ABS data reveals extent of COVID-19 financial hit to Australian businesses

We knew it already, but now it’s official. The significant impact COVID-19 is having on Australian businesses has been brought home in new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Released on Tuesday, the figures from the ABS reveal that 66% of Australian businesses are already reporting either lower turnover or cash flow as a result of the fallout from coronavirus.
Furthermore, 47% of businesses have been required to make changes to their normal workforce arrangements including altering working hours for their staff, facilitating working from home setups or placing staff on leave.
RELATED: Guide to Australia's coronavirus financial support for small businesses
“The Covid 19 situation is unprecedented and is challenging all aspects of the Australian Economy,” said David Rose, Chief Financial Officer at Scottish Pacific.
“For most, the challenge will be the same. Finding a way to manage operational cash flows and working capital in a period of falling revenues, fixed costs and slower payments from customers.”
So with a lower amount of turnover and reduced cash flow, where can Australian businesses turn in order to access financial relief or additional finance during this difficult period?
“There are many avenues of support,” said Rose. “Firstly, the various federal and state government stimulus packages should help provide some relief. Next, they [businesses] should talk to their Banks about Emergency Loans. Other Lenders may also offer assistance through this period.”
“At ScotPac, we are supporting our existing clients and have also pulled together a COVID-19 Business Hub offering advice and regular updates on the ever changing situation. Alongside this our appetite to help and fund SMEs remains as strong as ever.”
Here’s a quick rundown of the options that may be available to businesses depending on their situations.
What kind of government or bank support is available?
One of the major strategies employed by both Federal and State Governments has been to boost cash flow for businesses by way of financial support. At the time of writing, the Federal Government has announced two multi-billion dollar stimulus packages which include:
- Tax-free payments for eligible small and medium-sized businesses between $20,000 and $100,000
- An apprentice wage assistance subsidy capped at $7,000 each quarter
- An increase in the instant asset write-off initiative from $30,000 to $150,000 for eligible businesses
- A 50% government guarantee on new business loans taken out under the Coronavirus Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) Guarantee Scheme
Support from major and minor banks has also been made available for business customers affected by COVID-19.
In addition to payment deferrals on existing business loans, credit cards and merchant terminals, eligible businesses with a turnover of less than $50 million may be able to access new, unsecured business loans of up to $250,000.
These loans will have no establishment or monthly account fees and they’ll be available with a six month repayment deferral option.
What if my business hasn’t been affected, but I still need some extra finance?
While the overwhelming trend unveiled in the recent ABS data release revealed a severe financial hit, 11% of businesses did report an increase in demand for their products while 4% actually recorded an increase in turnover or cash flow.
If your business is lucky enough to be part of the cohort financially unaffected by the measures taken to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, you’ll still be able to access finance from banks and other lenders by way of a business loan.
And the good news is that many business loan rates have actually fallen in the last month following two separate cuts to the official cash rate by the Reserve Bank in March.
According to figures from the Mozo database, the average residentially secured, variable rate business loan has dropped by 40 basis points since the start of the year, with the average rate as of April 1 sitting at just 4.65%.
However, with an average rate of 5.37%, it still remains dearer to take out a loan with one of the four major banks (ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac).
This compares to an average rate of 4.23% currently on offer by challenger banks such as Heritage Bank, IMB Bank and Suncorp among others.
For more information about the financial impact coronavirus is having on Australian individuals and businesses, check out our wrap article for a comprehensive list of related news stories and useful information.
Business loans 2020 - rates updated daily
Line of Credit
Unsecured business funding up to $500K. Start the online application process in just 5 minutes, and get access to funds within 24 hours once approved. Great for ABN registered businesses with an annual turnover of $200K+.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On Application2% to 3%Instantly, once approvedLine of Credit
Unsecured business funding up to $500K. Start the online application process in just 5 minutes, and get access to funds within 24 hours once approved. Great for ABN registered businesses with an annual turnover of $200K+.
- Interest Rate
- On Application
- Upfront Fee
- 2% to 3%
- Ongoing Fees
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- -
- Transaction fee
- -
- Early repayment penalty
- 0
- Other fees
- Various late payment fees may apply.
