Business loans broker for Australian business
Business loans and working capital
Looking for a business loan?
Established businesses and practices need funding that keeps pace with growth, cash flow and day-to-day operations. We arrange business loans across the full range, from working capital lines and unsecured term loans to large structured facilities for bigger operators. We shape the facility around how money actually moves through your business, then place it with the lender best positioned to fund it. Ardent Capital Group are a team of business loan brokers who arrange funding across the full range, from working capital lines to large structured facilities.
We can help you:
- Fund working capital and day-to-day operations
- Open a business overdraft or line of credit
- Release cash from unpaid invoices with invoice or debtor finance
- Take an unsecured business loan on strong trading
- Arrange a secured business term loan
- Smooth seasonal and growth-driven cash flow
- Fund a business acquisition or expansion
- Use property security for a sharper rate
- Access larger structured facilities for bigger operators
- Match the facility to your cash cycle
Who we help:
- Established business owners who require finance between $100k to $10M
- First-time borrowers who need a beginner-friendly strategy
- Sophisticated borrowers and investors who need a unique strategy and deal structure
- Urgent, time-sensitive deals that need to move quickly
- Self-employed and trust-structured borrowers who need their income presented properly
- Commercial property owners with multi-tenancy plans
Speak to a specialist today
1,000+
loans settled
$500M+
funded
Business loans
Funding for growth, cash flow and operations
We arrange business loans and working capital for established businesses, from overdrafts, lines of credit and invoice finance through to unsecured and secured term loans and larger structured facilities. Business lending is assessed on trading history, cash flow and security rather than property alone, so the right structure depends on your income profile, your asset base and the purpose of the funding. We find the product and the lender that fit the specific situation, then set the facility up to grow with the business.
Funding from $100K to $100M
from over 60 bank & non-bank lenders
- ANZ
- Bankwest
- Bluestone
- Bank of Queensland
- Commonwealth Bank
- Firstmac
- ING
- Macquarie
- NAB
- Pepper Money
- Suncorp Bank
- Thinktank
Business loan and working capital specialists
Business lending is a specialist area, and one we speak with established owners about every week, from single-site practices funding a fit-out to larger operators structuring a debtor finance line. The facilities we arrange most often include:
- –Business overdrafts and revolving lines of credit
- –Invoice and debtor finance facilities, including larger structured lines
- –Unsecured business loans on strong trading
- –Secured business term loans and cash flow finance
- –Acquisition, expansion and growth funding
Limits are sized to your cash cycle and security rather than a single property value, and on revolving facilities interest is charged only on the drawn balance. Many facilities are assessed off your BAS and recent bank statements rather than full financials, and secured positions price sharper than unsecured ones. For plant, vehicles and fit-out, we can also arrange asset finance against the equipment itself, keeping your cash and property free for the rest of the business.
Why businesses choose Ardent Capital Group as their broker
Execution and strategy
Strategy first, then execution. We structure your deal properly and take it to the lenders that fit how you trade, so you do not have to knock on every door.
Clear advice for smart lending
Straight answers on LVR, structure and timing, including when a deal does not stack up.
A long-term partner
We stay with you well beyond settlement, with lasting relationships and ongoing support from the team.
Business loan types
Business loan scenarios we can help finance
Business funding needs differ significantly from one operator to the next. A childcare group smoothing a term-fee cycle needs a different facility to a manufacturer funding a large order or a medical group acquiring a second site. Below is an overview of the most common situations we help established businesses with.
Business overdraft and line of credit
A business overdraft or revolving line of credit sits over your trading account and covers the timing gap between money going out and receivables coming in. You draw against an agreed limit as costs fall due and repay as your customers or payers settle.
We size the limit to your actual cash cycle rather than a round number, weigh a property-secured facility against an unsecured one, and place it with a lender whose appetite matches your sector, whether that is a dental or veterinary practice, an accounting or legal firm, or a wholesale and distribution business.
