The Awesome loan matcher

How the loan matcher works

There are close to thirty distinct kinds of business finance in Australia, and most of them were named by lenders rather than by the people who use them. The matcher flips that around. You start with what you want to do — grow, buy equipment, smooth cash flow, pay the ATO, buy stock, buy a business, fit out a site, tidy up debts, start up, bridge a gap or hire — and it works backwards to the products built for that job.

Each answer nudges the results. Your goal sets the shortlist. The amount band tells it whether unsecured options are realistic (they typically run from $5k to $500k, sized on turnover and bank statements) or whether property security is the more likely path (property-secured business loans run from $20k to $5m). Trading time decides whether lenders can lean on your history or need something else to rely on. Property, credit history and timing then reorder what's left.

Reading your results

Your top match sits first, with two alternatives beside it. Every card is colour-coded to match its page in our loan encyclopedia, with the main advantages in teal and the honest drawbacks in pink. Tap a card to read the full explanation: what it is, who it suits, how it works step by step, the paperwork and the alternatives.

Below the cards, the document checklist changes with your answers. Owning property adds rates notices and mortgage statements; an ATO debt adds your statement of account; buying a business adds the contract and financials. Gathering those before you talk to anyone is the single best way to keep things moving.

What the matcher can't tell you

It can't price anything, and it doesn't try. Business loans are priced on your circumstances, so a calculator quoting a generic rate would be guessing. It also can't see the nuance a person can — a contract you've just won, a one-off bad quarter, a property that's about to sell. That's why the final step is a conversation with a lending specialist who reads your enquiry properly.

If you want to check the size and length of a cash shortfall first, try the cash-flow gap estimator. If you'd rather compare everything side by side, the which business loan is right for me page lays out every option in one table. And when you're ready, tell us about your plan in about sixty seconds.

Frequently asked questions

Is the loan matcher an offer of finance?

No. It's a free guide that shows which loan types usually fit a situation like yours. A lending specialist confirms what's actually possible once they understand the full picture.

Why doesn't the matcher show interest rates?

Because every business loan is priced on the borrower's circumstances — security, trading, credit history, amount and term. A generic rate would mislead you, so the matcher focuses on fit, trade-offs and paperwork instead.

Does using the matcher affect my credit file?

Not at all. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere — the matching happens in your browser. Even when you go on to enquire, there's no credit check at that first step.

What if my best match needs property and I don't own any?

Choose 'No property' and the matcher removes property-secured options. Unsecured, asset-backed and invoice-based loans remain, sized on your trading and the asset or invoices involved.

Can I get finance if I'm not trading yet?

Often, yes — but usually through property equity, the equipment being bought, or a franchise system rather than trading history. The matcher reshuffles results when you choose 'Not trading yet'.

Why does the matcher ask how soon I need the money?

Timing changes the best structure. Short, urgent needs suit simpler secured or unsecured loans with a ready document pack, while planned purchases leave room for longer terms and comparing structures.