Business loans for supermarkets

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 grocery business runs a large turnover on a thin margin with most of its cash sitting in stock, and a generalist credit desk often reads that as tight rather than as the healthy velocity it is. Our role is to know the bank and non-bank lenders, more than sixty across our panel, that fund retail food on stock turnover and trading strength rather than assets alone, so you are not approaching each one yourself. We stay on well beyond settlement as you refit, add refrigeration or buy the next store. 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 stock or a refit. Secured facilities, backed by property or equipment, support larger amounts and price better, and make sense once you are funding a premises purchase or an acquisition. 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. Grocery is assessed on stock turnover and margin as much as assets, so the trading account carries a lot of 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 the premises. Refrigeration, coolrooms, freezer cases, shelving and point of sale can all be funded new or used, and a full store refit 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. Dealer and manufacturer programs are available too, which we compare against a bank facility.

An unsecured facility can often be approved within 48 hours and funded inside a week where the business 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 you buy the seasonal stock, ideally when you are planning the build rather than when the supplier order is already due. Timeframes are indicative and subject to lender appetite and 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 takings. 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. Whether you are buying an established supermarket, adding a second site or converting to a banner group, we structure the deal around the trading the store already does and the stock that comes with it. Goodwill and stock at valuation sit in the price, and we weigh what goes as a term loan against what the premises or equipment can secure. Bring us the information memorandum early so the funding is ready when you are, subject to serviceability and approval.

Yes. A quarterly BAS, a PAYG instalment or an ATO payment plan can all be bridged with a short-term or revolving facility where the trading supports the repayments. The key is to raise it early rather than once the deadline has passed, and to disclose any existing arrangement, because several lenders will still proceed when a plan is in place and being met. We size it to the bill and the cash flow, subject to lender appetite and approval.

Yes, and it is a commercial property deal rather than a working capital one. A trading supermarket is usually assessed with the property together, so your takings and the building are read as one rather than the bricks alone, 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 supermarket 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 to buy your supermarket, we also assist with refrigeration and shelving finance for supermarkets and working capital. On asset finance, that covers point of sale finance, refrigeration, shelving and store fit-out. 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 store trades from.