5 expenses better handled with a business loan
Your business can face financial obstacles from time to time and you may be eager for a smarter solution.
One good one is a business loan. But you might be wondering whether it’s worth taking out a loan for the specific difficulties you’re dealing with. So we’ve broken down a few common scenarios below where a business loan could help out.
1. Business equipment
Firstly, a business loan can help set up your workstations or purchase vehicles for your staff to get around. If you don’t have enough funds to cover typically high equipment costs, a business loan could be something to consider.
2. Paying staff wages
If you’ve got a big project coming up that’ll help with cash flow but paying your staff is currently exceeding the budget, a business loan could be what you’re looking for. Keep your employees going and operations running until you’re able to pay the loan back.
3. Better managing cash flow
The ongoing costs of a business might be difficult to manage, especially if you’re finding that the revenue of your business isn’t consistent. A business loan can work to better manage cash flow by ensuring that payments are made - whether it’s to your distributor, or purchasing stock, for example.
4. Expanding operations
Maybe your business has been doing well and the next thing on your agenda is hiring new staff, or moving the location of your business elsewhere. As this is typically a large expense, a loan might help. And if you have a high annual turnover, you could possibly be eligible for borrowing a larger sum of money to expand your operation.
5. Getting new inventory
If your budget is temporarily stretched due to inventory costs, you may be worried about keeping up your supply of product to customers. To reduce the likelihood of any hiccups along the way, you might want to think about a business loan as it can be used to cover these expenses while you continue your day-to-day operations.
Things to keep in mind as you weigh up a business loan
If you decide to go ahead with a business loan, you’ll usually pay interest in addition to the amount you borrow. The interest payable will depend on some factors, such as your interest rate type.
First, there’s a variable rate, which means that interest can go up or down over the life of your loan. Alternatively, there’s also a fixed rate so your interest will stay the same over a fixed period of time which can be helpful if you’d like something more predictable.
But before you get your loan, you’ll need to check your credit score. The good news is there are ways to improve your score, and you might still be able to borrow money by going for a secured loan, which involves putting up an asset as collateral against the loan - like a vehicle, for example.
Remember, your lender may seize this asset if you default on the loan, so it’s important to keep up with repayments.
Finally, repayments can vary based on your circumstances and the terms of your loan. For instance, you may feel you’re able to pay off your loan quickly. In this case, you might opt for a short term business loan which allows you to borrow the money for a short period of time (3-24 months).
Compare business loans
If you’re interested in taking out a business loan, browse our business loans page for some options or start comparing your top choices below.
Business loans comparison table
Unsecured Business Loan
A straightforward business loan with no hidden Lumi fees or charges. Speedy application and approval process with fast access to funds according to Lumi.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
from 9%-Within same dayUnsecured Business Loan
A straightforward business loan with no hidden Lumi fees or charges. Speedy application and approval process with fast access to funds according to Lumi.
- Interest Rate
- from 9%
- Upfront Fee
- -
- Ongoing Fees
- 2.5% establishment fee of the disbursed amount.
- Late payment fee
- $50.00
- Transaction fee
- $0.00
- Early repayment penalty
- $0.00
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Unsecured
- Minimum loan amount
- $10,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $500,000
- Minimum loan term
- 3 months
- Maximum loan term
- 4 years
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- 6 months
- Minimum annual turnover
- $60,000
- Application speed
- within 24 hours
- Approval speed
- 2 hours
- Funding speed
- Within same day
- Extra repayments allowed
- yes
- Redraw allowed
- yes
- Other benefits
- Early payout options and early repayment discounts are available. Principal-only payout available after 6 months.
- Other restrictions
- Loans above $300,000 must be secured by property.
Prospa Plus Business Loan
Prospa uses risk-based pricing to determine your interest rate. They look at factors including your industry, years in business, cash flow, creditworthiness and the overall financial health of your business.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
Interest rates vary based on risk.3.5%from 24 hoursProspa Plus Business Loan
Prospa uses risk-based pricing to determine your interest rate. They look at factors including your industry, years in business, cash flow, creditworthiness and the overall financial health of your business.
- Interest Rate
- Interest rates vary based on risk.
- Upfront Fee
- 3.5%
- Ongoing Fees
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- $0.00
- Transaction fee
- -
- Early repayment penalty
- $0.00
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Secured
- Minimum loan amount
- $150,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $500,000
- Minimum loan term
- 3 months
- Maximum loan term
- 3 years
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- 3 years
- Minimum annual turnover
- $1,000,000
- Application speed
- 10 Minutes
- Approval speed
- Same-day approval
- Funding speed
- from 24 hours
- Extra repayments allowed
- yes
- Redraw allowed
- no
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Unsecured Business Loan
Business Loans from $5,000 to $5,000,000 with high approval rates. Access to funds on loans up to $500,000 in as little as 3 hours. Cash flow friendly repayments and open minded offers.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On Application3%, starting at $399from 3 hoursUnsecured Business Loan
Business Loans from $5,000 to $5,000,000 with high approval rates. Access to funds on loans up to $500,000 in as little as 3 hours. Cash flow friendly repayments and open minded offers.
- Interest Rate
- On Application
- Upfront Fee
- 3%, starting at $399
- Ongoing Fees
- no
- Late payment fee
- $50.00
- Transaction fee
- -
- Early repayment penalty
- no
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Unsecured
- Minimum loan amount
- $5,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $5,000,000
- Minimum loan term
- 3 months
- Maximum loan term
- 1 year
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly, flexible
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- 4 months
- Minimum annual turnover
- $144,000
- Application speed
- 10 Minutes
- Approval speed
- within 1 hour
- Funding speed
- from 3 hours
- Extra repayments allowed
- yes
- Redraw allowed
- no
- Other benefits
- Daily repayments available.
- Other restrictions
- Fast Business Loans for amounts up to $500,000 are funded in 3 hours, Small Business Loans can take 24 hours.
Fixed Rate Unsecured Business Loan
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
-On applicationVariesFixed Rate Unsecured Business Loan
- Interest Rate
- -
- Upfront Fee
- On application
- Ongoing Fees
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $0.00
- Transaction fee
- $10 ($50 for staff assisted withdrawals)
- Early repayment penalty
- not disclosed
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Unsecured
- Minimum loan amount
- $5,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $250,000
- Minimum loan term
- -
- Maximum loan term
- -
- Repayment frequency
- -
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- Varies
- Minimum annual turnover
- Varies
- Application speed
- Varies
- Approval speed
- Varies
- Funding speed
- Varies
- Extra repayments allowed
- yes
- Redraw allowed
- yes
- Other benefits
- LVRs available of up to 100% residential property or 80% owner-occupied non-specialised commercial property for secured loans up to $3 million.
- Other restrictions
- Eligible Westpac customers only. Annual turnover less than $50m.
Read reviews and learn more about Westpac business loans
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