Business loans for e-commerce and online retailers

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. To a generalist credit desk, an online retailer with cash tied up in stock and no shopfront can read as thin, because the value sits in inventory, sell-through and the customer base rather than in bricks. Our role is to know the bank and non-bank lenders, more than sixty across our panel, that fund inventory cycles and read a growing store on its numbers. That relationship carries from your first stock facility through to the acquisition that doubles the range. 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 a stock buy-up or a marketing push. Secured facilities, backed by property, support larger amounts and price better, and make sense once you are funding a warehouse purchase or an acquisition. Most established stores 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. Online retailers are read on the trading account, the inventory cycle and sell-through rather than a shopfront, so the numbers behind the store carry the case. 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 equipment is normally the security rather than any property. Warehouse racking, shelving, forklifts and packing gear can all be funded new or used, and a full fit-out can go on one facility. Terms are typically matched to the life of the asset, and established businesses can often be assessed on bank statements and BAS rather than full financials. Keeping the fit-out on asset finance leaves your inventory and working capital lines free for stock.

With an inventory or trade line sized to the order and your sell-through, so you can pay suppliers, freight and duty ahead of the sale. Taking on a container or a bulk buy ties up cash while it lands, sells and converts, so the facility needs to carry the whole gap rather than just the deposit. We size it to your reorder cycle and set repayments to fall as the stock moves, ideally opened when you are planning the buy rather than when the invoice is already due. Subject to serviceability and lender approval.

No. Plenty of online retailers fund growth without touching the family home, either through unsecured facilities assessed on trading, an inventory line against the stock, or asset finance against the warehouse equipment. Property security does support a larger limit and a better rate, so it is worth considering once you are borrowing well into seven figures. The choice is yours, and we will show you what each option costs before you commit.

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 stores 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, and it is a commercial property deal rather than a working capital one. Owning the warehouse takes a rising rent out of your cost base and builds an asset alongside the business, and owner-occupiers can generally borrow a higher proportion than a passive investor would. Bringing property into the structure can also support a larger inventory position. Our commercial property team handles these end to end through our warehouse commercial mortgage service.

Yes. Advertising ahead of revenue is a genuine working capital need for an online retailer, and a short-term or revolving facility can carry the spend until the sales it drives come in. For an acquisition, whether a competitor, a brand or a complementary store, we structure a term facility around the combined trading and the value you are buying. Both are sized to serviceability and shaped early so you know your number before you move. Subject to lender appetite and approval.

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 fulfilment warehouse, we also assist with racking and fulfilment equipment finance and working capital. On asset finance, that covers material handling finance, racking and warehouse fit-out. On working capital, we arrange business overdrafts, lines of credit, inventory and trade finance. We also arrange commercial mortgages if you are buying or refinancing the warehouse your store operates from.