders still require a personal or director’s guarantee.
How is an unsecured business loan repaid?
Repayments are usually daily, weekly or monthly direct debits over 3 to 36 months. Some lenders quote a factor rate (total payable ÷ amount borrowed) rather than an annual interest rate, so always compare the total cost.
Who is eligible for an unsecured business loan in Australia?
Typical minimums are an active ABN, 6 to 12 months of trading and monthly turnover above roughly $10,000, but each lender sets its own criteria. Lyft Money checks fit across the panel before anything is submitted.
Questions from renovation and fit-out finance
How does fit-out finance work?
The lender pays the builder and suppliers in stages against invoices as the works progress, and the loan converts to a fixed term of three to five years when the fit-out is complete, usually kept within the lease term. Movable equipment is often financed separately at a sharper rate and combined under one application.
Can I fund a renovation while the business stays open?
Yes. Fit-out finance funds staged works, and a line of credit or a short unsecured loan with a repayment holiday covers reduced trade during the works. Lenders like renovations that add capacity or lift revenue, so include the plan and the expected uplift.
Should the fit-out loan term match my lease?
Yes. Lenders usually want the fit-out repaid within the current lease term including options, and a term that ends before the lease does keeps you flexible. Negotiate the lease before the finance so the terms line up, and tell your broker the lease details when applying.
Can I renovate premises I own?
Yes. Renovations to an owned commercial property can be funded by increasing the commercial property loan, which is the cheapest route, or by a fit-out facility if you prefer to keep the property loan separate. Works that lift the property’s value support a higher loan.