Business loans for private schools

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 school's value sits in enrolment, reputation and campus rather than a conventional debtor ledger, and term-based fee income can read as lumpy to a generalist credit desk that expects even monthly receipts. Our role is to know the bank and non-bank lenders among the 60 plus on our panel that lend on the strength of a stable enrolment base and a proven institution, so you are not presenting to each one yourself. We stay on well beyond settlement, growing the facility as you add buildings, buses or a second campus. 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 enrolment and trading strength and can be arranged in days, which suits a limit of $100K to $500K. Secured facilities, backed by property or equipment, support larger amounts and price better, and make sense once you are funding a campus purchase or an expansion. Most established schools end up with a mix, and we shape which sits where.

It depends on your enrolment, 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 institutions. Schools are assessed on the trading operation and its stability rather than the property alone, so a steady enrolment base carries real weight. 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 asset is normally the security rather than the campus. Bus and coach finance can fund new or used vehicles, and IT hardware, devices and classroom equipment can all be funded on their own facility. Terms are typically matched to the life of the asset, and established schools can often be assessed on bank statements and BAS rather than full financials. Manufacturer and dealer programs are available too, which we compare against a bank facility.

As a term facility sized to the works and staged to the build, so the funding lands as each stage falls due rather than all at once. A fit-out or refurbishment lifts capacity and can support higher enrolment, so we set repayments to start landing as the new space comes into use. Bring us the scope and the staging early, and we will match the term to the working life of the works, subject to serviceability and lender approval.

No. Plenty of schools fund growth without a property mortgage, either through unsecured facilities assessed on enrolment and trading, or by securing against the equipment or vehicle being purchased. 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.

An unsecured facility can often be approved within 48 hours and funded inside a week where the school is established and the BAS and bank statements are current. Secured facilities take longer, typically two to four weeks, because a valuation is involved. The practical advice is to open the limit before the term turns, ideally when you are planning the spend rather than when the bill is already due. Timeframes are indicative and subject to lender appetite and approval.

Yes. Many lenders assess established schools on 6 to 12 months of bank statements and recent BAS rather than full year-end financials, which suits institutions whose accounts lag the current enrolment run rate. It works best where the operating account shows regular fee 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. Education premises are assessed on the trading institution as well as the site, so your enrolment and the property are read together rather than the bricks alone, and getting the operation 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 school 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 school campus, we also assist with bus and transport finance for schools and working capital. On asset finance, that covers school bus and coach finance, IT hardware and campus equipment. On working capital, we arrange business overdrafts, lines of credit and cash flow funding across the term cycle. We also arrange commercial mortgages if you are buying or refinancing your campus.