- Interest charged on the drawn balance, not the approved limit
- Assessed on BAS lodgements and three to six months of bank statements
- Facility limits commonly reviewed each year against turnover
- Line fees and establishment costs differ between bank and non-bank lenders
- Unsecured limits generally capped lower than property-secured facilities
- Redraw available without reapplying once the limit is set
- Suits practices and operators managing predictable timing gaps
Invoice and debtor finance
Invoice finance advances a portion of an unpaid invoice as soon as you raise it, so growth is funded by your own sales ledger rather than a wait on 30, 60 or 90-day terms. The remainder, less the fee, follows when your customer settles.
Because the facility grows with your receivables, it suits established businesses whose sales are climbing faster than their cash position, such as wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, transport and logistics operators, and allied health or radiology groups billing large payers. It is also where the top of our range lives, with larger structured debtor lines for bigger operators. We compare it against an overdraft and match you to a lender comfortable with your debtor book and sector.
- Advance rates commonly sit between 80 and 90 percent of invoice value
- Available as confidential or disclosed facilities, depending on customer contact
- Whole-of-book or selective single-invoice structures
- Priced on a discount fee plus a service fee, not a standard interest rate
- Concentration limits apply where one debtor dominates the ledger
- Secured against the receivables ledger rather than property
- Recourse and non-recourse options covering debtor default
Unsecured business loans
An unsecured business loan gives you a lump sum without registering a mortgage over property, priced on the strength of your trading rather than the value of your assets. It suits established businesses that want funding quickly and would rather keep property out of the structure.
We assess whether an unsecured facility is the right call or whether a secured position may suit a larger or longer facility, and place the deal with a lender that understands your sector, from GP and dental practices to pharmacies, optometrists and engineering firms.
- Generally available from 12 months of consistent trading history
- Often assessed from bank statements and BAS without full financials
- Terms commonly run from one to three years
- Faster to arrange than a property-secured facility
- Directors’ guarantees typically required
- Limits smaller and rates higher than secured equivalents
- Suits fit-outs, stock, tax bills and short-term working capital
Secured business term loans
A secured business term loan uses commercial or residential property, plant or another business asset to access a larger amount at a sharper rate, repaid over a set period. Where an overdraft flexes, a term loan gives you a fixed repayment you can budget around.
Property brought into the structure lifts both the size and the pricing, which is why established practices and operators with equity, such as aged care providers, private hospitals, childcare groups and legal or accounting firms, often take a secured facility. We match the structure to the purpose and your balance sheet, subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.
- Terms commonly run from one to fifteen years depending on security
- Fixed or variable rate, with principal and interest repayments
- Larger limits and lower rates than unsecured equivalents
- Property, plant or receivables can all serve as security
- Full financials generally required for larger secured facilities
- Suits acquisitions, fit-outs, refinances and debt consolidation
- Can fund an ATO payment plan where trading supports the repayments
Cash flow and seasonal finance
Cash flow finance funds the gap between costs falling due and revenue arriving, whether that gap is seasonal, tied to a billing cycle or driven by a large one-off cost. It keeps payroll, rent and suppliers covered without draining reserves.
We match the product to the shape of the gap, from a revolving line for a predictable off-peak dip to a short-term loan for a tax bill or a tender. Childcare centres between term-fee cycles, agribusinesses waiting on a harvest, and funeral homes or automotive workshops with lumpy receivables all use it differently, so we structure it around how your revenue actually lands.
- Structured as a revolving line, short-term loan or invoice facility
- Sized to the peak of the gap, not the annual turnover
- Suits seasonal, cyclical and contract-driven revenue
- Can bridge a quarterly BAS or PAYG obligation
- Assessed on trading history and the pattern of cash flow
- Repaid as the delayed revenue comes in
- Faster access where the facility is unsecured
Acquisition and growth finance
When you are buying a competitor, opening a new site or funding a strategic move, standard working capital products rarely cover it on their own. Acquisition finance builds a package around the purchase, drawing on your cash flow, any property security and the value of the business being acquired.
