Tips On How To Get A Small Business Loan

Small business owners have a variety of options when it comes to financing needs for business cash flow. From short-term business loans, equipment finance, same-day unsecured loan lenders to secured business loans, the options can be overwhelming. But with a little bit of research and preparation, it’s possible to find the right loan to help your business succeed.

Understand Your Financing Needs

Before you even start exploring the different types of small business loans in Australia, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of exactly how much money you require and what it will be used for. This process of evaluation will not only help you determine the right loan amount but also help lead you to the best type of loan for your business.

Here’s what you need to consider when assessing your financing needs:

• How much money do you need to cover your immediate expenses?
• How much capital do you need to support your long-term goals, such as expansion or equipment purchases?
• How much can you realistically repay every month?

Choose The Right Loan Type

Once you have a clear understanding of the amount of funds you need for business cash flow, you need to match your loan purpose to the right option for effective small business financing.  

Here are some of the most common loan types and reasons for small business loans in Australia:

• Short-term business loans: These loans provide a quick infusion of cash to cover immediate expenses and are typically repayable over a short period, such as 3-12 months but some extend to terms as long as 5 years

• Overdrafts: An overdraft is a type of loan that provides businesses with a flexible source of cash to support their daily operations and can be used to support day to day business operating expenses.  Overdrafts could be secured by property or unsecured lines of credit.

• Term loans: A term loan is a type of loan that provides a lump sum of money that can be used for strategic investments, such as expanding your business or hiring new staff to take advantage of market conditions.  Term loans are also often used to refinance existing debt for more favourable outcomes.

• Debt consolidation loans: This loan purpose could be executed with a number of loan types.  The intent of a debt consolidation loan  is to help businesses reduce their repayments by consolidating multiple high-interest loans into one lower-interest loan.

• Equipment finance: Equipment finance is a type of loan that provides businesses with the funds to purchase machinery, vehicles, and other equipment necessary for their operations.

Maximise Your Chance of Approval: Getting Lender Selection Right

One factor that’s critically important to your chance of getting your loan approved is choosing the right loan lenders.  Different loan lenders specialise in different loan types, loan sizes and have different industry preferences.  

As an example: if you run a construction business and you apply for a loan with a lender that prefers professional services business as clients you run the risk of being approved for a lesser amount or not being approved at all.  However, if you choose a lender that welcomes your industry you’re more likely to be approved for the amount you’re seeking.

Similarly, some business loan lenders are more open to different industries but manage their risk by offering lower levels of funding or have higher policy requirements around credit scores.  The key here is understanding that different lender policies could make a big difference to your outcome.

Understanding if you and your industry, your time in business, your credit score and loan purpose are a good fit with the lender you’re applying to is almost as critical to an approval as understanding you can afford to make the repayments in the loan schedule.

Understanding the Loan Offer: Rates, Fees, and Terms

When applying for a small business loan in Australia, it’s essential to fully understand the offer that’s being presented to you. This includes familiarising yourself with the rates, fees, and terms of the loan.

The interest rate will have a significant impact on the overall cost of the loan. If you’re intending to make lump sum repayments, look for a loan offer that includes a discount on interest to minimise your costs.

For short term business loans, it’s critical to ensure that you can meet the repayments and that the shorter loan term won’t make future business cash flow too onerous. Make sure to thoroughly review the repayment schedule and consider your business cash flow needs over the term of the loan before accepting the offer.

It’s also important to understand any fees associated with the loan, such as origination fees (often referred to as establishment fees) or late payment fees. Make sure to carefully review the terms and conditions and ask your lender any questions to make sure you fully understand what you’re agreeing to.  If you’re not sure what the terms and conditions mean you should seek professional advice before agreeing to the offer.

Use An Expert To Guide You Through The Process

Navigating the world of small business loans in Australia as small business owners can be challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the different options and requirements. Many business owners choose to work with an expert to help with the loan process and give them the best chance of gaining an approval for the funds they’re after.

An experienced expert will guide you with lender selection and will assist with the loan application process and negotiate terms for your small business financing.  

To get help on how to get a small business loan talk to an expert at darkhorsefinancial.com.au.