Finance question
Can a startup get equipment finance?
Yes. A startup can get equipment finance because the asset itself secures the loan, so a lender is not relying on years of trading history. On low-doc and no-doc structures, many deals settle with an active ABN and the right asset, subject to lender assessment.
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The short answer
The asset carries the deal, not your track record
A bank usually wants to see two or three years of trading before it funds anything. That rules out most startups on the first question. Equipment finance works differently, because the loan is secured by the vehicle, truck or machine you are buying, so the lender's risk sits in the asset rather than in a long history you do not have yet.
That is why a new business can often be funded when the deal is structured properly. Across our panel of 40+ lenders, some are comfortable with startups and price for it, while others are not. A broker's job is to send your application to the ones with the appetite, rather than to the one lender a bank happens to be.
Low-doc and no-doc options matter most here. Because a startup has little or no financial history to show, many equipment deals are assessed on the asset, an active ABN and a clear plan for how the equipment earns its keep. We package that story before we submit so the application is judged fairly.
Do you qualify?
What makes a startup deal fundable.
A specific asset
A vehicle, truck or machine to secure the finance.
An active ABN
Sole traders, trusts and companies can all qualify.
A deposit can help
Not always required, but it can widen your options as a startup.
A clear use for the asset
How the equipment earns income supports the case.
Why a new business is not an automatic no
Lenders differ
Some price for startups, some avoid them. A broker knows which is which.
The asset secures it
Security in the equipment offsets a short trading history.
Low-doc paths
Many startup deals settle without full financials on the right structure.
A real example
A new landscaping business, three months old, needs a $45,000 truck and trailer to take on jobs. No tax returns exist yet. Placed with a lender comfortable with startups, secured on the asset, approved on low-doc with a modest deposit. Illustrative only.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How new can my business be and still qualify?
Even a business only a few months old can be considered, because the asset secures the loan. The right lender and structure matter more than time in business.
Do I need financials as a startup?
Often no. Many startup equipment deals are assessed on low-doc or no-doc, using the asset and an active ABN rather than tax returns.
Will a deposit help my case?
It can. A deposit lowers the lender's risk and can widen which lenders are willing to approve a new business.
What assets can a startup finance?
Vehicles, trucks, trailers, machinery, medical, IT, farm, kitchen and gym gear, and fit-outs, up to $500,000, subject to lender assessment.