Goodwill-heavy purchases, common when a doctor buys into a practice, an accountant acquires a fee base or a veterinary or physiotherapy group rolls up a second clinic, need a lender willing to assess intangible value alongside tangible assets. We shape the funding early and combine the right products and lenders around the purchase price and available security.
- Cash-flow lenders assess earnings (EBITDA) rather than property alone
- Vendor finance or an earn-out can bridge part of the purchase price
- Business valuation and add-back analysis inform the borrowing capacity
- Funding may combine a term loan, overdraft and property security
- Suits management buyouts, buy-ins and bolt-on acquisitions
- Personal and company guarantees usually form part of the structure
- Due diligence on the target’s financials supports the application
Our complete list of services
- Open a business overdraft or line of credit
- Set up invoice or debtor finance
- Arrange a larger structured debtor facility for bigger operators
- Take an unsecured business loan on strong trading
- Arrange a secured business term loan
- Fund a business acquisition or expansion
- Use property security for a sharper rate and larger limit
- Smooth seasonal and growth-driven cash flow
- Fund a tender, contract or large order
- Bridge a BAS, PAYG or ATO obligation
- Consolidate short-term business debt
- Fund a fit-out, refurbishment or new site
- Structure funding for a management buyout or buy-in
- Match the facility to your cash cycle
Our process
How it works
✓We understand your scenario
We talk through the property, your business and timeline, and any complexity in your structure.
✓We find the right lender
We match your deal to the lender on our panel best suited to it.
✓You receive clear terms and guidance
We present indicative terms and explain what we recommend, and why.
✓We stay with you beyond settlement
We manage everything through to settlement, then stay in your corner well beyond it, with ongoing support from the team.
Lender features compared
How business loans compare across lenders
Business loans are assessed on trading history, cash flow and security, and priorities differ by deal. Major banks offer lower rates on tighter criteria and full financials, while non-bank lenders can fund larger, faster or on lighter security and documentation.
| Business loan feature | Major banks | Non-bank lenders | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum facility | Large, security-dependent | To structured facilities up to $100M* | Standard |
| Secured vs unsecured | Property preferred, unsecured available | Secured or unsecured options | Important |
| Invoice finance advance rate | Around 80% | 80 to 90% of invoice value | Common |
| Interest basis | On drawn balance or term loan | Drawn balance, term, or fee-based | Varies |
| Documentation | Full financials typically required | Low-doc options on bank statements and BAS | Common |
| Approval timeframe* | 1 to 3 weeks | 1 to 10 business days | Varies |
| Best suited for | Strong balance sheets, property security, sharper rates | Faster access, lighter security, larger structured facilities | — |
*IMPORTANT: These are indicative figures only. Terms, LVRs and approval timeframes vary with borrower capacity, security type and individual lender criteria, and are subject to change. Figures are a general guide, not a quote or an offer of finance, and not a representation that finance is available on these terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is a business loan, and how is it different to working capital finance?
A business loan is funding a business borrows for a defined purpose, usually a lump sum repaid over a set term. Working capital finance is one part of that picture, covering the day-to-day funding of operations through overdrafts, lines of credit and invoice finance. On this page we use business loans as the umbrella for both: term loans, overdrafts, lines of credit, invoice and debtor finance, cash flow finance and larger structured facilities. The right product depends on whether you are funding a one-off purchase or an ongoing cash flow need, and often the answer is a combination. Ardent Capital Group is a Sydney-based finance brokerage arranging business loans across Australia.
Should I choose a secured or unsecured business loan?
