Small Business Loans Australia (Unsecured Focused)
Are you an Australian small business owner in need of business financing? Are looking elsewhere than the bank in order to check faster and more efficient small business loan options?
Our goal is to cover the best small business loans in Australia – both unsecured business loans and secured business loans, presented by Australia’s top online lenders.
Discover the Best 5 Business Loans
The following are the best unsecured business loan lenders by our editorial rating. They all provide unsecured finance and small business loans with high approval rate, quick application processing, while providing clarity about the interest and repayment schedules.
Most Recommended: The Business Lender Marketplace
- Smart Matching by LendScoreâ˘
- Instant Responses to Application
- Fully Online System
- High Variety of Lenders (34)
- Bank-Level Encryption
- 4.8/5 Score on TrustPilot
- Member of the FBAA, CAFPA, and MFAA
- Tech Platform of the Year Awards 2020
- Not a Lender
- Doesn't Operate During Weekends
- No Call Centre, All Online
Best Australian Business Lenders List for 2021
- Funding: $5,000 to $300,000
- Recepient of multiple industry awards
- Funding granted within 48h
- 4.9 / 5 rating on TrustPilot
- 20,000+ Australian Businesses Funded to date
- ASX Traded Company
- Clear T&C and repayments
- Excellent website and onboarding
- Had low approval rate between May-Aug 2020 due to COVID
- Fewest documents required for sign up
- Industry veteran for 17 years
- the FIRST Australian online business lender
- 99% positive client reviews
- Multiple banking awards
- More than $500,000,000 in funding since inception
- Global brand
- Min monthly turnover $10,000
- Smaller scale than Prospa
- 3% origination fee
- Most bespoke financing solution
- Cash Advance available
- Line of Credit available
- Business Overdraft available(with illion Data Solutions)
- Equipment Financing available
- Deloitte's 2018 Tech Award
- No early repayment fees
- No drawdown fees
- Low annual fee
- Min 9 months in business
- Min $100,000 annual turnover
- Newer Businesses Accepted
- Bad Credit Borrowers Welcomed
- 2 Hour Approval
- 93% Positive Reviews
- Potentially higher interest rate
- Smaller and less experienced lender than our top choices
- Great reputation in Australia and globally
- 95% satisfaction from clients in Australia
- Annual interest rate starts at 9.99%
- Origination fee of 2.5% (lower than most lenders)
- Traded in the NYSE
- Application in 10 minutes
- One of the best known lenders in the world
- Not headquartered in Australia
- Min $100,000 annual turnover
All lender application is made through a third party platform that offers expedited quotes as well as the possibility of sending your application to multiple lenders.
How Unsecured Business Loans in Australia Work?
Our FAQ will explain the ins and outs of Australian unsecured business finance.
Unsecured Small Business Loans FAQ
+ Do bank 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?
More About our Top 10 Small Business Loans Choices
We have set ourselves a target of comparing and reviewing some of the top non-bank business lenders offering quick-application quick-funding business loans in Australia.
We want our readers, potential customers of such business finance services, to be able to understand the types of the various loans and services which are provided to them by each online business finance provider in Australia.
We also want them to understand the exact lending criteria that makes their small business eligible for funding (or not).
This is our criteria when it comes to recommending online business lenders:
✔️ They are approved as a credit provider in Australia. That is the first thing anyone should consider before engaging in business with any financial entity.
✔️ They are offering unsecured business loans specifically.
✔️ They are able to provide financing throughout Australia.
✔️ We prefer big and diverse companies that are able to offer business loans to various types of small and medium enterprises. That means there is a higher chance they willl be able to offer you something that meets your own requirements.
✔️ There is a quick and easy application process. If you have come to this website, you must have been searching for a fast business loan. The first part of being quick is being able to receive all the information required online in a simple and intuitive application.
✔️ There is a quick response to each application, followed by quick financing (i.e. money in the bank). That is the second part of providing fast business financing.
✔️ There is easy tracking of your loan and a clear repayment schedule with no hidden fees and no fines on early repayments.
✔️ A loan can be taken for any business use . For example, you can borrow funds from the lenders featured on this website to buy machinery, fix machinery, recruit staff, buy vehicles, buy stock, buy inventory, or even acquire another company.
