What should I know before applying for a business loan? Is there anything I need to prepare in advance?

At the outset, recognise that different lenders want to look at different aspects of their applicant’s profile and will have different requirements. Our lending experts will walk you through any documentation needed, but if you decide to apply on your own, lenders typically want to see the following documents:

• Who you are
  • Legal business name
  • Your Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Business address and contact information
  • Ownership type of company
  • Current owners
  • History of company
  • ID cards with photograph - i.e. passport, driver’s license
  • ID documents - i.e. birth certificate, Australian citizenship certificate, utilities (power, gas, phone) bill, a recent rates notice from your local council, an income tax notice from the Australian Tax Office
• How healthy your business is
  • Gross annual revenue
  • Notice of tax assessment (past two years)
  • Company tax returns (past two ears)
  • Client account documents
  • Balance sheets/profit and loss statements (past two years)
  • Proof of income - i.e. payslips, letters of employment
  • Business banking account number and balance
• What you own (can be used as security/collateral)
  • Physical assets - i.e. land, building, equipment, vehicles (documents and photos)
  • Financial assets - i.e. stocks, bonds, crypto currencies
  • Intellectual property - i.e. pa
    tents owned
• How your other business ventures are doing, if any
• What you owe
  • Debts - i.e. leases, overdrafts, loans, taxes
  • Any other financial obligations that you have
• How you will be repay your loan
  • Crunch your numbers and know how much you can afford to repay regularly
    A well thought-out budget is very important at this stage, as well as cash flow analysis including debt payment schedule, accounts payable, accounts receivable (prepared 90 days prior to lender meeting).

Most importantly, ask your lender about anything you’re unsure about. And if you get stuck along the way, our lending experts are here to help you. It’s important you feel confident about your decision, and it’s our priority to ensure you’re fully informed and clear on loan terms.