Last Updated: 3 June 2026

Progress Claims Finance in Australia

Access cash flow from approved progress claims without waiting for them to clear.*

Unlock up to 80% of a progress claims’ value
Access a facility at any time and get funded in hours
Support wages, suppliers, subcontractors, and project costs

Get Progress Claims Finance with Dark Horse Financial

Contact Our Team

Fill out our online form to apply for a progress claims finance facility. We’ll get in touch with you fast to understand your situation and make a recommendation.

Submit Application

We’ll expertly handle your application from start to finish. Some lenders can produce a letter of offer within 24 hours. Funding can be available within a week after.

Once approved, you’ll get access to software that connects with your accounting platform or requires you to upload a file of your progress claims. This allows you to get funding quickly and seamlessly.

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What is Progress Claims Finance in Australia?

Progress claims finance is a type of funding that is designed for the construction industry. Instead of waiting for a client or head contractor to pay a certified claim, you can access a portion of the invoice value early. The facility advances funds once a claim is certified so the business maintains steady cash flow. This form of funding is similar to invoice finance but is a direct match for businesses that work on staged payment structures and have inclusions in their contracts related set off clauses and liquidated damages.

This is how it works in simple terms:

You apply for a progress claim finance facility with a lender.
Once approved, you will have access up to a pre-approved limit.
You can start financing progress claim invoices as you need or want to.
Drawdown requests are normally processed by a number of lenders within 24 hours.

How Does Progress Claims Finance Help in Construction Projects?

Construction companies need a steady stream of working capital to pay suppliers, workers, and subcontractors. A progress claim facility can help your business by:

Keeping projects on track: You will be able to draw on invoices while you wait for payments to clear.
Make payroll and other supplier costs: If you can count on your funding, you preserve your cash reserves while still paying employees and suppliers.
Building stronger supplier relationships: Paying on time helps keep trust with suppliers, which can lead to better terms for future projects.
Supporting business growth: When you have more working capital, you can take on more work without having to worry about running out of cash.

Benefits of Progress Claims Financing

Progress claims financing offers several advantages for contractors and subcontractors working in construction:

Improved Cash Flow

Once you have a facility setup you can access working capital right away against your unpaid invoices. You don’t have to wait for customers to pay to cover your expenses.

Project Continuity

You can keep projects on track by getting funding early, allowing you to pay suppliers, workers, and subcontractors without any problems.

Flexibility

You can use the funds for any business purpose, like paying for equipment, wages, insurance, and other costs.

Growth Opportunities

Progress claims finance can allow you to take on more work without the fear of running out of cash.

What You Can Use Progress Claims Financing For

Pay employees and site staff while waiting for claims to be settled.
Meet subcontractor obligations and keep projects moving without delay.
Purchase materials required for current or upcoming project stages.
Cover equipment hire, transport, site costs, and other project related expenses.
Support day to day cash flow while managing long payment terms.
Take on new projects without being held back by cash tied up in existing claims.

Progress Claims Finance Options

Progress claims that take a long time to process on major projects can quickly tie up hundreds of thousands of dollars, leaving businesses vulnerable. Progress claims finance can help businesses unlock the value of their approved claims. Options available include:

Single claim funding: Finance a single progress claim when you need cash fast.
Ongoing facilities: Set up an arrangement that allows you to finance multiple claims over the course of a project.

At Dark Horse Financial, we help construction businesses assess their options and find the right progress claims facility to keep your projects running.

What Are the Requirements for Progress Claim Finance?

Each lender has a checklist, but generally, you’ll need:

Financials
Current aged payables and receivables
A copy of your ATO portals
Last 2 BAS
2 Example invoices (1 each from your 2 largest customers).

Some funders might ask for extra details about WIP, upcoming works, previous projects or a copy of your contracts with some of your larger customers. If you’re not sure where to start, contact our team.

Who Can Use Progress Claims Finance?

Most commonly, progress claims finance is used by:

Contractors and subcontractors working on tier 1 or 2 commercial or government projects.
Builders managing multiple subcontractors and suppliers.
Specialist trades who face upfront costs but long payment cycles.

As long as the invoice is for approved claims and your customer has a suitable credit history, progress claims finance can be a viable option.

What’s the Difference Between a Progress Claim and an Invoice?

Progress claims and invoices might look similar, but they serve different purposes. An invoice is a standard request for payment for goods or services. It sits under general contract law and doesn’t carry special legal weight beyond what’s in the contract itself.

A progress claim, on the other hand, is a formal payment request made under the Security of Payment Act (SOPA). It’s specific to construction work and comes with legal protections that make it enforceable even if there’s a dispute. A valid progress claim must clearly reference SOPA, describe the work done, and show how the claimed amount was calculated.

Comparing Progress Claims Financing with Other Finance Options

Contractors often compare progress claim financing with other funding options, such as:

Finance Type	Use Case	Security	Repayment
Progress Claims Funding	Cash against verified claims	Progress claims, personal guarantees and a GSA	Client payment of claim
Invoice Finance	Short term operating costs	Customer invoices, personal guarantees and a GSA	Customer payments
Equipment Finance	Buying or upgrading machinery	The equipment and personal guarantees	Fixed schedule and term
Business Loan	General business purposes	Property or assets or personal guarantees	Fixed schedule and term
Unsecured Overdrafts	Covering cash flow gaps, short term operating costs	Personal guarantees	Minimum monthly repayments + repay any amount at any time

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between invoice factoring and progress claims funding?

Invoice factoring applies to standard invoices, while progress claim funding is designed specifically for construction projects with staged payments. They work very similar to each other. You borrow against the value of invoices for invoice finance, while you borrow against progress claims for progress claims finance. Both are line of credit facilities you can access at any time, and both offer funding within 24 hours once a facility is approved and setup.

Is progress claims financing available for all contractors?

Lenders have a preference for funding progress claims for work completed on government infrastructure and from tier 1 and 2 contractors. Sub contractors working on other work may not have access to progress claims finance from some lenders due to the risk of non payment.

What percentage of the claim can I access with progress claims finance?

Typically, lenders advance 80% of the certified claim. The percentage can vary from lender to lender. Fees also vary depending on the lender.

What documents are needed for progress claims funding in Australia?

Typically, you’ll need your financials, current aged payables and receivables, ATO portals, your last 2 BAS and 2 example invoices (1 each from your 2 largest customers).

How quickly can I access funds through progress claims funding?

Once your progress claims finance facility is set up, you can submit an invoice for funding and have cash in your account within 24 hours. The facility setup can take up to a week, but after that, you can access the facility at any time and get funding in just hours.

Can progress claims finance be used for multiple projects?

Yes. Depending on the facility, you can fund single claims or set up ongoing construction progress funding for multiple projects. A progress claims facility is designed to be ever green and used repetitively across multiple projects.

Can I finance uncertified progress claims?

Some lenders may consider uncertified claims if there is strong supporting evidence of work completed and a reliable payment history. However, uncertified claims are higher risk and may result in lower advance rates or stricter conditions.

Can I use progress claims finance with other lending facilities?

Progress claim finance can be used alongside other facilities such as lines of credit, equipment finance, or secured business loans. The right structure depends on your cash flow cycle and project requirements.