Cash Flow Lending in Australia

Get the cash flow support you need to do business the way you really want.

  • Term loans and lines of credit available to support cash flow*
  • Get funds to support operations, cover daily costs, and invest in growth
  • Approvals can be as fast as 24-48 hours
  • Get loans of up to $50 million

Apply for Cash Flow Loans with Dark Horse Financial

1

Contact Our Team

Fill out our online form to apply for cash flow lending. One of our specialists will get in touch with you fast to understand your situation and make a recommendation.

2

Submit Application

We’ll expertly handle your application from start to finish. Some lenders can approve unsecured cash flow lending in just 24-48 hours.

3

Get Funded

Once approved, most documentation is signed electronically, making settlement fast. The lender will disburse the amount to your account or will give you access to a line of credit.

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What is Cash Flow Lending?

Cash flow lending is an umbrella term for any type of borrowing that supports a business’s operational cash flow. It is typically used to fund day to day expenses such as wages, rent, supplier payments, and other ongoing costs where there is a gap between incoming revenue and outgoing obligations.

What is the Main Purpose of Cash Flow Lending?

The primary purpose of business cash flow loans is to provide businesses with the necessary funds to maintain operations, manage working capital, or invest in growth opportunities.

Businesses often use cashflow lending to:

  • Cover day to day operational costs such as payroll, rent, and utilities
  • Manage seasonal fluctuations in revenue
  • Respond to unexpected expenses or cash flow shortfalls
  • Cover emergencies or equipment breakdowns
  • Support marketing or sales initiatives
  • Fund expansion projects or new product lines

In short, business cash flow finance provides a lifeline that allows companies to maintain smooth operations and continue growing, even during times of financial strain.

Types of Cash Flow Lending

Unsecured cash flow loans are approved based on your business revenue and average cash position and do not require property or assets as security. Lenders only need a read only view of your business bank account statements to determine eligibility and how much you can borrow.

These loans are typically faster to approve, with many lenders approving and settling loans within 24-48 hours.

Secured cash flow loans use property or business assets as security to support the facility. This reduces the lender’s risk and allows access to larger loan amounts, lower interest rates, and longer repayment terms.

These loans are better suited to businesses looking for higher funding limits or more competitive pricing, but they usually involve a longer approval process and additional documentation.

An overdraft is a flexible facility linked to your business bank account that allows you to overdraw funds up to an approved limit. It is designed to cover short term cash flow gaps and is useful for managing fluctuations in income and expenses. Interest is only charged on the amount used, and the limit resets after you repay your balance.

Invoice finance is a line of credit that allows you to access funds tied up in unpaid invoices by advancing a percentage of their value upfront. This suits businesses that operate on extended payment terms, as it converts receivables into immediate working capital. The higher the value of your invoices, the more you can borrow, making it suitable for businesses experiencing growth.

If your business owns equipment with available equity, it may be possible to borrow against those assets to release capital. This allows you to access working capital without selling the equipment. This means you can maintain use of your asset while accessing funds from it. It is often used by asset heavy businesses looking to improve cash flow or fund short term opportunities.

Private lending provides access to tailored funding solutions through private lenders. These facilities are often used for businesses with complex scenarios, urgent timeframes, or credit challenges that fall outside traditional lending criteria. Private lenders are typically more flexible in their assessment, focusing on the overall deal, cash flow, and exit strategy. Lender selection is critical with this type of financing.

Benefits of Cash Flow Lending

Supports day to day operations

Cash flow lending is designed to support operational cash flow, allowing you to cover wages, rent, suppliers, and ongoing expenses without disruption. This ensures your business can continue operating even when there is a timing gap between income and expenses.

Fast access to capital when timing matters

Some types of cash flow lending can be approved quickly, with many facilities approved within 24 to 48 hours. This allows you to respond quickly to expenses, opportunities, or short term pressures.

Flexible structures for different needs

As an umbrella category, cash flow lending includes multiple funding types such as unsecured loans, lines of credit, overdrafts, and invoice based facilities. This allows you to choose a structure that suits your specific cash flow needs.

Helps manage uneven revenue cycles

Businesses that deal with delayed payments, seasonal income, or fluctuating sales can use cash flow lending to smooth out variability. This reduces the impact of inconsistent revenue on your ability to meet obligations.

Avoid using up cash reserves

By spreading costs over time, you can retain cash within the business instead of using large upfront payments. This improves liquidity and gives you more flexibility to manage operations and growth.

