Small Business Loans Australia (Unsecured & Secured)
Discover small business loan opportunities across Australia. Our comprehensive SME financing guide has reviewed dozens of Australian online lenders specialising in quick unsecured small business loans, and our goal is to help you, as well other business owners, know more about the best option for you – a business loan which is both available to businesses like yours, and caters to your needs.
Read through our detailed and actionable articles and reviews to learn about secured and unsecured business loans in Australia, how to obtain them, and what to expect in the process.
Top 10 Small Business Loans Australia 2021
The following are the best small business loan lenders by our editorial rating. They all offer unsecured business loans and scored well on our business lender reviews by having a high approval rate, quick application processing, as well as providing clarity about the interest and repayment schedules.
Eligibility for an Unsecured Business Loan in Australia?
While many business owners hope for a situation in which they could find a magical “bad credit guaranteed approval loan“, the reality is that you have to demonstrate that you have been in business for a while and that you are in fact turning in cash, in order to get your small business loan approved. That is particularly true for an unsecured business loan.
Below you can find a demonstration of the criteria necessary in order to get a quick business loan, as shown by 4 of the most prominent, and best, online business lenders in Australia.
| Prospa | OnDeck | GetCapital | Lumi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min.Time Trading | 6 months | 12 months | 9 months | 6 months |
| Min. Turnover | $72,000 p/a | $100,000 p/a | $100,000 p/a | $50,000 p/a |
| Sole Traders | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Startups | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Bad Credit | Yes, if borrower shows profitability | Yes (min credit score 500) | ✖ (Min credit score 500 for Working Capital) | Yes – specialising in bad credit loans |
| Lender Review | PROSPA REVIEW | ONDECK REVIEW | GETCAPITAL REVIEW | LUMI REVIEW |
To learn more about how Australia’s online lenders stack up against each other view this comprehensive guide in which we compare small business loans by product offering, credibility, compatibility, customer reviews and business loan interest rates.
Quick Unsecured Business Loans: #1 Selling Point
There is not much that can be guaranteed about small business loans but one thing is for certain – if you were to apply with any of the recommended (best) business loans services you can expect high speed. Quick application process, quick assessment and a quick decision (approval or rejection). When you apply to any of these lenders through our website, you pass through Lend or Become, a business loan marketplace that makes this process even QUICKER. Normally 48h end to end.
Most lenders commit to a timeline of 48h to approval but are likely to act even faster, and will make the payment once the loan is approved within 24h.
Educate Yourself: Small Business Loans FAQ
Unsecured Small Business Loans & General Financing
Do banks offer unsecured business loans?
Why choose online lenders over banks?
What's the interest like for unsecured business loans?
How many lenders are there in Australia dealing with SME loans?
How big and reputable are your top rated lenders?
Learn More: Australia’s Online Lender Reviews
Prospa Review
Prospa, located in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, is the most respected small business loan provider in Australia – not only the best NSW lender but in all of Australia. With awards such as Winner – FinTech Lender of the Year, MFAA Excellence Awards 2019, #5 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Australia 2018, #1 Financial Times 1000 High Growth Company 2018 and Lending Innovator of the Year 2017, the firm is definitely recognised as such. Due to its tremendous growth Prospa is the first Australian lender to have registered on the ASX. As a result Prospa is completely transparent with its performance and lending metrics and even goes one step above by being the most transparent online lender with regards to its pricing. Unique to Prospa, their interest rate ranges for each product are clearly detailed on their website. Since inception, Prospa has funded over $1.6 billion to over 90,000 small businesses in Australia!
Aside from being one of the most trusted brands in the industry, the firm also offers a great deal of flexibility and has positioned itself to be one of the quickest business lenders in Australia and even globally. You’re likely to get a response to your application within hours.
Prospa is in a league of its own when it comes to customer reviews. With a 4.7 / 5 score on Google and a truly astonishing 4.9 / 5 on TrustPilot (based on over 6,100 reviews!), there is no doubt that Prospa, in the eyes of the customer, is the best at what it does. When we searched online specifically for complaints, we could only locate two verified customers in total through all channels. This is extremely unique in the financial services industry.
Prospa is a great choice for anyone requiring an unsecured or secured business loan of $5,000 to $300,000. Prospa offers unsecured business loans for businesses with at least six months in operation.