✔️ A flexible loan amount is offered that can suit a business that needs money to buy stock the next day for $5,000, right through to a more established firm that uses a $500,000 loan to acquire a smaller competitor.
✔️ You are able to apply for loan with Become or Lend – that means that if that lender rejected your application, you will be introduced to other business financing options.
Based on the considerations above, we have made our selection with regards to the lenders we feature and review on this website. View our top business loan selections here.
Business Finance, Made Easy.
Learn about a swift and easy to use online platform to do all the legwork for you.
Before you rush to read our extensive small business lender reviews you should consider using Lend.com.au’s SME Financing tool. Test your eligibility in under 60 seconds – receive only the most relevant loan options from 20 online lenders who deal specifically with small businesses, and can provide money in the bank within 24 hours of approval. Lend.com.au deals with requests of $5,000 to $500,000 across Australia and the entire process is done online.
Editorial Rating:Â ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Types of Small Business Loans Available in Australia
If you have more specific requests or requirements for the money you borrow, you may want to look at specific small business finance categories. While the majority of online lenders reviewed and featured on our website are flexible and lend out money for almost any purpose, there are certain lenders who specialise in certain types of small business financing. To learn more about the lenders view our extensive small business loan comparison table.
Best Bad Credit Business Loans
Best Equipment Financing in Australia
Best Commercial Contruction Loans
Best for Business Overdraft
Best Business Line of Credit
Best for Asset Finance in Australia
Best Working Capital Loans
Best for Business Loan Refinancing
Best for Fit-Out Finance
Best for Invoice Financing
Secured Business Loans
Partner Buyout Finance
Localised Australia Guides
If you are looking for region specific information you may find it on our localised guides.
Business Loans Queensland / Brisbane
Business Loans Sydeny
Business Loans NSW
Business Loans Melbourne
Manual Business Loan Comparison or Automated Finders?
Although our aim is to provide you with tools to learn about the best business financing providers in Australia, we did mention that there are a lot of factors involved in choosing the right provider for your own specific circumstances.
This is why we recommend using Become or Valiant, services that were built on the idea of a smart algorithm that can enable you to find the financing you need and deserve, quickly. The only thing you need to do is fill in your details once and then receive offers from only the most relevant, approved business lenders. This is an especially useful tool if your business is newer or you have a bad credit score since only a smaller subset of lenders will accept such a business. But remember â there are no guaranteed approvals!
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small business loan comparison
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Australian Small Business Loan Reviews (Focus on Unsecured Loans)
Prospa Review
Prospa, located in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, is the most respected alternative business lender in 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 $1.2 billion to over 20,000 small businesses in Australia!Â
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. Youâre 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 4,250 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 loans in Australia back in 2008, and established itself as one of the industry leaders.
The firmâs 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 loans 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 small business financing 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 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.Â
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.Â
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 âthe friendliest lenderâ. 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.Â
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. 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 âreal riskâ 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
Lumiâs 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.
Compare Now With Additional Reviews for Australian Business Financing:
⏮️ Back to Best Unsecured Business Loans
SME Financing in Australia – Dos and Don’ts
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 donât need it. Consider other alternatives before jumping on a small business loan.
- Do extensive research to understand your options. Donât 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, youâre 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.
For Business Funding Newcomers
We believe the best way is to start off by explaining how this industry works and to lay out the pros and cons of alternative (non-bank) small business loans against a bank business loan. Below are the differences you will experience when dealing with the lenders listed on this website in comparison to Australian banks like Commonwealth, Westpac, ING, ANZ, or Suncorp.
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 bankâs 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.
Conclusions
Use an online small business lender in Australia if –
- You require money urgently. Working capital financing or equipment financing qualify as an urgent need.
- 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.
⏮️ Back to Best Unsecured Business Loans
Concluding Words on Unsecured Business Financing
We have reviewed more than 25 different Australia-based business loan opportunities, all of which offer unsecured small business loans. They are all credible, effective, and quick. Other similarities between the Australian non-bank funding companies include relatively high interest, strict minimum requirements, and small loan amounts in comparison to revenues (usually up to one month of revenues in financing).
It is not an easy, cheap, and effort-free process to get a small business loan, and you should conduct a comprehensive research to decide which of the SME finance lenders provide the best business loans for your needs.