Supports growth without waiting for customer payments

Cash flow lending allows you to take on new work, increase capacity, or invest in growth initiatives without waiting for delayed customer payments. This helps businesses keep operations moving despite long payment terms.

Eligibility Criteria: What Lenders Look For

  • Revenue and cash flow: Lenders assess your business income and cash flow to determine whether you can service repayments. Lenders will want to see enough revenue coming in, and they will also check your average cash position over a certain period.
  • Time in business: Banks and major lenders may require a minimum time in business, especially for unsecured facilities. More established businesses generally have access to a wider range of lenders, higher limits, and more competitive rates. Newer businesses may still qualify, but options are more limited and may require stronger supporting factors.
  • Credit profile: Your credit profile is considered part of the assessment, including any past defaults, arrears, or previous financial issues. A stronger credit profile typically results in better pricing and terms. However, many cash flow lenders also don’t credit check, especially private lenders. Bad credit options are available, where lenders prioritise current performance in their assessment.
  • Existing debts and liabilities: Lenders assess your current financial commitments to ensure the business can manage additional repayments. High levels of existing debt may reduce borrowing capacity unless there is sufficient cash flow to support it.
  • Security or asset position: While many cash flow loans are unsecured, there are also secured options available for businesses with properties or other assets. Security can increase the loan amount, reduce rates, and expand the range of available lenders.

A Real Cash Flow Lending Success Story

Any business owner who has led their operation through a high growth phase knows the strain on cash flow this kind of strategy can cause.

A food manufacturer supplying major supermarkets was expanding into a new state, requiring significant upfront investment to establish regional production and distribution.

While the business was growing strongly, the expansion placed pressure on cash flow, particularly around payroll, tax obligations, and operational costs.

Their bank declined to support the funding requirement, taking a conservative position and preferring to wait until after the expansion was complete.

We identified an unsecured business overdraft as the right solution and leveraged lender relationships to secure a policy exception for a $300,000 limit.

The facility was applied for, approved, and funded within 24 hours, providing immediate working capital support and allowing the business to meet a critical BAS payment.

With cash flow stabilised, the business was able to continue its expansion without disruption.

Cash flow sorted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cash flow lending is used to support a business’s day to day operational expenses and manage timing gaps between income and outgoings. Common uses include wages, rent, supplier payments, inventory purchases, and covering short term cash flow shortfalls. It is designed to keep operations running smoothly rather than fund long term investments.

The amount you can borrow with cash flow lending depends on your business revenue, cash flow consistency, and overall financial position. Lenders assess how much your business can comfortably afford to repay. Many lines of credit can go over $1M and its not uncommon for invoice finance to have limits over $10M.

You can often be approved for cash flow lending within 24 to 48 hours if the application is low or no doc. This is usually the case for unsecured facilities up to $1M. Secured loans will typically take longer, particularly if property valuation is required. The speed largely depends on the lender and the type of loan.

You can get cash flow lending with bad credit if you apply with the right lenders. Many lenders focus on recent financial performance rather than past credit issues when assessing applications. However, loans approved under these conditions may come with higher rates and lower limits.
Cash flow lending is not a single product but a category of funding that includes various loan types such as unsecured loans, lines of credit, and invoice finance. A standard business loan can be one type of cash flow lending, but not all cash flow lending is structured as a traditional loan.
Startups can qualify for cash flow lending, but options are more limited due to the lack of trading history. Lenders often require evidence of future income, such as contracts, purchase orders, or letters of intent. In most cases, additional support such as security or a deposit may be needed but invoice finance is readily available to startups that are billing on end of month terms.
The documents required depend on the lender and loan size. Many cash flow lenders only require read only access to your business bank statements for solutions up to $1M. Larger or more complex applications may require financials, ATO portals, accounts receivable and payables reports and director asset and liability statements.
You can repay a cash flow loan early in many cases. Some lenders allow early repayment and reduce future interest, while others may charge break fees or enforce minimum interest terms. It is important to review the loan agreement before proceeding.

* To approved applicants only

Disclaimer: Loans and the benefits associated with them are only available to those who have been approved. The information provided on this page is general and does not consider your individual circumstances. It is not meant to serve as a substitute for professional advice, and you should not rely on it for any decisions. Always consult with a professional regarding finance, tax, and accounting matters before making any choices or taking action.

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