Short answer: How much you can borrow for a business loan with Instant Business Finance depends on the lending lane. Property-secured loans range from $20,000 to $5M and are assessed on your equity and how the loan will be repaid. Cash-flow loans need no property and are sized to business turnover. Every amount is subject to assessment.
Key takeaways
- Borrowing amounts are worked out through assessment. They are not set in advance.
- Property-secured loans range from $20,000 to $5M. They are assessed on the equity in owned property and on the exit, which is how the loan will be repaid.
- Cash-flow loans need no property. They are sized to turnover and need an active ABN, 6+ months trading and business bank statements.
- The online eligibility check takes about 60 seconds and does not make a credit enquiry.
How the process works:
- Complete the 60-second online eligibility check. It costs nothing and makes no credit enquiry.
- Share details for the lane that fits. That means property details for a secured loan, or a read-only link to business bank statements for a cash-flow loan.
- If you decide to go ahead, a credit check happens at that stage, and only with your consent.
- The lender assesses equity and the exit, or turnover, and then decides whether to make an offer and for how much.
The short answer: it depends on property equity or turnover
The amount a business can borrow depends first on one question. Is the loan secured against property the owner holds, or is it based on money moving through the business bank account? Instant Business Finance lends both ways, and each lane sizes a loan differently.
No business gets a fixed figure before it applies. A lender can only name an amount after it has reviewed the application against its lending criteria. Two businesses with similar turnover may get different offers. So may two owners with similar homes. The detail behind each application matters.
The first lane is property-secured business loans. These are backed by residential, commercial or industrial property that the borrower owns. Here, the size of the loan is tied mainly to the equity in that property and to a clear plan for repaying it.
The second lane is cash-flow lending. No property is needed, and the business bank statements show what the business can reasonably carry. This lane suits the question "how much can my business borrow without putting up property?"
For independent background on how business borrowing works in Australia, Moneysmart publishes general guidance from ASIC.
Property-secured loans: borrowing against your equity
Property-secured loans run from $20,000 to $5M, backed by owned residential, commercial or industrial property. The amount depends on two things: equity and the exit.
Equity is the value of the property minus any loans already secured against it. More equity generally leaves more room to borrow, but the lender's current policy sets how much of that equity it will lend against. The exit is how the loan will be repaid. Examples include selling an asset, refinancing or using incoming business funds. A believable exit carries real weight in the assessment.
This lane does not need financial statements or tax returns. Bad credit, defaults and ATO debt are considered, and overdue lodgements don't stop an application. Businesses in that position can read more about bad credit business loans.
There are three ways the loan can be secured:
- Second mortgage: sits behind an existing home loan or mortgage.
- Caveat loan: written in Victoria only. In other states and territories, the loan settles straight onto a registered second mortgage.
- First mortgage: available where the property is unencumbered. It is generally the lowest-cost option.
Funds can arrive in as little as 24 hours. That is possible, not promised. Timing depends on assessment and approval.
Cash-flow loans: borrowing based on turnover
Cash-flow loans need no property, and the amount is sized to the business's turnover. The bank account, not a building, does the talking.
To be considered, a business needs three things:
- an active ABN
- at least 6 months of trading
- business bank statements, shared through a read-only link
The read-only link lets the lender see money coming in and going out without being able to move any funds. From those statements, the lender forms a view of steady turnover and how much repayment the business can handle.
There is no set multiple of turnover that applies to every business. The amount depends on the lender's current policy and what the bank statements show. A business with regular, consistent deposits presents a different picture from one with large swings or long quiet stretches. That's true even if the yearly totals look similar.
Some cash-flow loans have been funded in as little as 2 hours after approval. That is not the standard outcome. It depends on how quickly the assessment is finished and the paperwork is signed.
If owned property isn't part of the picture, the unsecured business loans page explains this lane in more detail.
Property-secured vs cash-flow: how the borrowing amount compares
The two lanes size loans in different ways. The table sets them side by side.
| Property-secured | Cash-flow | |
|---|---|---|
| What the amount is based on | Equity in owned property, plus the exit | Business turnover |
| Amount range | $20,000 to $5M | Sized to turnover |
| What's needed to apply | Owned residential, commercial or industrial property. No financials or tax returns needed | Active ABN, 6+ months trading, business bank statements via read-only link |
| Credit history | Bad credit, defaults and ATO debt considered | Depends on the lender's current policy |
| Example funding timeframe | In as little as 24 hours | Some in as little as 2 hours after approval |
This table is general information only. The amount offered, and whether any offer is made, depends on the lender's assessment of each application.
