Working Capital Loans
for Australian Businesses
Dark Horse Financial arranges working capital loans for Australian businesses that need to bridge a short-term cash gap, covering payroll, stock or day-to-day costs while waiting on revenue. We broker working capital finance through more than 100 bank and non-bank lenders, matching secured and unsecured options to your cash flow rather than forcing your business into one lender's product. Most applications are assessed and approved within 24–48 hours.
Quick Enquiry
Get a free, obligation-free assessment. Usually responds within 2 hours.
How to Apply for a Working Capital Loan
Four straightforward steps from enquiry to funds in your account.
Contact Our Team
Submit a quick enquiry or call us directly. We'll ask a few questions to identify the right lenders for your business.
Contact Us →Submit Your Application
Provide your business details and documents. We match your profile to lenders offering secured or unsecured working capital.
Start Application →Sign Electronically
Review your offer and sign documentation online, with no branch visits and no paperwork chasing.
Sign Documents →Access Your Funds
Once signed, funds are typically released within 24–48 hours, ready to cover the cash gap you're bridging.
Get Funded →Rated by Our Clients on Google
How Does Working Capital Finance Work?
A working capital loan gives your business fast access to funds to cover short-term operating costs (from payroll to stock) without tying up long-term assets. Unlike a business loan for expansion or equipment, it's designed to bridge the gap between outgoing costs and incoming revenue. Dark Horse arranges working capital finance through both bank and non-bank lenders, with secured and unsecured options available. Approval is generally based on your trading history and cash flow, not just your credit score, and funds can often be accessed within 24–48 hours of a complete application.
Fast access
Funds are typically released within 24–48 hours of a complete application, so a short-term cash gap doesn't turn into a bigger problem.
Secured or unsecured
Choose a facility backed by property or business assets, or an unsecured option that doesn't require security at all.
Cash flow-based approval
Lenders assess your trading history and revenue, not just your credit score, when deciding on your application.
Common Uses for Working Capital Loan
A working capital loan is built for short-term, day-to-day needs. Here's where it typically earns its place in a business's finances.
Covering payroll and staff wages during a slow trading period
Purchasing stock or inventory ahead of a busy season
Meeting tax obligations such as BAS, PAYG and GST instalments
Bridging the gap between issuing invoices and getting paid
Handling unexpected repairs or equipment breakdowns
Taking on a new contract that requires upfront costs
Covering rent, utilities and other overheads in a quiet month
Building a cash buffer to manage seasonal fluctuations
Types of Working Capital Loans
Working capital finance isn't one product: it's a toolkit. Here's how the main options compare.
Is My Business Eligible for a Working Capital Loan?
Lenders on our panel assess applications on the overall health of your business, not a single fixed rule. As a guide, you're likely to be eligible if:
- Your business holds an active ABN and is trading in Australia
- You have an established trading history: requirements vary by lender, and some non-bank options consider newer businesses
- You generate regular monthly revenue, even if trading is seasonal
- Verification requirements vary by lender: some ask for recent bank statements to demonstrate cash flow, others rely on an asset valuation, and some accept alternative income verification that doesn't require financial documents at all
- You're open to secured or unsecured loan options
- A less-than-perfect credit history doesn't mean you can't get credit. Non-bank lenders often weigh cash flow or asset value more heavily than credit score.
Working Capital Loan Interest Rates
There's no single headline rate for working capital finance. Cost depends on the type of facility, whether it's secured, and your business's trading profile. Here's how the main options typically compare:
| Finance option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Unsecured business loan | From ~8% p.a.* | Fast funding without providing security |
| Secured business loan | From ~6–8% p.a.* | Larger funding amounts or longer repayment terms |
| Business overdraft | From ~6% p.a.* | Flexible access to working capital |
| Invoice finance | From ~7.99% p.a.* | Accessing cash tied up in unpaid invoices |
| Private lending | ~6–25%+ p.a.* | Urgent or complex funding situations |
*Rates are indicative only and subject to individual lender assessment, security offered, and your business's trading and credit profile.
Compare Your Options
Talk to a broker about which working capital facility fits your cash flow, and what it's likely to cost.
Quick Enquiry →Working Capital Loan Success Stories
Bridging a Retention Cash Flow Gap for a Commercial Construction Business
Challenge: A commercial construction business had a significant portion of its cash tied up in retention funds held back until project completion, leaving it short of the working capital needed to take on new contracted work.
Solution: Dark Horse arranged a $250,000 unsecured term loan over a 5-year term, with no security or asset valuation required. The lender approved the facility within 48 hours, and structured an early repayment policy so the business would only pay the next fortnight's scheduled interest, with the remainder forgiven, if it repaid early once retention funds came through.
Outcome: The business kept working through its next project phase without waiting on retention release, with manageable monthly repayments and the flexibility to save on interest by repaying early.
Why Choose Dark Horse Financial?
Broad Lender Access
Broker access to 100+ lenders, bank and non-bank, so you're not limited to one credit policy.
Secured & Unsecured Options
We broker both secured and unsecured working capital loans, matched to your cash flow.
Fast Turnaround
Approvals typically within 24–48 hours, so funding doesn't hold up your plans.
Established & Proven
Trusted by Australian businesses since 2013.
Specialist Expertise
Led by a working capital specialist with nearly 15 years' experience and industry recognition in SME business lending.
No-Obligation Assessment
A free initial assessment, with no obligation to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about working capital loans: answered directly.