It depends on the amount, the purpose and what you are comfortable offering as security. Unsecured business loans are faster to arrange and keep your property out of the structure, but they are usually smaller and priced higher. Secured loans, backed by commercial or residential property or by business assets, support a larger facility at a sharper rate. For an established dental practice or accounting firm with equity available, a secured facility often makes sense. We weigh both against your balance sheet and your appetite, subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.
How large can a business loan or facility get?
We arrange facilities from around $100K up to $100M. Smaller unsecured loans typically sit in the tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand. Larger amounts are secured against property, plant or a receivables ledger, and the top of that range is generally reached through structured facilities such as large invoice or debtor finance lines for bigger operators like private hospitals, aged care groups, manufacturers or transport and logistics businesses. A $100M facility is not an unsecured loan; it is a structured position built on real security and cash flow, subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.
How does invoice finance work?
Invoice finance, also called debtor finance, advances a portion of an unpaid invoice as soon as you raise it, commonly 80 to 90 percent of its value. The remainder, less the fee, follows when your customer pays. It suits businesses selling on 30, 60 or 90-day terms, such as wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers and allied health or labour-hire groups billing large payers. Because the limit grows with your sales ledger, it funds growth without waiting on receivables. It can run on a whole-of-book or single-invoice basis, subject to lender appetite and approval.
Do I need property to get a business loan?
Not always. Unsecured business loans are available to established businesses with at least 12 months of consistent trading and clean credit. Property security is not required for smaller facilities, though it improves both the size and the rate on larger ones. Where you would rather not use property, invoice finance, equipment and asset finance and cash flow lending can fund the business against other security. We assess what is available for your position without assuming property is on the table.
How quickly can a business loan be arranged?
Unsecured business loans and invoice finance can often be arranged within one to three business days for businesses with clean financials and consistent trading. Secured facilities against property take longer, typically one to three weeks, because of valuation and documentation. Larger structured facilities depend on the complexity of the security and the lender. We give you a realistic timeline for the specific product rather than an optimistic one.
Can I get a low-doc business loan?
Often, yes. Many unsecured business loans and some invoice and equipment finance facilities can be assessed from bank statements and BAS lodgements rather than full financials, which suits established businesses whose accounts are not yet finalised. Low-doc does not mean no assessment; the lender still reviews trading history, cash flow and credit. Larger and secured facilities generally need full financials. We tell you upfront what each option requires.
What industries do you arrange business loans for?
We work across established businesses and practices Australia-wide. That includes medical and dental practices, GPs, specialists, cosmetic and IVF clinics, day surgeries, veterinary practices, pharmacies, optometry and allied health such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, podiatry and audiology. It also includes accountants, financial planners, legal practices, engineering firms, aged care operators, childcare centres, private hospitals, radiology and diagnostic imaging, agribusiness, funeral homes, automotive dealerships and workshops, and manufacturing, transport, logistics, wholesale and distribution businesses. We match the facility to how your sector actually trades.
Do you charge fees for arranging a business loan?
Most of the time, no. We are paid a commission by the lender once your facility settles. Where a deal requires significant preparation or involves unusual complexity, a small mandate fee may apply. We will always be upfront about this before any work begins.
What areas do you service?
Although we are based in Sydney, we service clients across all major Australian cities, including Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart, along with their surrounding regional areas. Wherever your business is located, we can arrange your finance.
What other finance can you assist with?
Although our main speciality is property loans for business owners, we also assist with asset finance and working capital. On asset finance, that covers equipment, machinery and commercial vehicles. On working capital, we arrange business overdrafts, lines of credit and cash-flow funding. We also arrange commercial mortgages if you are buying or refinancing premises.
I've been a business owner for a few years now, but this will be my first loan. Are you beginner friendly?
Yes. That is our core ethos, helping you understand the right strategy, structure and clear advice from the very first conversation. Our main borrower profiles are established business owners seeking finance from $100,000 upwards for their company, so a first commercial loan is well within our wheelhouse. Smaller sole-trader and consumer-style ABN lending sits outside our field.
