Compare Business Lenders Australia

Build a shortlist that deserves a quote

A good comparison starts with the product you need and the repayments you can carry. A lender advertising a large limit may not offer that amount without security. A fast decision may come with repayments that begin before your purchase earns any money.

Use the six providers below as starting points, then read the full review for the product you are considering. They are not a whole-market ranking. Take the same funding amount and term to each shortlisted provider so the written offers can be compared.

SMB Loan may receive referral income. The provider reviews and the Lend enquiry are different routes: an enquiry through Lend covers its panel, not every company listed here. Read the commercial disclosure.

On this page

What we assess in a lender review

Our judgment begins with the product a business would actually take out. A provider with a strong invoice-finance proposition may be irrelevant to a retailer paid at the counter. A bank offering a negotiated facility and an online lender quoting a short term loan are not interchangeable merely because both lend to businesses. We explain the use case before weighing the provider's strengths and limitations.

The reviews examine published eligibility, the amount the business receives, pricing and repayment mechanics, security, guarantees and early exit. Where a rate is individually quoted, we say so rather than inventing a typical price. Where official pages conflict, we identify the discrepancy and the written term that needs resolving. An advertised maximum is a product ceiling; it is not an estimate of what your business will qualify for.

This is research into published information, not a series of test applications. We do not infer service quality from an award badge or give a numerical score that conceals these differences. Read the dated source notes and the reasoned verdict in the individual review, then compare actual offers. Older provider profiles remain labelled where a current product or application route cannot be established.

Six providers: the differences that affect a borrower

Official product pages and terms checked on 5 October 2026. The criteria below are initial filters, not approval rules. Where a lender’s pages disagree, the table identifies the uncertainty instead of selecting the most generous figure.

On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Provider-published terms checked 10 October 2026; individual assessment and product conditions apply
Provider and product	Amount, term and eligibility	Cost and repayments	Security and source
Prospa — Small Business Loan	$5,000–$500,000 Up to five years. Prospa’s calculator limits terms longer than three years to loans above $150,000. At least six months trading and $6,000 monthly turnover. The applicant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or over. Individual assessment applies. Source qualification: A current personal-guarantee clause was not verified. The absence of property security does not remove possible personal liability.	The published origination fee is 2%–3.5%; optional Qantas rewards add 1 percentage point. The FAQ gives early payout as outstanding principal, accrued interest, 1.5% of the remaining principal and any outstanding fees.	No upfront asset security is required up to $150,000 while the borrower continues to meet their obligations. Above $150,000, including combined exposure above that level, property ownership is required and asset security may be required. This does not rule out a personal guarantee. Provider source
OnDeck — Lightning / Lightning Plus	Lightning: $10,000–$200,000. Lightning Plus: $200,000–$300,000. 6–30 months, with fixed weekly repayments. At least one year in business and $100,000 annual revenue, with no current or recent major credit issues. Individual assessment applies.	Pricing is individual. The written offer should state the rate and origination charge.	The loans are unsecured, but a personal guarantee is required. Provider source 1 Provider source 2
Lumi — Business Loan / Line of Credit	Up to $1 million; limits and approval apply The business-loan page advertises terms up to five years. For the line of credit, the maximum repayment period is five years and resets with each draw; the facility is reviewed annually. An Australian registered business with an ABN or ACN, at least six months trading and $50,000 annual gross turnover. Source qualification: Lumi’s business-loan sources conflict: the product page advertises up to five years, while the FAQ says 3–36 months. The separate line-of-credit FAQ gives a maximum five-year repayment period that resets on each draw.	Business loans are advertised from 15.5% APR. The line of credit has a one-off establishment fee based on the approved limit, charged at the first draw, and no ongoing holding fee.	Lumi describes most loans and lines up to $300,000 as unsecured. Larger limits may require property backing. Its business-loan FAQ requires a personal guarantee from the owner. Provider source 1 Provider source 2
Bizcap — Small Business Loans	The advertised range is $5,000–$7.5 million across several products. The secured maximum is not an unsecured borrowing limit. The small-business-loan FAQ generally describes 3–12 months. Bridging and other products may have different terms. An active ABN or ACN, at least four months trading and minimum monthly revenue of $12,000. Individual assessment applies. Source qualification: Bizcap’s comparison page retains lower limits, and its startup FAQ states five months trading while the main small-business page states four. Confirm the named product’s requirements in the written assessment.	Repayments are daily or weekly. Early-payout discounts are advertised subject to conditions; no single APR applies to every borrower.	The product FAQ says loans up to $30,000 may be available without upfront security, but a personal guarantee is required. Security for larger amounts depends on the product and offer. Provider source 1 Provider source 2
Capify — Unsecured business loan / Secured business loan	The small-business-loan FAQ advertises unsecured loans up to $500,000. A separate secured-loan page advertises $2 million or more; that larger figure is not an unsecured limit. The sources checked do not establish one repayment term across all Capify products. The small-business FAQ requires an active ABN, at least six months trading and monthly turnover of $10,000 or more. Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 or over, subject to assessment. Source qualification: Capify’s official pages describe different product limits. Confirm the unsecured maximum and guarantee terms in writing before relying on a larger advertised ceiling.	A quote is required. The secured-loan page advertises no early-repayment fee, but that does not establish whether future interest is rebated.	Capify publishes both secured and unsecured offers. Its FAQ statement that all loans are unsecured conflicts with the secured-loan page. The product-specific offer must identify security and guarantees. Provider source 1 Provider source 2
Shift (formerly GetCapital) — Business Overdraft	$10,000–$2 million A revolving facility for up to five years, with weekly or monthly repayments. Shift assesses the limit using linked bank data and requires financial statements for accounts of $500,000 or more. The product page does not establish a universal minimum trading period or turnover. Source qualification: Guarantees and security must be checked in the proposed contract; these requirements were not verified.	Variable interest of 14.95%–24.95% p.a., with no establishment fee. The annual fee is $495 for limits up to $100,000 and $795 above that amount. The rate schedule is dated 24 September 2026.	The retrieved product page does not establish the security requirements. Property-free borrowing at every amount has not been verified. Provider source 1 Provider source 2

