Unsecured Business Loans
in Australia
Dark Horse Financial arranges unsecured business loans through its lender panel for business owners who need funding fast and don't want to, or can't, put property or equipment up as security. We look at how your business is trading and match the application to the one lender whose policy suits it, no doc options go up to $1M and eligible non-bank applications are often approved in 24 to 48 hours.
Quick Enquiry
A free assessment of your options, with no obligation to proceed.
How to Apply for an Unsecured Business Loan
Four steps from your first enquiry to funds in the account, and our team handles the application the whole way through.
Contact Our Team
Send a quick enquiry or give us a call, and we'll ask a few questions about your business, how much you need and what it's for.
Submit Your Application
For no doc loans up to $1M you provide a read-only view of your business bank statements and we match your file to the right lender.
Sign Electronically
Review the loan offer and sign your documents online, with no branch visits or paperwork to chase.
Get Funded
Once the loan settles the funds are paid straight into your business account, often on the same day.
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Unsecured Business Loans for Australian Businesses
An unsecured business loan is a lump sum you repay over a fixed term, and no property or equipment is taken as security. Lenders assess it mainly on your revenue and cash flow, usually through a read-only view of your business bank statements, and instead of property or equipment the loan is backed by a director's guarantee. Most lenders also take a General Security Agreement (GSA) over the business, although there are exceptions and some lenders will secure the loan with a personal guarantee only.
What Can an Unsecured Business Loan Be Used For?
Unsecured business loans work best for short to medium term needs where speed and simplicity count for more than squeezing the cost down as far as it will go.
Working capital to take on a new contract or project
Buying stock or inventory ahead of a busy period
Hiring staff ahead of growth
Funding a marketing push
Refinancing or consolidating expensive short-term debt into one repayment
Covering a one-off cost such as a fit-out deposit or an urgent repair
They aren't the best fit for long-term property purchases or very large amounts though, because that's where secured business loans are usually cheaper and the terms run longer.
Unsecured vs Secured Business Loans
Both can fund a business, but they are assessed differently and which one suits you comes down to how much you need and how quickly you need it.
| Unsecured business loan | Secured business loan | |
|---|---|---|
| Security required | No property or equipment, backed by a director's guarantee | Property or other assets |
| Typical loan size | $10,000 to $2 million | Larger amounts over longer terms |
| Speed | No doc approvals often within 24 to 48 hours | Slower, as valuations and security checks are needed |
| Cost | Typically higher, because the lender carries more risk | Typically lower, because the security reduces the lender's risk |
Who Are Unsecured Business Loans Suitable For?
An unsecured business loan tends to suit:
- Businesses trading for 12 months or more with consistent revenue
- Owners without property to offer, or who would rather not put the family home on the line
- Businesses that need funds in days, not weeks
- Businesses consolidating several expensive unsecured debts into one repayment
- Businesses a bank has declined on policy rather than performance
- Owners who want a fixed repayment schedule they can plan around
If you do have property and you need a larger amount over a longer term, a secured loan is often the better option and we will tell you so.
Am I Eligible for an Unsecured Business Loan?
Requirements vary from lender to lender, but most look at the same three things when they assess an unsecured loan application.
Revenue and cash flow
Your business needs to show it can service the loan, which for no doc loans up to $1M is usually assessed through a read-only view of your business bank statements, while some lenders will want financials, tax portals and other documents for larger full doc loans.
Credit score
There isn't one minimum score across the panel, some lenders are comfortable at around 450, others at 350 and a few will go lower again, so a stronger score gives you more options but a lower one doesn't rule you out, particularly where cash flow is strong.
Time in business
Most lenders want at least 12 months of trading history, but there are still options for startups that haven't been trading that long.
Past credit issues don't automatically rule you out either, and because we work with a large panel of lenders there are often options a single bank can't offer, even though no outcome can be guaranteed.
Unsecured Business Loan Case Study
$250K Unsecured Term Loan for Debt Consolidation
Challenge: An electrical and data contractor needed working capital for upcoming projects, but already had an overdraft and a term loan in place and couldn't afford more pressure on cash flow.
Solution: We refinanced the existing loan and arranged another $95,000 on top, with everything structured over a five year term.
Outcome: Repayments came down, the business had room to deliver its new contracts and if the loan is paid out early the future interest is waived.
Why Choose Dark Horse Financial for an Unsecured Business Loan?
One Application, the Right Lender
You complete one application and we match it to the lender whose credit policy fits your business, rather than sending your file to several lenders and adding enquiries to your credit file.
Managed End to End
Our brokers manage the whole process from the first conversation through to settlement, so you aren't left dealing with the lender on your own.
No Doc Up to $1M
No doc applications up to $1M are assessed on your bank statements, with eligible non-bank approvals in 24 to 48 hours.
Early Payout Options
Some lenders offer structures with no penalty for paying the loan out early, and finding those structures is part of our job.
Large Lender Panel
Access to banks, non-bank lenders and private financiers through one broker, so you aren't limited to one credit policy.
Established & Proven
More than 10 years in business and more than 1,000 Australian businesses funded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about unsecured business loans, answered directly.