Business loans for law firms

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 law firm carries its value in work in progress, a debtor ledger and goodwill rather than in plant or stock, so a generalist credit team often reads a strong practice conservatively and asks for security it does not need. Our role is to know the bank and non-bank lenders among the more than sixty on our panel that lend on realisation and billing history, so you are not approaching each one yourself. We stay on as the firm grows, funding the next partner, floor or acquisition as it comes. 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 billing strength and can be arranged in days, which suits a limit of $100K to $500K for WIP and disbursements. Secured facilities, backed by property, support larger amounts and price better, and make sense once you are funding a partner buy-in, an acquisition or a premises purchase. Most established firms end up with a mix, and we shape which sits where.

It depends on your billing, 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 practices. A law firm is assessed on realisation and billing history rather than hard assets, so the WIP and debtor ledger 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 fit-out or equipment is normally the security rather than your premises. We arrange office fit-out finance against new chambers and fittings, and IT hardware finance for servers, laptops and case management systems, new or used. Terms are typically matched to the life of the asset, and established firms can often be assessed on bank statements and BAS rather than full financials. Keeping the spend off the overdraft leaves your working capital line free for matters.

By lending against the work already done and the money paid out on clients' behalf, rather than waiting for the fee note to settle. Long matters, particularly in litigation, tie up cash in disbursements and unbilled time for months while salaries and rent keep running. We size a facility to the WIP and debtor ledger and set repayments to land as matters are billed and collected. Bring us your billing pipeline early, subject to serviceability and lender approval.

Yes. Many lenders assess established firms on 6 to 12 months of bank statements and recent BAS rather than full year-end financials, which suits practices whose accounts lag the current run rate after taking on partners or new matters. It works best where the office 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. An incoming equity partner buying in, or a firm acquiring another practice or a book of matters, is funded on goodwill and future billing rather than hard assets, so the case is built around realisation and billing history. We structure the repayments to track the income the stake or the acquired matters generate, and can combine it with a fit-out or premises facility. Terms commonly run from one to seven years, subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.

Yes. A tax or BAS obligation that falls due before a run of matters is billed is a timing gap rather than a trading problem, and it is a common reason firms open a facility. An unsecured limit assessed on billing can bridge it, and where a payment plan is already in place several lenders will still proceed provided it is disclosed and being met. Opening the limit before the bill is due gives you the most room, subject to lender approval.

Yes, and it is a commercial property deal rather than a working capital one. Owning the suite takes a rising rent out of your cost base and builds an asset alongside the practice, and owner-occupiers can generally borrow a higher proportion than a passive investor would. Getting the firm's trading and billing presented properly is most of the work. Our commercial property team handles these end to end through our law firm office 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 law firm office property loan, we also assist with office fit-out finance for law firms and working capital. On asset finance, that covers office fit-out finance, IT hardware and practice technology. 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 the premises your firm practises from.