Business loans for importers and exporters

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. A trading business with cash tied up in containers on the water and stock in the warehouse can read as thin on a single balance date, so a generalist bank desk often misses the order book and the supplier terms behind it. Our role is to know the bank and non-bank lenders that fund import and export trade on the cash cycle, from trade and invoice lines to term facilities, so you are not approaching each one yourself. We stay on as your trade grows into new markets and larger orders. 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. Secured facilities, backed by property, stock or the debtor ledger, support larger amounts and make sense once you are funding a big container run or an acquisition. Most established traders end up with a mix, a trade line on the supply side and invoice finance on the sales side, 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 traders. Trade and invoice facilities are read against your order book and debtor ledger rather than a single balance date, so a strong pipeline can support more than your financials alone suggest. The binding constraint is usually serviceability, and we shape the funding early so you know your number before you commit.

Yes, this is the core of what a trade or import line does. It pays your overseas supplier against a confirmed order and gives you a set period to ship, clear and sell the goods before you repay, covering freight, duty and customs alongside the stock where needed. We size it to your order book and supplier terms, and set it to draw per shipment so you pay only for what you use. Bring us the orders and the lead times early, subject to serviceability and lender approval.

Yes, and the equipment is normally the security rather than your trade lines. Forklifts, warehouse racking, storage systems and handling 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 purchase off the overdraft leaves your working capital free for stock.

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 traders 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. A short-term working capital facility can clear an ATO, BAS or PAYG obligation so a tax timing issue does not hold up a shipment or a supplier payment. Where trading supports the repayments, several lenders will fund an ATO position or an existing payment plan, provided it is disclosed and being met. We keep the tax line and the trade line separate so one does not crowd out the other, subject to serviceability and lender appetite.

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 trading business, and owner-occupiers can generally borrow a higher proportion than a passive investor would. Getting your trading presented properly is most of the work, since a lender reads the business and the property together. Our commercial property team handles these end to end through our warehouse commercial mortgage service.

Yes. Buying a competitor, taking on a new supply agreement or expanding into a new export market all change your cash cycle, and the funding needs to carry the extra stock and the longer terms that come with it. An acquisition is assessed on the combined trading of both businesses and how the goodwill and stock are funded, often blending a term loan with a trade or invoice line. Bring us the plan early so the facility is in place before the volume arrives, subject to serviceability, 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 warehouse, we also assist with materials-handling equipment finance and working capital. On asset finance, that covers forklifts, warehouse racking, material handling and storage fit-out. On working capital, we arrange business overdrafts, lines of credit, trade lines and invoice finance. We also arrange commercial mortgages if you are buying or refinancing the warehouse your business trades from.