Other things that shape how much a lender will offer
Beyond equity and turnover, the exit, existing debts and the purpose of the loan all shape the final figure.
The exit. In property-secured lending, the repayment plan is central to the decision. A clear, realistic exit makes the case easier to assess.
Existing debts. Current loans, leases and other commitments reduce what is left over. On property, existing mortgages reduce equity. In a bank account, regular repayments reduce the cash left to service something new.
Purpose and amount. Lenders want to understand what the money is for. Borrowing more than the plan needs adds cost without adding value. The guide to what a business loan actually costs explains how costs build up.
Example only: a business owner has a commercial property with an existing first mortgage and needs funds to cover a supplier bill until a large invoice is paid. In that case, the remaining equity and the timing of that invoice, as the exit, would be central to the assessment.
Tax debts. ATO debt is considered in the property-secured lane. The ATO's business pages explain tax obligations in official terms. For wider finance and funding information, see business.gov.au.
When a loan is the wrong answer
A loan is not always the right tool, and knowing when to hold back matters as much as knowing the amount.
No clear way to repay. The exit is a core part of property-secured assessment. If a business can't explain how the loan will be repaid, borrowing may not suit its position.
Covering ongoing losses. Using borrowed money to cover trading losses that keep happening, with no plan to fix the cause, can make things worse. Repayments add a new cost on top of the existing problem.
Tax debt alone. Where the main pressure is a tax bill, the ATO publishes information about payment options on its business pages. For some businesses, dealing with the ATO directly may be enough.
Grants and support. Government grants and support programs are listed on business.gov.au and may be worth checking before borrowing.
If the way forward isn't clear, an accountant or a financial counsellor can help weigh up the options independently. Moneysmart also explains where to find free help.
Checking how much you may be able to borrow
The simplest way to get a sense of where a business stands is to complete the online eligibility check. It takes about 60 seconds, makes no credit enquiry and costs nothing to apply.
A credit check happens only later, with consent, if the borrower chooses to go ahead. Up to that point, nothing is lodged against the borrower's credit file.
All applications are subject to lending criteria, assessment and approval. The check is a starting point, not an offer. Any amount depends on the lender's view of the equity and exit, or the turnover.
For questions, contact Instant Business Finance, a trading name of Company Cash Pty Ltd, ABN 88 673 762 297. Call 1300 863 711, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST.
When you're ready, the next step is to start your application. It's helpful to have your ABN, property details or online banking login ready. It only takes a few minutes to start.
No obligation. Eligibility is subject to assessment.
This is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. All applications are subject to lending criteria, assessment and approval. Fees and charges may apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum and maximum I can borrow with a property-secured business loan?
Property-secured loans range from $20,000 to $5M. They are backed by owned residential, commercial or industrial property and assessed on equity and the exit, which is how the loan will be repaid. Where an amount lands in that range depends on the lender's assessment of each application, including how much equity is available and how believable the repayment plan is.
How is the amount worked out for a business loan without property?
Cash-flow loans are sized to the business's turnover. The lender reviews business bank statements, shared through a read-only link, to see regular income and outgoings. There is no fixed multiple that applies to everyone. The amount depends on the lender's current policy and what the statements show. The business also needs an active ABN and at least 6 months of trading.
Can I still borrow if I have bad credit, defaults or ATO debt?
In the property-secured lane, bad credit, defaults and ATO debt are considered. Overdue tax lodgements don't stop an application either. The focus is on property equity and the exit rather than past credit history alone. For cash-flow loans, how credit history is treated depends on the lender's current policy. Every application is still subject to lending criteria, assessment and approval.
Do I need financial statements or tax returns to find out how much I can borrow?
Not for property-secured loans. That lane does not need financials or tax returns, as it is assessed on equity and the exit. Cash-flow loans rely on business bank statements instead, shared through a read-only link, along with an active ABN and 6+ months of trading. Either way, the starting point is a 60-second online eligibility check.
Does checking how much I can borrow affect my credit file?
The 60-second online eligibility check does not make a credit enquiry, and there is no cost to apply. A credit check happens only later, with your consent, if you decide to go ahead with an application. That means looking into options does not, by itself, add an enquiry to your credit file. Any later credit check is part of the lender's normal assessment process. This is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. All applications are subject to lending criteria, assessment and approval. Fees and charges may apply.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No. There's no cost to apply or check your eligibility. All costs are set out in writing in your loan offer before you sign anything.
Will checking my eligibility affect my credit score?
No. Our 60-second eligibility check doesn't make a credit enquiry. A credit check is only done later, with your consent, if you decide to proceed.