Capify Review
Capify is a dinosaur in the small business lending industry. The firm was established 17 years ago and has lent more than $650M so far in working capital financing. It is partially funded by global giants like Alibaba, who have injected $40M in cash to be used for lending.
This is the company that actually pioneered unsecured business financing in Australia back in 2008, and established itself as one of the industry leaders.
The firm’s strong point, beyond its spotless reputation, is how quickly it responds to applications (often as quickly as 60 minutes!) and the wide range of businesses it deals with. The firm will deal with large merchants or importers but also smaller businesses, such as family-owned stores and entrepreneurs.
The feedback from clients appears to be strong. On Google Reviews, at the time of writing this, Capify small business finance in Australia boasts a 4.5 / 5 rating with more than 120 reviews. On the Australian TrustPilot, it is one of the front runners in the Australian online lending industry with a whopping 4.8 / 5 score with more than 260 reviews.
Capify is an established brand with serious capabilities in this industry who we certainly recommend at least making a free enquiry. It costs nothing and the application is simple and easy.
OnDeck Review
Ondeck is a global juggernaut offering SME loans in America, Canada and Australia (as of 2015). From the start, you get a sense of dealing with a sensible and fair company as the repayment rates are completely transparent. This enables prospective customers to get a sense of the interest they will be paying based on their individual circumstances. Ondeck also encourage customers to utilise loan comparison tools and get their free credit score so business owners can make an informed decision at the onset of receiving a small business loan.
The firm was established in 2007 and by 2014 had lent US $1billion to small businesses. Across all jurisdictions it operates, Ondeck has now funded over US $12 billion to small businesses and firms. Easily the largest in the online lending industry and shows the staggering pace it has grown in the last few years and since launching in Australia. It comes as no surprise as Ondeck is committed to serving customers with the smartest financing solutions and a world class service.
In Australia the firm is also proud to partner with MYOB business software to offer customers various benefits and incentives through working with OnDeck Australia whose offices are in Sydney.
Now with over 500 OnDeck Australia reviews on Trustpilot and a 4.8 / 5 Trust rating, Ondeck is cementing its place as one of the leading alternative business lenders in Australia.
GetCapital Review
GetCapital is another of the leading online lenders in Australia, which has received numerous awards including the Financial Review Fast 100 2018, and the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 2018.. With its straightforward approach, understandable website, and ultra-quick turnaround, Get Capital is considered “the friendliest lender”. GetCapital is known to be ultra flexible with the type of loans offered and in fact offers by far the greatest variety in working capital solutions of all of the best rated Australian online lenders.
Boasting over 300 Trustpilot reviews of which 99% are positive, there is an overwhelming majority of customers praising their experience with GetCapital.
In essence, small businesses in Australia with at least $100,000 annual turnover can borrow money quickly and efficiently for any purpose. It may be a vehicle loan, equipment, line of credit, expansion-related or for any other purpose and needs. The guys at GetCapital will make sure it is apt for your business.
Lumi Review
Lumi rounds up our Top 5 most recommended providers for small business loans, targeting specifically worse credit businesses. It is a newcomer to the industry, but considering its young age, is showing remarkable signs of becoming a niche leader in the near future. The Lumi group prides itself on a unique smart algorithm that is able to identify the ‘real risk’ profile better than its peers can. Another thing that Lumi excels at is transparency. Lumi small business loans are very easy to understand, and the only payment required up front is a 2.5% establishment fee of the amount funded
Lumi’s loans range from $5,000 to $200,000 (unsecured up to $100,00), for a minimum of three months and a maximum of eighteen months. It caters best to businesses that are interested in short-term loans and is also one of the best rated for bad credit businesses.
More Reviews, More Selection
On SmallBusinessLoansAustralia, we are committed to covering as much of the Australian online business lending industry as possible. We make a concise effort to update our business loan reviews – both in content and in online lender selection. We make a real effort to make a “under the hood” type of inspection, and provide more insights than any of our competitors in Australia.
Other then the aforementioned brand names listed on our top 10 best small business loans list, we have also reviewed the following lenders:
Become Business Loans Review: One of Australia’s leading lender marketplaces, committed to offer prospective clients with multiple loan possibilities within minutes. Excellent client reviews. Recently expanded to USA and is doing well there too.
