Unsecured business loan · Tradies
Unsecured business loan for tradies
Tradies and contractors need finance that lands before the job and is repaid as progress claims and invoices clear. Utes, tools and cash-flow gaps between jobs are the usual triggers.
How an unsecured business loan works for tradies
Tradies often use an unsecured loan to bridge the gap between paying for materials and a progress claim clearing. Weekly repayments matched to invoice cycles work better than a large monthly debit.
The cash-flow pattern we plan around
A builder or subcontractor may wait 30–60 days for a progress claim while paying materials and wages weekly.
What tradies typically fund
- Ute or van
- Tools and equipment
- Cash flow between progress claims
- ATO and super catch-ups
Unsecured business loan for tradies: 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 tradies usually need | ABN and licence · 6 months of bank statements · Supplier quote for any asset |
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
Business finance for tradies
Business finance for tradies covers vehicle and equipment loans plus short-term working-capital products sized to irregular, invoice-driven income.
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 tradies
Are low-doc options available?
Yes, some lenders offer low-doc pathways. Low-doc does not mean no documents or automatic approval. The information required depends on your business, the amount and the lender. Your broker will explain what is needed.
What documents will you need?
We start with a conversation about your business. To assess your options, lenders commonly need identification and recent business bank statements. Depending on the loan, they may also request BAS, financials or statements for existing debts. Your broker gives you a clear list for your situation.
What finance can a tradie get without full financials?
Most tradies with an ABN of two years or more can finance a ute, van, trailer or tools on low documentation, typically up to $150,000 to $250,000, with identification and a quote for the asset and no tax returns. Short-term unsecured loans and lines of credit are approved from six to twelve months of business bank statements. Larger amounts and property lending use financials. Lyft Money matches the paperwork to what you actually have before anything is submitted.
How do tradies fund the gap between finishing a job and getting paid?
A business line of credit or overdraft is the usual answer: you draw on it to cover wages, materials and fuel while an invoice or progress claim is outstanding, then repay it when the client pays, with interest charged only on the days it is drawn. Tradies who invoice builders or commercial clients on 30 to 60 day terms can also use invoice finance, which advances most of each invoice within a day or two. Your broker matches the facility to how your work is billed.
Can I finance my tools and equipment as well as the ute?
Yes. Tools and equipment with a resale value, such as compressors, generators, laser levels, trailers and larger power tools, can be financed on a chattel mortgage, and many lenders will bundle a tools package with the vehicle or trailer. Small hand tools are usually better bought from cash flow or a line of credit. Your broker structures the vehicle, trailer and gear so the whole kit settles together.
I have just gone out on my own. Can I still get finance?
Usually, yes. Lenders look at your trade experience as an employee or subcontractor, a deposit or property ownership and your credit history when the ABN is new, and several specialise in funding new tradie businesses for a ute and tools. The first purchase is often the vehicle, financed on low documentation, with working capital added once six months of trading shows in the bank statements. Lyft Money checks fit across the panel so you are not declined for being new.