A standing limit to draw on in the tight months and repay when income arrives.
- Funding available within 2 business days on unsecured limits from non-bank lenders
- Limits from $50K to $5M, unsecured or secured against property
- Seasonal, project-based and contract businesses whose income arrives unevenly
- Draw for stock, wages, super, suppliers and project costs, then repay as income lands
- Full-doc (tax returns), low-doc or alt-doc (BAS, bank statements or an accountant's letter instead) and no-doc options across our 90+ lender panel
If your income arrives in waves, you likely know already which months will be tight. A builder waits on a progress claim. A tourism operator carries the off-season. An employer now funds super with every payday rather than each quarter. A business line of credit is a standing facility, separate from your everyday account, with an approved limit you can draw from, repay and draw again. Interest runs only on the amount drawn, so the limit can sit unused until the tight month arrives. With the facility approved ahead of time, the money is one transfer away when you need it. Joseph Farhat and his team look at how cash moves through your business across the year, then tell you plainly what limit can be arranged and on what security.
Who we can help access finance
- Builders and trade contractors carrying labour and materials between progress claims on project work.
- Seasonal businesses, such as tourism operators, event companies and farm suppliers, covering fixed costs through the quieter months.
- Employers with larger payrolls, where super now has to reach each fund within 7 business days after every payday.
- Wholesalers and importers paying overseas suppliers before goods are sold, while their own customers pay on 30 to 60 day terms.
- Business owners with property equity who want a larger, lower-priced limit secured against it.
- Company directors who want the buffer kept apart from the operating account, so borrowed money is easy to track and repay.
How Business Line of Credit Works
A line of credit runs on three moves: draw, repay and redraw. The lender approves a limit, say $300,000. You transfer what you need into your operating account, through online banking or a request to the lender. Interest is charged only on the drawn balance, usually calculated daily. When income lands, you repay as much as you choose, and that amount becomes available to draw again. Many facilities need only the interest each month, though some non-bank lines set a minimum repayment on each draw. Lenders often charge a line fee on the approved limit, so holding an unused facility is not always free.
Unsecured lines are sized against turnover and account history, and most sit below about $500,000. Unsecured means no property is mortgaged; most lenders still ask the directors or owners for a personal guarantee. Secured against property, a line can reach $5M at a lower rate and with a longer facility term. Bank lines are commonly reviewed every year. Non-bank lines often run for a fixed period, such as 12 or 24 months, and are then renewed.
A line of credit suits a balance that rises and falls. If the money is for a one-off purchase, such as a vehicle, a fit-out or a business, a term loan with scheduled repayments clears the debt by a set date and can cost less. The same applies if the line has stayed fully drawn for most of a year. Joseph Farhat and his team compare lines of credit across 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, and will show you a term loan alongside where the purpose points that way. We are a finance broker, not an accountant or tax adviser, so your accountant is the right person to forecast the cash flow gap and confirm the tax treatment of the interest.
What Lenders Assess for Business Line of Credit
The cash flow cycle
when the business runs short and when the money comes back, usually read from 6 to 12 months of statements.
How each draw is repaid
a progress claim, the peak season or customer invoices falling due give the lender a clear path back to a low balance.
Turnover and margin
an unsecured limit is usually set against monthly income, so steady deposits support a larger limit.
Property security
for a secured line, the property value and the loan-to-value ratio (LVR), the loan as a share of the property's value, set the maximum limit.
Debt already in place
equipment finance, other credit lines and any ATO payment plan are counted when the limit is sized.
Industry and contracts
lenders look at the sector and, for project businesses, the quality of the contracts and who the clients are.
How the operating account is run
returned payments and frequent negative balances weigh on the file more than a single quiet month.
The Business Line of Credit Process: What to Expect
- Talk Joseph Farhat and his team through your year: the months that run short, the size of the gap and what brings the money back.
- Share 6 to 12 months of business statements, your latest BAS or financials, and details of any property you would offer.
- We pick the facility that fits, unsecured for speed or property-secured for a larger limit, and lodge one complete application with the most likely lender. Each credit enquiry is recorded on your file, so the first choice matters.
- The offer sets out the limit, rate, line fee, minimum repayments, security and renewal date. We go through each item with you, and any guarantee goes to an independent lawyer before you sign.
- The facility opens and you draw as the gaps appear. We keep the renewal date in view and stay available if the business outgrows the limit or a term loan becomes the closer fit.
Indicative Finance Options
| Lender Type | Indicative Rate | Security | Typical Loan Range | Loan Term | Speed to Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | From ~8% p.a. | Property security usually required | $50K to $5M | Ongoing, reviewed annually | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Non-Bank Lenders | From ~12% p.a. | Unsecured, business assets or property | $50K to $1M | 12 to 24 months, renewable | Within 2 business days |
| Private Finance | From ~1.2% per month | Property security | $100K to $5M | 1 to 24 months | Available for unique scenarios |
Indicative figures only. Actual rates and terms depend on your project, financial position, property location, and lender assessment at the time of application. Rates are subject to change.
Why borrowers choose Settled With Joe for a business line of credit
We represent you, not the lender
Joseph Farhat and his team act in your interest from the first conversation until the facility is open.
A limit that fits the cycle
we size the request to your largest seasonal or project gap, not to the most a lender will offer.