- Loan type
- Line of Credit
- Security type
- Unsecured
- Minimum loan amount
- $10,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $500,000
- Minimum loan term
- 6 months
- Maximum loan term
- 5 years
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- 18 months
- Minimum annual turnover
- $200,000
- Application speed
- 10 minutes
- Approval speed
- 24-48 hours
- Funding speed
- Instantly, once approved
- Extra repayments allowed
- Yes
- Redraw allowed
- Yes
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Short Term Business Loan
Unsecured business loans from $10,000 - $250,000, over 6 to 24 months. Online application takes only 10 minutes and you'll know if you're approved within hours. Apply now.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On Application3.00%from 24 HoursShort Term Business Loan
Unsecured business loans from $10,000 - $250,000, over 6 to 24 months. Online application takes only 10 minutes and you'll know if you're approved within hours. Apply now.
- Interest Rate
- On Application
- Upfront Fee
- 3.00%
- Ongoing Fees
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- $0.00
- 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
- $250,000
- Minimum loan term
- 6 months
- Maximum loan term
- 2 years
- Repayment frequency
- Daily, Weekly
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- 1 year
- Minimum annual turnover
- $100,000
- Application speed
- 10 Minutes
- Approval speed
- from 24 Hours
- Funding speed
- from 24 Hours
- Extra repayments allowed
- No
- Redraw allowed
- Eligible to apply for renewal after 50% paid down
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- Minimum $100k turnover and 1 Year in Business.
Lumi Lux
Lumi Lux™ is an innovative rate-reducing business loan that rewards customers for a good repayment history over the loan term by dropping interest rates by 25 basis points every six months (T&Cs apply). The loan is for more established businesses with minimum $2M revenue.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
from 14% to 20%-VariesLumi Lux
Lumi Lux™ is an innovative rate-reducing business loan that rewards customers for a good repayment history over the loan term by dropping interest rates by 25 basis points every six months (T&Cs apply). The loan is for more established businesses with minimum $2M revenue.
- Interest Rate
- from 14% to 20%
- Upfront Fee
- -
- Ongoing Fees
- 3.5% establishment fee of the disbursed amount.
- Late payment fee
- -
- Transaction fee
- -
- Early repayment penalty
- -
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Property Secured
- Minimum loan amount
- $200,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $500,000
- Minimum loan term
- 1 year
- Maximum loan term
- 4 years
- Repayment frequency
- -
- Repayment types
- -
- Minimum trading period
- 3 years
- Minimum annual turnover
- $2,000,000
- Application speed
- Varies
- Approval speed
- Varies
- Funding speed
- Varies
- Extra repayments allowed
- -
- Redraw allowed
- -
- Other benefits
- Loan interest rate decreases by 0.25% every 6 months with good repayment history up to a maximum 2% drop.
- Other restrictions
- Must be secured against property.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Lumi Lux
Invoice Finance
Set up a line of credit against your debtors ledger, which grows with your business. Access funds as soon as you invoice instead of waiting for your customers to pay. ScotPac is the largest non-bank lender in Australia with over 30 years' experience partnering with local businesses.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
from 4.00% p.a.On ApplicationFrom 24 hoursInvoice Finance
Set up a line of credit against your debtors ledger, which grows with your business. Access funds as soon as you invoice instead of waiting for your customers to pay. ScotPac is the largest non-bank lender in Australia with over 30 years' experience partnering with local businesses.
- Interest Rate
- from 4.00% p.a.
- Upfront Fee
- On Application
- Ongoing Fees
- -
- Late payment fee
- -
- Transaction fee
- $0.00
- Early repayment penalty
- -
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Line of Credit
- Security type
- Secured
- Minimum loan amount
- $10,000
- Maximum loan amount
- -
- Minimum loan term
- -
- Maximum loan term
- -
- Repayment frequency
- -
- Repayment types
- -
- Minimum trading period
- 0 years
- Minimum annual turnover
- $0
- Application speed
- From 24 hours
- Approval speed
- From 24 hours
- Funding speed
- From 24 hours
- Extra repayments allowed
- -
- Redraw allowed
- -
- Other benefits
- Line of Credit against debtor ledger
- Other restrictions
- -
Unsecured Business Loan
Business Loans from $5,000 to $600,000 with high approval rates. Access to funds 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 $600,000 with high approval rates. Access to funds 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
- $600,000
- Minimum loan term
- 3 months
- Maximum loan term
- 1 year
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly, flexible
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- 6 months
- Minimum annual turnover
- $120,000
- 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
- -
Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.
While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.