Business confidence hits record low in April
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Optimism among Australian businesses remains weak amid COVID-19, with new research showing nearly 3 in 4 don’t expect the economy to fare well over the coming year.
The latest Roy Morgan Business Confidence poll, based on 1,191 detailed interviews, found business confidence during April dropped to a record low for the second month running.
On the Roy Morgan index, confidence fell by 19% to 76.9 points.
In April, more Aussie businesses (65%) said they were in a worse financial position now than this time last year.
And they didn't feel reassured about the future either. Almost half of respondents saw 2021 as a bad time to invest in business growth, compared to just one-third who thought the opposite.
Looking further ahead, the report also recorded a rise in the number of businesses who believed the Australian economy won’t recover any time soon. Over half of respondents expected its poor performance to continue over the next five years.
This plunge in confidence came as stringent social distancing measures introduced by federal and state governments were in place throughout April.
Such measures have drastically affected business operations, with recent Commbank research showing they caused an even sharper decline in business activity over April than the month prior.
Three-stage plan: A ray of hope ahead
Despite these findings, the Roy Morgan report hinted there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Notably, business confidence began to climb back up halfway through April, amid news of the curve flattening and the Morrison Government proposing a three-stage plan out of coronavirus lockdowns.
As Roy Morgan’s chief executive, Michele Levine explained, “[the] good news is business confidence bottomed in the first half of the month and has since improved.”
During the second half of April, confidence averaged 82.0 - up from 69.3 in the first two weeks.
Levine added that Aussie businesses last month also felt more certain they could get ahead of the downturn.
"Perhaps surprisingly, Australian businesses were growing more confident in April about their own prospects, with 43% [of respondents] expecting the business to be ‘better off financially’ this time next year - up 3.6 ppts from March,” she said.
Next steps for your business
With the first set of restrictions set to lift over the coming weeks (timing will depend on the state), some businesses are preparing to reopen.
Under step one of Morrison’s plan, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to seat 10 patrons at a time, given that they abide by the four square metres per person rule. Retail stores will also open, along with hairdressers and barber shops which must record their customers’ contact details.
Step two will involve double the numbers of patrons allowed in cafes and restaurants. A host of other businesses will also be permitted to open with up to 20 customers at a time, including cinemas, indoor gyms, galleries, massage and beauty therapy clinics and tattoo parlours.
Step three will see the maximum gathering size increase to 100.
If you’re looking for extra finance to help kickstart operations again and get your enterprise back on its feet, a business loan could help.
Right now, you can snatch up a competitive deal, thanks to the series of business loan rate reductions following the March RBA emergency rate cut.
Securing additional working capital should also be easier under the government’s SME Loan Guarantee Scheme, which guarantees 50% of all eligible unsecured loans of up to $250,000 and will run until 30 September.
Interested in taking out a business loan today? Get started with these options below.
Compare business loans
Boost Business Loan
Whether you’re looking for a quick cash boost for your business or are ready to invest in growth, ScotPac offers a range of unsecured and secured loans from $10,000 up to $500,000. For loan terms of 6 months to 3 years. No application or account keeping fees to pay. Funds available in 24 hours or less once approved. Repayment options available.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On applicationDetails on applicationFrom 24 hoursBoost Business Loan
Whether you’re looking for a quick cash boost for your business or are ready to invest in growth, ScotPac offers a range of unsecured and secured loans from $10,000 up to $500,000. For loan terms of 6 months to 3 years. No application or account keeping fees to pay. Funds available in 24 hours or less once approved. Repayment options available.
- Interest Rate
- On application
- Upfront Fee
- Details on application
- Ongoing Fees
- $0
- Late payment fee
- -
- Transaction fee
- -
- Early repayment penalty
- -
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Secured or Unsecured
- Minimum loan amount
- $10,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $500,000
- Minimum loan term
- 6 months
- Maximum loan term
- 3 years
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly
- Repayment types
- -
- Minimum trading period
- 1 year
- Minimum annual turnover
- $120,000
- Application speed
- From 24 hours
- Approval speed
- From 24 hours
- Funding speed
- From 24 hours
- Extra repayments allowed
- -
- Redraw allowed
- -
- Other benefits
- All industries supported.
- Other restrictions
- Loans up to $100K: No upfront collateral required Loans between $100K to $200K: Borrower must be a property owner Loans over $200K: Borrower must be a property owner, and the loan will be secured
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.
Mortgage Secured Commercial Loan
Use your property as collateral to meet your business needs. Offers repayment terms up to 30 years for residential security and 15 years for commercial/rural security. Provides interest rates that are tailored to your business needs. Choose from Principal & Interest, Interest Only, or Interest in Advance repayment options.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On applicationOn applicationVariesMortgage Secured Commercial Loan
Use your property as collateral to meet your business needs. Offers repayment terms up to 30 years for residential security and 15 years for commercial/rural security. Provides interest rates that are tailored to your business needs. Choose from Principal & Interest, Interest Only, or Interest in Advance repayment options.
- Interest Rate
- On application
- Upfront Fee
- On application
- Ongoing Fees
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $20.00
- Transaction fee
- $0
- Early repayment penalty
- $0 for variable loans, break cost may apply for fixed loans.
- Other fees
- On application
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Property Secured
- Minimum loan amount
- $500
- Maximum loan amount
- -
- Minimum loan term
- -
- Maximum loan term
- 30 months
- Repayment frequency
- Monthly, Quarterly, Half-yearly, Annually
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest, Interest Only
- Minimum trading period
- Varies
- Minimum annual turnover
- Varies
- Application speed
- Varies
- Approval speed
- Varies
- Funding speed
- Varies
- Extra repayments allowed
- yes - variable loans only
- Redraw allowed
- yes - minimum $500 (variable loans only)
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- Minimum Deposit of 20% is required for mortgages secured by residential property, 35% for commercial property and 40% for rural property. Loan term limited to 15 years for commercial or rural security.
Read reviews and learn more about Regional Australia Bank business loans
Self Managed Super Fund Loan
A loan to help your fund grow. Borrow for up to 25 years for residential properties or 15 years for commercial or rural properties. No monthly service fees, so you can save more for your retirement. Approval fee applies.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On application$1,500VariesSelf Managed Super Fund Loan
A loan to help your fund grow. Borrow for up to 25 years for residential properties or 15 years for commercial or rural properties. No monthly service fees, so you can save more for your retirement. Approval fee applies.
- Interest Rate
- On application
- Upfront Fee
- $1,500
- Ongoing Fees
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $20.00
- Transaction fee
- $0
- Early repayment penalty
- $0
- Other fees
- On application
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Property Secured
- Minimum loan amount
- $100,000
- Maximum loan amount
- -
- Minimum loan term
- -
- Maximum loan term
- 25 months
- Repayment frequency
- Monthly
- 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
- no
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- Minimum Deposit of 20%-30% is required for mortgages secured by residential property, 35% for commercial property and 50% for rural property. Loan term limited to 15 years for commercial or rural security.
Read reviews and learn more about Regional Australia Bank business loans
For more tips, check out our article on money moves to help your business survive coronavirus.
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