Line fees compared
the cost of holding an unused limit varies between lenders, and over a year it can matter as much as the rate.
Unsecured and secured, side by side
what an unsecured line costs today against a property-secured line with a larger limit and a lower rate.
The right lender first
one complete application to the lender most likely to approve, so your credit file is not filled with enquiries.
90+ lenders on one panel
bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, so a full set of financials can go to a bank at a sharper rate, and an urgent limit still has options.
Private finance for unique scenarios
where bank and non-bank lenders are not the right fit, we can introduce you to private finance options.
Usually no direct cost to you
as a broker we are typically paid by the lender on settlement.
An honest answer early
if the tight months are already on the calendar, talk to us before they start and we will tell you what is realistically achievable.
Frequently asked questions
What is a business line of credit?
A business line of credit is an approved limit, held in a separate facility, that a business can draw from, repay and draw again for as long as the facility runs. Interest applies to the drawn balance only. It suits costs that come and go, such as seasonal stock, payroll and super, or the gap between project costs and progress payments. It can be unsecured or secured against property, and it is reviewed or renewed at set intervals.
Secured or unsecured, and what limit can I get?
That depends on the security you offer and how your cash flow runs. Unsecured lines from non-bank lenders are usually sized against monthly turnover and account history, and many sit under about $500,000. Most still need a personal guarantee from the directors or owners. A line secured against residential or commercial property can reach $5M at a lower rate, because the lender works the limit out from the property value and the LVR. Secured lines take longer to set up because the property needs a valuation. Joseph Farhat and his team will give you an indicative limit under both before you choose.
Do I pay interest on the unused limit?
Generally, no. Interest is worked out on the drawn balance, usually daily, and stops on whatever you repay. Many lenders do charge a line fee or limit fee on the full approved amount, which is the cost of having the money available. A larger limit can therefore cost more to hold even while it sits unused. We set out the line fee next to the rate for each option, so you can see the full yearly cost.
Can a line of credit be set up quickly?
An unsecured line from a non-bank lender can often be approved and ready to draw within 2 business days when statements are clean and the request is clear. A property-secured line takes longer, commonly 2 to 6 weeks, because of the valuation and the security documents. Where the tight month is still a few weeks away, there is time to look at secured options as well as the fastest ones.
Line of credit or overdraft: what is the difference?
An overdraft sits on your everyday transaction account, and you use it by paying bills from that account. A line of credit is a separate facility, and you transfer money across when you need it. Keeping borrowed money apart from trading money makes it easier to see what is owed and to plan repayments. Lines of credit are also offered by more non-bank lenders and often at larger limits. If the gap is small and clears within a few weeks, an overdraft may be simpler to run. Joseph Farhat and his team can price both for your business.
Can a line of credit help with super under Payday Super?
It can be drawn for any business cost, including wages and super. Since 1 July 2026, super must reach each employee's fund within 7 business days after payday, with some exceptions, rather than by a quarterly due date. For employers with uneven income, super now comes out of the account every pay cycle, including in the quiet weeks. A line can be drawn for a pay run and repaid when customer payments arrive. Super that is already overdue is a different situation: speak with your accountant first, and our super guarantee debt finance page covers how that is funded.
Can I get a business line of credit with low-doc or no-doc?
Yes, for many limits. Non-bank lenders often assess an unsecured line on 6 to 12 months of business bank statements and BAS rather than tax returns. A property-secured line can be arranged on low-doc terms, and some lenders offer no-doc where the property equity is strong, at a higher rate. Bank lines usually need full financials and return a sharper rate for them. For complex situations, we can introduce you to private finance options. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you which documents open which lenders before you start collecting them.
Do you work with borrowers with bad credit?
Yes, we do. A default, a court judgment or a period of arrears does not rule out a line of credit, and it will not change how we treat you. For a line of credit, lenders care most about the shape of your cash flow and whether drawn amounts come back down. Several lenders on our panel give that pattern more weight than the credit file and adjust the pricing for the risk. Mention it in the first conversation so we approach a lender that will consider it, rather than adding enquiries that go nowhere. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you honestly what is achievable before anything is lodged.
Why work with Settled With Joe to arrange your business line of credit?
You explain your cash flow once, and we take it to the lenders. Most of the people we help with lines of credit are self-employed business owners and company directors whose income moves in cycles: a builder between progress claims, a seasonal operator heading into the quiet months, or an employer funding super with every pay run. That pattern is normal to us and there is no judgement. What matters for a line of credit is a clear cash flow cycle and a dependable source of repayment for each draw. Our panel covers 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, so a full set of financials can go to a bank at a sharper rate, and there are still options when the limit is needed this week or the scenario is complex. We are based in Sydney and work with businesses Australia-wide. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you early and honestly what limit is achievable and how soon.
Do you give financial advice?
No. We do not guide you on your finances, nor give financial advice. We focus on outcomes and solutions of presenting your unique scenario to the right lender so you can access funding in a timely and compliant manner.
Do you help with business lines of credit outside Sydney?
Yes. Settled With Joe is based in Sydney and arranges business lines of credit Australia-wide, for city and regional businesses. We work with clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra, and with regional businesses in Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba. Seasonal and regional industries suit some lenders better than others, and a secured limit depends on where the property is. Joseph Farhat and his team will find the lenders on the panel that suit your business and location.
