Independent business finance guides
Every business loan, reviewed in plain English
How each type of Australian business finance really works, what it costs to run, who it suits and where it bites. Then free tools to review the offers in front of you.
What do you need finance for?
No lender rankingsWe review loan types, never paid placements.
No advertised ratesCompare your real offers in dollars.
Checked against official sourcesATO, ASIC Moneysmart, business.gov.au.
No credit check to enquireOne lending partner, a real person.
Loan types reviewed
29 kinds of business finance, reviewed the same honest way
How it works, what drives the cost, the pros and cons, who it suits and who should look elsewhere.
Unsecured business loans
Unsecured business loans reviewed in plain English
Secured business loans
Secured business loans reviewed
Business line of credit
A business line of credit reviewed
Business overdraft
Business overdrafts reviewed
Working capital loans
Working capital loans reviewed
Short-term business loans
Short-term business loans reviewed
Invoice finance
Invoice finance reviewed
Merchant cash advance
Merchant cash advances reviewed
Trade finance
Trade finance reviewed for Australian importers and exporters
Business credit cards
Business credit cards reviewed as a form of finance
Caveat loans
Caveat loans reviewed
Second mortgage loans
Second mortgage business loans reviewed
Bridging loans
Business bridging loans reviewed
Commercial property loans
Commercial property loans reviewed
Equipment finance
Equipment finance reviewed
Chattel mortgage
Our chattel mortgage review
The loan offer review series
Got an offer? Review it before you sign.
The headline repayment is the least interesting part of a business loan offer. The fees, security, guarantees and payout terms decide what it really costs you. Our review series takes you through every part.
Free calculators
Run the numbers with your own figures
No rates to guess. Every tool works from the amounts in front of you.
Loan Offer Comparison Calculator
Put up to three quotes side by side and see the real cost per dollar, cash in hand and cost per month.
True Cost of a Loan Calculator
Turn the fees and total repayable on any offer into the numbers that matter: cost per dollar, per day and per repayment.
Repayment Coverage Calculator
Check how comfortably your monthly profit covers existing and new loan repayments before you commit.
Cash Flow Gap Calculator
Map money in and out over the coming months to see how big your gap is and how long it lasts.
Property LVR and Equity Calculator
Work out the loan-to-value ratio and usable equity before you offer property as security.
Early Payout Savings Calculator
Compare the payout figure against the repayments left to see what paying early really saves.
Invoice Finance Cost Calculator
See the cash you receive now, the total fees and the cost against each invoice before you factor.
Loan Readiness Checklist
Tick off what lenders ask for and get a plain-English readiness score with your next steps.
Guides
Start with the guides owners read first
How to review a business loan offer before you sign
A step-by-step checklist for reviewing any business loan offer: total cost, fees, repayments, security, guarantees, payout terms and the default clauses.
Business loan red flags: 12 warning signs
Twelve warning signs in a business loan offer or lender, from upfront fees and pressure to sign, to vague costs, broad security and unfair payout terms.
Secured vs unsecured business loans: how to choose
Secured versus unsecured business loans compared: amounts, terms, costs, risks, speed and approval, with a simple test to decide which suits your business.
How much can my business borrow?
How lenders work out how much a business can borrow: turnover, profit, existing debts, security and LVR, with a simple way to estimate your own figure.
ATO payment plan or business loan: how to decide
An ATO payment plan versus a business loan to clear tax debt: costs, interest deductibility, cash flow, director penalties and which suits you.
How to manage cash flow gaps in a small business
Practical ways to manage cash flow gaps: find the cause, forecast the gap, fix timing without borrowing, then choose finance that fits if you still need it.
By industry
Finance that fits how your industry gets paid
A café, a builder and a wholesaler have very different cash cycles. Our industry guides explain what lenders look at and which loan types tend to fit.
Glossary
Know what every word in the offer means
64 business finance terms explained in plain English.
How it works
Research free. Enquire only if you want help.
Read the reviews
Find the loan types that fit what the money is for, with the downsides spelled out.
Run your numbers
Size the gap, check repayment coverage and compare the offers you receive.
Make one enquiry
No credit check to ask. A real person reviews it and matches you with one lending partner.
Questions we are asked most
What does Business Loan Reviews do?
We publish independent, plain-English reviews of every common type of Australian business finance, along with guides, a glossary and calculators. If you want help with your own situation, you can make one enquiry and be connected with a lending partner.
Do you review individual lenders?
No. We review loan types and the features inside offers, not lenders. We do not rank lenders, publish star ratings or accept payment for placement.
Why are there no interest rates on this site?
Every business loan is priced on the business asking for it, so advertised rates rarely match what you are offered. Our calculators use the dollar figures in your own quotes to give a fair comparison.
How much can my business borrow?
Unsecured and cash-flow finance for trading businesses typically ranges from $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements. Property-secured business loans typically range from $20,000 to $5,000,000.
Will enquiring affect my credit score?
No. There is no credit check when you first enquire. A check only happens later if you choose to apply, and you will be asked first.
Is the information on this site financial advice?
No. It is general information to help you understand your options and ask better questions. Talk to your accountant about tax and to a lawyer about contracts where needed.
Your next step
See if your business qualifies
Make one short enquiry about the finance you need. Asking does not leave a mark on your credit file, your details are not auctioned to a list of lenders, and a real person reviews what you send. The more accurate your answers, the better the first conversation.
- No credit check to enquire. Asking a question about your options leaves no mark on your credit file. A credit check only happens later, if you decide to apply.
- One enquiry, not a lead auction. Your details are not sprayed across a list of lenders. One lending partner looks at your situation properly.
- A real person reads it. A person who works with business finance every day reviews your enquiry and calls you. Accurate answers help them get it right first time.