Business loans for equipment hire companies

Ardent Capital Group brings the same method to every client: execution and strategy, clear advice for smart lending, and long-term growth. That means the right lender, structure and timing, straight advice so you borrow with confidence, and today's deal built toward where you want to be tomorrow. We are specialists in helping business owners secure finance to purchase their own property, and we understand the complex structures that often sit around it, including multiple trusts, holding companies and self-managed super funds. Through that work we also understand what the business needs from its cash flow, and where an overdraft or line of credit fits for working capital. Most of your capital sits in a hire fleet that only earns when it is out, and a generalist credit desk can read income conservatively when utilisation and 30 to 60 day accounts move the cash around through the year. Our job is to know the bank and non-bank lenders, more than sixty across our panel, that lend on the strength of a real hire fleet and its trading rather than the yard alone. We stay on well beyond settlement as you add machines, refurbish and open the next branch. Every figure is subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.

It depends on how quickly you need it and what you are willing to offer as security. Unsecured facilities are assessed mainly on trading strength and can be arranged in days, which suits a limit of $100K to $500K for maintenance or working capital. Secured facilities, backed by property or fleet, support larger amounts over longer terms, and make sense once you are funding an acquisition or a major fleet expansion. Most established operators end up with a mix, and we shape which sits where.

It depends on your trading, your structure and the purpose, but lending here commonly runs from $100K to well into seven figures, and our range extends to $100M for larger operators. A hire business is asset heavy, so the value in the fleet and the pattern of utilisation are read alongside the profit line. The binding constraint is usually serviceability rather than security, and we shape the funding early so you know your number before you commit.

Yes, and the machine is normally the security rather than the depot. Diggers, plant and yard machinery can all be funded new or used through plant and machinery finance, and forklifts and material handling gear on the same basis. Terms are typically matched to the working life of the asset, and established businesses can often be assessed on bank statements and BAS rather than full financials. Dealer and manufacturer programs are available too, which we compare against a bank facility.

By opening the limit before the pipeline turns, ideally when you are planning the spend rather than when the machines are already committed. Utilisation lifts your costs before the hire accounts pay, so the facility needs to carry the gap between the two. We size it to the peak of that gap and set repayments to land as the hire receipts come in. Bring us the pipeline and the account terms early, subject to serviceability and lender approval.

Yes. Many lenders assess established businesses on 6 to 12 months of bank statements and recent BAS rather than full year-end financials, which suits operators whose accounts lag the current run rate. It works best where the trading account shows regular receipts and the ATO position is current. If you have a payment plan in place, say so early, because several lenders will still proceed when it is disclosed and being met.

Yes. Buying a competitor, a book of hire contracts or opening a second branch is usually a secured term facility, sometimes combined with fleet finance for the machines that come with it. We read the target's utilisation and account terms alongside your own so the combined trading supports the repayments, and we structure the deal so the acquired fleet starts earning against the facility from settlement. Every figure remains subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.

Yes. A GST, PAYG or income tax bill that lands in a slow-paying month is a common reason hire operators come to us, and it need not mean drawing down the cash set aside for the fleet. Where the trading supports it, we can fund the obligation over a short term or fold it into a working capital line, and several lenders will proceed alongside an ATO payment plan that is disclosed and being met. Bring us the notice and recent BAS early.

Yes, and it is a commercial property deal rather than a working capital one. A hire depot combines a yard, hardstand and workshop, so the property and your trading are read together, and getting the trading presented properly is most of the work. Owner-occupiers can generally borrow a higher proportion than a passive investor would. Our commercial property team handles these end to end through our workshop and depot commercial mortgage service.

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.

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.

Although our main speciality is property loans for business owners, such as a property loan for your plant yard, we also assist with crane and plant finance and working capital. On asset finance, we fund hire fleet through plant and machinery finance and material handling finance for forklifts and yard gear. On working capital, we arrange business overdrafts, lines of credit and cash flow funding across your utilisation cycle. We also arrange commercial mortgages if you are buying or refinancing your depot.