Worth reading
Plain-English guides.
Australian finance, minus the jargon. 30 pieces and counting — covering home loans, business finance, investment property, and what the latest policy actually means for borrowers.
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Browse the archive.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Commercial construction loan: how progressive drawdown works
Commercial construction loans fund the build in stages, with each drawdown released against verified progress. Plain-English explainer of how the drawdown schedule works, what a quantity surveyor does, and the cash flow planning that goes with it.
BUSINESS FINANCE
The 7-day approval: what lenders need to see for a fast unsecured business loan
Fast unsecured business loans in Australia can settle in 24 to 72 hours when the documentation is right. Plain-English run-through of what lenders actually need to see, and the common mistakes that turn a fast deal into a slow one.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Truck finance for new ABN holders: which lenders actually fund you?
New ABN holders get knocked back by mainstream banks for truck finance more often than not. The right answer is matching the application to a specialist lender that funds new operators. Plain-English guide to who lends to whom.
BUSINESS FINANCE
SMSF commercial property loans: the basics for business owners
Buying commercial property through a self-managed super fund is a recognised strategy, often used by business owners to hold the premises their business operates from. Plain-English explainer of how SMSF commercial property loans work, the structure, and when they fit.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Bridging finance vs second mortgage: what's the difference?
Bridging finance and a second mortgage both let you borrow against property equity, but they serve different purposes and price very differently. Plain-English comparison of structure, cost, and when each fits.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Invoice finance for small business: how much can you access?
Invoice finance for small business typically advances 80 to 90 per cent of invoice value, with the size of the facility scaling with your sales. Plain-English explainer of how much funding is available, what drives the limit, and how to structure a facility for a smaller business.
BUSINESS FINANCE
What is a finance lease?
A finance lease is a long-term rental of a business asset where the lender owns the asset and you make fixed lease payments, with a residual value owing at the end of the term. Plain-English explainer of how it works, the tax treatment, and when it suits.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Business overdraft vs unsecured business loan: the practical differences
A business overdraft and an unsecured business loan solve different problems. The overdraft suits ongoing, lumpy cash flow; the unsecured loan suits a one-off funding need. Plain-English comparison covering cost, structure, and when each fits.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Commercial property loan eligibility: what lenders look for
Commercial property lender eligibility comes down to four things: the property, the lease, your business strength, and the loan-to-value ratio. Plain-English breakdown of what each lender weighs and how to package a deal so the application succeeds.
BUSINESS FINANCE
What is debtor finance?
Debtor finance is funding secured against your unpaid customer invoices (debtors). It is the same product family as factoring and invoice discounting. Plain-English explainer of how it works and who it suits.
BUSINESS FINANCE
What is a hire purchase agreement?
A hire purchase agreement is a way of buying business equipment where the lender owns the asset until the final payment, at which point ownership transfers to you. Plain-English explainer of how it works, the tax treatment, and how it compares with chattel mortgage.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Private lending for business: a borrower's plain-English guide
Private lending is funding from non-bank and private credit funds rather than mainstream banks. It is faster, more flexible, and more expensive. Plain-English explainer of how it works, when it fits, and how to compare across the opaque private market.
BUSINESS FINANCE
How much deposit do you need for a commercial property loan?
Commercial property loan deposits are typically 20 to 40 per cent of the purchase price. The exact figure depends on the property type, the lease in place, and your business strength. Plain-English explainer of what shifts the number and how to reduce it.
BUSINESS FINANCE
The pros and cons of invoice factoring
Invoice factoring releases cash from unpaid customer invoices and outsources collections to the lender. The cash flow benefit is real; so are the trade-offs. Plain-English run-through of the pros, the cons, and when factoring is the right call.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Financing a used or older truck: what owner-operators need to know
Used trucks are how most owner-operators and transport businesses actually build a fleet. The financing piece is harder than for new vehicles because lender appetite narrows sharply with age. Plain-English guide to which lenders fund used trucks and what they look for.
BUSINESS FINANCE
What is a caveat loan?
A caveat loan is a short-term loan secured by a caveat lodged over property rather than a registered mortgage. It is the fastest form of property-secured business finance: often 2 to 7 days to settle. Plain-English explainer of how it works, what it costs, and when it makes sense.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Chattel mortgage, GST and depreciation: the tax basics for EOFY
A chattel mortgage carries three tax advantages that matter most around end-of-financial-year: claim the GST on the purchase up front, deduct the interest portion of each repayment, and depreciate (or instant-write-off) the asset. Plain-English explainer of how each works.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Invoice finance vs factoring vs invoice discounting: the differences explained
The three terms get used interchangeably but they are different products. Invoice finance is the umbrella; factoring and invoice discounting are two structures inside it. This explainer covers what each one means, who manages collections, and which suits which business.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Chattel mortgage vs hire purchase vs finance lease: which suits your business?
The three main ways to finance a business asset look similar from a cash flow perspective but differ on ownership, tax treatment, and accounting. Plain-English comparison covering when each one suits.
BUSINESS FINANCE
What is working capital, and how do you manage it?
Working capital is the cash your business needs to cover day-to-day operations: the gap between when money goes out (to suppliers, wages, stock) and when it comes in (from customers). Plain-English explainer of how to measure it, manage it, and finance it when it is short.
BUSINESS FINANCE
What is bridging finance, and when does it make sense?
Bridging finance is short-term funding that covers a defined gap between two transactions, repaid from a known source once it lands. Plain-English explainer of how it works, when it fits, what it costs, and the critical exit-strategy question.
BUSINESS FINANCE
What is invoice finance and how does it work?
Invoice finance lets you borrow against unpaid customer invoices so you do not have to wait 30, 60 or 90 days to be paid. Plain-English explainer of how it works, the costs, who it suits, and how it compares with factoring.
BUSINESS FINANCE
What is a chattel mortgage and how does it work?
A chattel mortgage is the default way Australian businesses finance vehicles and equipment. You own the asset from day one and the lender takes a mortgage over it as security. Plain-English explainer of how it works, the tax treatment, and when it suits.
BUSINESS FINANCE
How Australian Lenders Assess Self-Employed Income
Lender approaches to self-employed income vary widely. The same applicant can be approved at one bank and declined at another, on identical numbers.
PERSONAL FINANCE
Personal Loan vs. Credit Card: A Practical Comparison
Two different products that solve different problems. The wrong choice costs you a few thousand dollars over a couple of years.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Business Finance Options for Australian SMEs
Eight products compared. When working capital beats an overdraft. When chattel mortgage beats a lease.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Vehicle Finance Options for Sole Traders
Chattel mortgage, lease, hire purchase, novated lease — four products that look similar and behave very differently for a sole trader.
PERSONAL FINANCE
Why Your Quote Looks Different from the Comparison Rate
Comparison rates are designed for ranking products. They are not designed to predict your actual quote — and they are calculated against a fictional borrower.
BUSINESS FINANCE
Cashflow Forecasting for Small Business Loans
A 90-day rolling cashflow is the single document that decides whether your working-capital facility application moves to credit approval.