Choose the structure for the way you will use it

One planned expense

A term loan gives you an agreed advance and repayment schedule. Check whether the net advance covers the purchase after fees, and whether repayments start before the purchase produces income.

A recurring cash gap

A line of credit or overdraft can avoid applying for a new loan each time. Compare holding fees, redraw rules and reviews of the facility, including what happens if access is withdrawn.

Money tied up in invoices

Invoice finance depends on the quality of the receivables as well as your business. Compare eligible invoices, advance percentages, concentration limits and the cost if a customer pays late.

Put these figures beside every quote

Cash received: the advance after fees deducted at settlement.
Repayment schedule: amount, frequency, first payment and any final balloon.
Total cost: all repayments and separately paid fees, compared with cash received. Do not count a fee twice.
Rate basis: reducing-balance interest, simple interest, factor pricing or another method. Ask for an APR where available, using the same assumptions.
Exit cost: an actual payout calculation at the date you might repay early.
Security: the assets charged, each guarantor’s obligations and conditions that could trigger repayment.

Our view: the most useful quote makes the repayment commitment and exit cost clear. If two offers look similar, test both against a slower trading month and the date you may want to repay. That usually tells you more than a headline funding limit.

Why the smaller repayment total can still mislead

Consider two illustrative quotes for a nominal $30,000 advance. They are invented figures to show the calculation, not offers from any lender in the table.

Fees deducted from the advance change the cash available
Item	Quote A	Quote B
Nominal advance	$30,000	$30,000
Fee deducted at settlement	$900	$300
Cash received	$29,100	$29,700
All scheduled repayments	$35,400	$35,700
Repayments less cash received	$6,300	$6,000

Quote A has the smaller repayment total but also gives the business less cash. Quote B has the smaller cash-cost difference in this example. Neither supplies a full $30,000 for the purchase after its deducted fee. Ask both providers to quote the net funding you actually need before making a final comparison.

The table does not establish an annual percentage rate or which debit schedule is affordable. Payment dates, term, other charges and any final balloon still matter. If a fee is paid separately, add it to the cash paid out; if it has already been deducted from the advance, do not count it a second time.

Test the offer against a weaker month and an early exit

A low instalment can look comfortable until a large customer pays late. Put each repayment on the same forecast as wages, supplier bills and tax. Delay a realistic receipt and see whether the business can still meet the commitments without another loan. Do the same exercise with the quieter season if sales are uneven.

For a temporary bridge, request a payout figure at the date you expect the money to arrive. Some contracts reduce future interest as the balance falls; others contain a fixed financing charge or a different early-settlement calculation. A verbal statement that you may repay at any time does not establish how much you save by doing so. The refinancing guide also explains how exit costs can consume an apparent rate saving.

For a revolving facility, model the months in which the balance is low or zero as well as the busy period. Include fees linked to the approved limit and any conditions for retaining access. A facility that is useful every week can be expensive as an unused emergency reserve.

Keep lender, broker and matching service distinct

A direct lender decides whether it will offer its own finance. A broker or matching service may introduce several providers, but its panel, fees and process still need examination. Ask who will receive your details, whether the service charges you, which lenders it can consider and at what point a formal credit application is made.

A bank relationship may be useful where a business needs several facilities assessed together. A specialist may be worth comparing when the transaction involves invoices, equipment or property. A marketplace can help organise the search, but the eventual lender's agreement determines the debt. Our broker guide covers the questions to ask before authorising an introduction.

Provider reviews and archived profiles

Lenders and referral services

Archived provider profiles

Choose your next step

Ready to check potential matches? Continue to Lend with the business details and amount you need. If you already favour a provider, read its full review and compare a written quote before committing. Read the consent terms before authorising a formal credit application.

Compare options with LendSMB Loan publishes information; we are not a lender, broker or loan marketplace. This opens Lend’s enquiry service. We do not work directly with lenders and may receive a referral fee from Lend. Disclosure