Bridge the gap between getting paid and having to pay.
You've done the work and sent the invoice — but wages, stock, rent and the ATO won't wait 30, 60 or 90 days for your customer to pay. Working-capital finance covers that timing gap. We match your revenue, security and trading history to the lenders who fund cash flow, across a panel of 50.
Where the cash-flow gap opens up.
An illustrative trading year for a typical business: money coming in (receivables, landing late) against money going out (wages, suppliers, rent, ATO). In the months where the outflow lands before the inflow does, a shortfall opens — that shaded gap is exactly what a working-capital facility covers until your invoices are paid.
Chart is an illustrative, typical scenario only — not a forecast, quote or offer, and not based on any specific business. Payment-time figures: Xero Small Business Insights (XSBI), Australia, March quarter 2026 (average ~24.1 days to be paid; ~6.9 days late) — a named third-party source, not an RBA/ABS statistic.
Four ways to fund the gap.
There's no single "working-capital loan" — there's a toolkit. The right one depends on where your gap comes from and what you can secure it against. We compare them across the panel so you're not paying for flexibility you don't need.
Business overdraft / line of credit
A set credit limit attached to your account. You draw on it when the gap opens and repay as customers pay you — interest applies to the drawn balance, plus a facility fee.
- Best for recurring, unpredictable gaps
- Only pay for what you actually use
- Sharper pricing when secured against property or assets
Invoice finance
Turn unpaid B2B invoices into cash now. The funder advances a large share of each invoice's value upfront and releases the balance, less a fee, once your customer pays.
- Best when late-paying business customers are the problem
- The limit grows with your sales ledger
- Often structured as a sale of receivables, not a balance-sheet loan
Unsecured short-term facility
A set lump sum repaid on a fixed schedule over a short term. Fastest to arrange and no property security — but it prices for that extra risk, so the rate sits well above a secured facility.
- Best for a one-off need with a clear repayment plan
- Quick to organise when timing matters
- Weigh the speed against the higher cost
Secured working-capital facility
A limit secured against property or business assets. If you have equity, this is usually the single biggest lever on cost — pricing sits closest to the small-business secured band.
- Best when you have equity and want the sharpest rate
- Indicative secured band ~7% (RBA F7, May 2026)
- We'll show you whether a smarter security structure changes the maths
Facility descriptions are general information, not lender offers. Cost bands are indicative market observations that vary by lender, term, security and risk profile. The ~7% secured band reflects the RBA's small-business residentially-secured rate (RBA Table F7, ~6.96%, May 2026); it is a comparison reference, not a quoted rate. Rates change and generally move with the RBA cash rate. Any rate is confirmed by the lender in writing, alongside its comparison rate. Not an offer of credit.
Which situation sounds like yours?
The cheapest fix depends on why the gap exists. Tell us the shape of the problem and we point the search at the lenders built for it.
Customers pay in 30–90 days
You invoice, then wait. Invoice finance usually unlocks cash tied up in the ledger most efficiently.
Seasonal peaks and troughs
Quiet months, but rent and wages don't stop. A line of credit bridges the dip and repays in peak season.
Payroll lands before the big invoice
Staff paid fortnightly, client pays monthly. An overdraft covers the fortnight-to-month mismatch.
A one-off, urgent bill
Equipment failure, a tax bill, an emergency repair. An unsecured short-term facility is quickest to arrange.
Supplier wants paying up front
They want COD; your customer pays later. A revolving line of credit or trade facility keeps both sides happy.
You have property equity
Securing the facility can move the rate materially. We'll model secured vs unsecured before you commit.
Cash flow, not profit, is what strains a business.
The backdrop for Australian businesses managing working capital, mid-2026.
Sources: Xero Small Business Insights (payment times, Mar qtr 2026); ASIC insolvency statistics, Series 1 & 2 (companies entering external administration for the first time, FY2024-25 — a record year; the exact total lives in ASIC's published workbook); RBA Cash Rate Target (4.35%, held at the June 2026 meeting); ABS Counts of Australian Businesses (2,729,648 actively trading businesses, 30 June 2025). Insolvency figures are market context only, not a comment on any individual business. Working-capital pricing moves with the cash rate.
Before you accept an unsecured rate, ask what security could do.
The same business can be offered very different pricing depending on whether the facility is secured. Unsecured and online working-capital facilities are fast and don't touch your property — but they price for the extra risk, often running from the mid-teens to 20%+ APR-equivalent, well above the small-business secured band of around 7%.
That's not a reason to avoid unsecured finance — sometimes speed is worth it. It's a reason to see both options side by side. On a sizeable facility, the difference between a secured and an unsecured rate can be substantial over a year. Our first question is always whether there's a smarter structure before you sign.
Secured band ~7% reflects the RBA small-business residentially-secured rate (RBA Table F7, ~6.96%, May 2026). Unsecured/online ranges are indicative market observations from individual lender pricing, not an RBA/ABS series, and vary widely by lender, term and risk. Rates change and generally move with the cash rate; each lender confirms its rate and comparison rate in writing. Not an offer of credit or a guarantee of approval or a particular rate.
Working-capital finance FAQs.
What actually is working-capital finance?
It's short-term, business-purpose finance that bridges the timing gap between money owed to you (receivables) and money you owe (wages, suppliers, stock, rent, the ATO). Rather than funding a big asset purchase, it smooths cash flow — covering the weeks or months between paying your costs and being paid by your customers. Overdrafts, business lines of credit, invoice finance and short-term facilities are the common forms.
How do I know which facility suits my business?
It depends on where your gap comes from. If unpaid B2B invoices are the issue, invoice finance usually unlocks that cash most efficiently. If you need flexible access throughout the year, a line of credit or overdraft fits. If it's a one-off, urgent cost, a short-term facility is fastest. We look at your cash-flow pattern and compare the most cost-effective options from our panel of 50 lenders.
Can I get working-capital finance without using my house as security?
Yes — unsecured and cash-flow facilities exist and don't require property. They price for the extra risk, though, so the rate is usually well above a secured facility. If you do have property or asset equity, we'll show you both so you can weigh the rate saving against the security you'd be offering, rather than defaulting to the fastest option.
How does invoice finance pricing work?
Invoice finance typically charges a discount or service fee calculated on the invoice value for the period the invoice is outstanding. You receive a large share of each invoice upfront, and the balance — less the fee — when your customer pays. Fees vary by funder, your customers' credit quality and your invoice volume, and are confirmed in writing before you proceed. It's an indicative structure, not a fixed price.
What documents will I need, and does it affect my credit?
Nothing for the initial assessment. To proceed, lenders typically want recent business bank statements, your BAS and ABN details; larger or bank facilities may add financial statements and a cash-flow view. Most lenders run a credit check when you formally apply, which leaves a small, temporary enquiry on your file. We tell you exactly what each lender needs up front so there are no surprises.
Is working-capital finance regulated like a home loan?
Much business and commercial lending sits outside the National Credit Code that governs consumer home loans, because it's for business purposes. We arrange commercial finance through Esteb Capital; consumer credit is provided under Esteb & Co (Credit Rep #574071). We'll tell you which framework applies to your facility and what it means for you.
Smooth the gap.
Tell us the shape of your cash-flow gap and we'll come back with the facilities that fit — and the smartest way to structure them.
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