Speedy Finance Review: A known lender which was a finalist in the MFAA 2019 FinTech Lender Award, with 93% of its past clients rating it as “excellent”.
Captrove Review: Unsecured business loans of up to $60,000 with a no-frills website and coherent terms and conditions.
HomeSec Review: $20,000 to $2,000,000 in real-estate secured business loans.
Valiant Review: A marketplace with access to 25 Australian online lenders.
Sail Review: A lender focused on bad credit businesses – potentially ceased its operations in 2020. Same founder as Lumi.
Moula Review: Starting with a reasonably low interest of 0.75% of your current balance after 2 weeks, Moula is a good lender focused on good credit businesses.
Merchant Cash Review: Merchant Cash is an unsecured business loan marketplace working with 50 lenders and boasting in a 97% approval rating.
BusinessLoans.com.au Review: An additional brand operated by the trustworthy GetCapital.
Bigstone Review: Working in Australia and South East Asia, Bigstone has raised massive funding from investors and generated a lot of media attention.
ThinCats Business Loan Review: One of few P2P lenders in Australia. Very well known UK company.
Banjo Business Loan Review: A lender powered by modular technology and a streamlined process.
Skippr Review: Founded by two entrepreneurs with strong banking experience, Skippr is a new lender in Australia.
Marketlend Review: P2P solution for working capital and invoice financing.
Waddle Review: The biggest invoice-based financing option in Australia. Annual interest starts at 9.95%.
Fifo Capital Review: Fifo Capital specialises in invoice financing. NZ-founded. Operating in Australia as early as 2007, with 70 locations.
Kikka Capital Review: Funded by U.S loan giant Kabbage, Kikka Capital is a prominent Australian business lender operating since 2015, with average score of 8.3/10 from past customers.
Judo Capital Review: Judo Capital, now Judo Bank, offers unsecured and secured financing starting at 2.07%.
PayPal Working Capital Australia Review: Working capital loans for eCommerce clients by PayPal.
Amazon Lending Australia Review: Working capital loans for eCommerce clients by Amazon.
Business Loan Centre Australia Review: A small business loan marketplace in Australia.
Cash.com.au Review: One of Australia’s online lending marketplaces, no online reviews were found.
Funda Review: A small online lender based out of Newcastle focused only only on SME, no online reviews were found.
Limba Review: Operating for 20+ years with a close up and personal approach and 100% positive feedback from clients.
Types of Online Business Loans
Australian small businesses have relatively a lot of selection when it comes to borrowing money. This is not to say that business finance in Australia is acceessible (we wrote an Op-Ed stating the exact opposite of that), but to recommend you – the prospective customer – to read our guides about different types of loans and understand the subtle differences.
Unsecured Business Loans Types
- Bad credit business loans
- Business Line of Credit
- SME Loan Guarantee Scheme Loan (Gov Funded, Temporary)
- Working Capital Finance
- Business Overdraft
Secured Business Loans Types
- Secured Business Loan (General Purpose)
- Asset Finance
- Construction Loans
- Equipment Loans
- Car Business Loans
- Business Loan to Buyout Partner
- Fit-Out Finance
Additional Types of Financing
General Overview of Loan Types & Interest Rate
| Loan Type | Securities | Terms | Avg Loan Size | Estimated Interest Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsecured Business Loan | Unsecured | 3-24 months | $50,000 | High |
| Business Line of Credit | Unsecured | 3-12 months | $50,000 | 14%-30% |
| Invoice Finance | Invoices | 3-180 days | $10,000 | 3%-5% |
| Merchant Cash Advance | Pending Payments | 1-2 months | $20,000 | 15%-25% |
| Equipment Finance | Equipment | 1-5 years | $75,000 | 6%-15% |
| Asset Finance | Asset | 1-7 years | $100,000 | 1.6%-15% |
| Working Capital Loan | Unsecured | 1-24 months | $35,000 | 1.75% p/m |
| Secured Loan | Secured | 1-10 years | $100,000 | 3%-12.5% |
| Business Credit Card | Unsecured | Ongoing | Varies | 6%-20% |
| Overdraft | Secured | Ongoing | Varies | 5%-12.5% |
Small Business Financing Throughout Australia
If you are looking for region specific information you may find it on our localised guides.
