Finance question
Can I get finance to buy an online business?
Sometimes, but not the way you finance a van or a shop. An online business has few hard assets, so lenders rely on verified profit and on security you can offer, such as property. Stock can be financed on its own, and a vendor will often hold part of the price over time, subject to lender assessment.
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The short answer
There is no machine to lend against
An online business is priced on verified profit, not traffic or followers. The brand, the domains, the customer list and the supplier terms are real value, but a lender cannot repossess and resell them. That is why the usual routes into an online purchase are a property-backed loan, vendor finance, a stock facility, or an acquisition loan with proven cash flow.
Australians spent $82.6 billion online in 2025, up 14%, and the market is crowded with listings. Our online business guide cites Benchmark Business Sales at 1.5x to 2.5x adjusted profit for a small owner-run or dropshipping store, 2.5x to 3.5x for an established own-brand store, and 3.5x to 4.5x for a strong brand with recurring revenue. Across 14 live listings, only 6 show a profit figure at all, so reconciled accounts, BAS and payment platform reports carry the whole file.
Vendor finance can fill the gap. The guide notes sellers often accept part of the price over 12 to 36 months or on profit targets, usually with a PPSR registration and a guarantee, and a bank will want to see how that ranks against its own security. Stock sits outside the asking price, counted at settlement and paid at cost, so it is the part a stock facility can fund. Ventas is a broker across 40+ lenders, and you pay us no upfront fee.
Do you qualify?
What a lender looks at on an online business purchase.
Verified profit
Financials that reconcile to BAS, bank statements and payment payouts.
Security
Property, stock or cash you can put in.
Spread of risk
Sales and supply not resting on one ad account, marketplace or supplier.
Clean ownership
Domain, trade marks and accounts in the seller's name and in the contract.
The routes that work
Property-backed loan
The lender relies on property you own, not the store.
Vendor finance
The seller is paid part of the price over time.
Stock finance
A facility secured on the stock, repaid as it sells.
A worked example
Take the doll brand in the guide at $225,000 plus about $60,000 of stock, $285,000 in all, on net profit of $47,027. A property-backed loan of $120,000, vendor finance of $45,000 over two years and a $30,000 stock facility leave $90,000 from savings. The guide computes the asking price at 4.8 times profit, above the top benchmark band. Illustrative only.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a loan secured on the online business itself?
Rarely on its own. Lenders want to see verified profit and usually additional security such as property, because the brand and domains cannot be resold like equipment.
Does vendor finance count toward the purchase?
Yes. A seller who is paid part of the price over time reduces the cash you need, though they usually take security and a guarantee, and the bank will want to see how it ranks.
Is the stock included in the asking price?
Often not. Stock is typically counted at settlement and paid at cost on top, which is why it is the part a stock facility can fund.
How long should an online business have traded?
There is no single rule, but lenders look for two to three years of reconciled profit. A store trading under a year is hard to fund without strong security.