Westpac: 50% of small businesses wary of looming federal election

A date is still yet to be announced, but the looming federal election - likely to be in May - is already having an impact on the decisions of Australian small businesses new research from Westpac has revealed.
Westpac’s latest Small Business Report noted that two in five small businesses reported that the upcoming federal election is impacting their decision making, while 50% said that they were worried or uncertain about the impact the election would have on their operations.
The report also outlined high energy costs, excess red tape and increasing government grants as being three of the top priorities Australian small businesses wish the federal government would address.
“Our customers tell us that small business tax cuts, less regulation and red tape, and energy policy are a top priority in the upcoming election. The recently announced plans to fast track tax cuts for small business will offer some support; but more can be done to help particularly with grant funding,” said Ganesh Chandrasekkar, Westpac’s General Manager of SME Banking.
“If there is one area which we could boost confidence it is in the areas of grants – both government and corporate – by easing the burden of compliance and complexity so that businesses receive the benefits.”
Are economic conditions hurting business lending?
While the uncertainty surrounding the election certainly appears to be influencing decision making, Westpac’s report found that the most important drivers of business performance are actually local (1st) and global (2nd) economic conditions, with the federal election ranking 5th.
Given the state of many of economic indicators in Australia, including the most recent quarterly GDP growth figure of 0.2%, it’s hardly a surprise that business confidence is down, which is exactly what NAB’s February Business Survey found.
And with that lack of confidence comes a reluctance to borrow said Mozo Product Data Manager, Peter Marshall.
“I think there’s a lot of credit out there to be taken. The banks really would love to pump business credit out if they could, but the problem is that confidence is down which means that businesses just don’t want to borrow,” he said.
In fact, lenders have made it clear that they’re open for business when it comes to providing business loans, with Westpac ($30 billion) and online lender Moula ($250 million) both recently announcing significant extra funding for small businesses.
“We do appreciate not all businesses will share the same level of confidence, and that is why they’re more cautious and delaying decisions after the Federal Election. To ensure more small businesses can continue to operate with confidence, Westpac is here to help with an additional $30 billion available to lend to this sector,” Chandrasekkar said.
RELATED: Moula takes challenge to banks with $250 million business loans boost
If you are looking for a funding injection for your own business, make sure you find yourself a great loan to match. Get started by checking out some of the competitive offers in the table below, or head over to Mozo’s business loans comparison hub for even more deals.
Compare business loans 2019
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
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