Business Loans Queensland / Brisbane
Business Loans Sydney
Business Loans NSW
Business Loans Melbourne
Small Business Loans During Covid Pandemic
Access to capital for Australian small businesses has drastically decreased, in many ways, during the pandemic. Before the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme was announced, both banks and small business lenders (particularly those who issue unsecured business loans), have rejected almost any application.
The SME Loan Guarantee scheme, the governmental programme for government-backed business loans, is valid until June 30, 2021, and has improved the situation dramatically.
In March 2021 most of the unsecured business loan lenders in Australia have increased their approval raitings.
Read more with our detailed guides:
- Compare access for capital between Australia and USA
- SME Loan Guarantee Program Application
- Covid Financing and Grants
- Small Business Grants in Australia
Small Business Financing 101 – What to do before my first ever business loan
There are plenty of cautionary tales for us to tell you about small business lending. If you thought financing was purely about finding the cheapest rate , then it would be wise to think again. Making a mistake in such a critical aspect of your business can make or break you.
- Do not borrow money that you are unsure you can repay. The eventuality of this will become a real burden in your business career and personal life.
- Do not borrow money if you don’t need it. Consider other alternatives before jumping on a small business loan.
- Do extensive research to understand your options. Don’t jump the gun unless you really have to.
- Realise that the industry works like this: The more urgently you need the funds and the worse your position is (for example, bad credit) the higher the interest rate will be.
- The commercial lending industry is not regulated in the same manner as personal loans. The regulatory authorities believe that as a business owner, you’re in a much less vulnerable position than an individual and should, in theory, be more educated about these topics.
- Make a sober decision about whether to use banks or alternative business lenders to fund your business. Read the guide below, which is intended as a starting point for business loan newcomers.
Using a Business Lender or Bank?
- With an alternative business lender, the decision on your loan is made within as little as 24 hours of application. Much of the application processing is done online through a sophisticated algorithm.
- With small business alternative funding, the decision on whether to offer you a loan and under what conditions will depend on their independent analysis. They may factor in your credit score, but this is not the only determining factor. You will receive the loan quickly once the decision has been made (even on the same business day).
- With business financing companies, you should receive a clear repayment schedule with no hidden fees in the simplest and most coherent way possible. There are no early repayment fines of any sort.
- With alternative lenders in Australia, you should be able to score an unsecured small business loan if you desire one (and speak to the right lender that offers such financing). With banks, you always need to present securities for the financing you will receive.
- With business financing companies, you would pay, on average, higher interest than with banks.
- With bank business loans, the decision on whether to give you a loan can take weeks. Even before that, it may consume a lot of time and energy (and money!) to create a suitable presentation of the business and fill out the application forms.
- With banks SME loans in Australia, it is highly unlikely you will receive financing if you have a bad credit score. In fact, based on statistics, as many as 60% of loans are rejected due to not meeting the bank’s risk profile requirements or because the business was misrepresented through the application.
- With banks, the repayment schedule is not always clear, and you may experience fines on early repayments.
- With banks, you are expected to get better interest, on average, than with alternative providers.
- Banks prefer longer-term loans over short-term loans but can offer both.
Bottom Line: Online SME Lenders vs Banks
Use an online small business lender in Australia if –
- You require money urgently. Working capital financing or equipment financing qualify as an urgent need, a construction loan is more long term.
- You are not able to receive a business loan from the bank.
- You do not want to go through the hurdles of applying to a bank with all the preparation and paperwork involved.
- You need the money for only a short period of time.
- You are looking for unsecured financing.
Use an Australian small business bank loan if –
- You are an established business that can get a loan with the bank.
- You are able to complete all the necessary paperwork.
- You are happy to wait weeks or even months for the application process to end.
- You can supply the necessary securities.
Read more about the differences between applying for a bank loan and applying for a loan with an online lender here – online lenders vs bank loans.
Choosing a Small Business Loan Lender With SBLA
We have reviewed more than 30 different Australia-based business loan lender, all of which offer unsecured small business loans. They are all credible, effective, and offer quick application, quick decision and a quick payment. Other similarities between the Australian non-bank funding companies include relatively high interest, strict minimum requirements, and quite conservative amounts, as the leading online business lenders in Australia are quite risk averse.
Getting a small business loan is a serious thing, and you should conduct a comprehensive research to decide which of the options best cater to your requirements.