Need funds for months, not years? Some lenders can settle within 2 business days.
- Some non-bank lenders can fund within 2 business days of a complete application
- Loans from $20K to $2M, over terms from a few weeks out to about 2 years
- Companies, partnerships, trusts and sole traders borrowing for a business purpose
- A bulk stock buy, a BAS or tax instalment, a deposit on a job, or the weeks before a large payment lands
- Full-doc (tax returns), low-doc or alt-doc (BAS, bank statements or an accountant's letter instead), depending on the lender and the security
A supplier is offering a discount if you pay for the season's stock now. A tax instalment falls due a month before your largest customer pays. A sale of equipment or a business asset will settle in 10 weeks, and the money is needed today. A short-term business loan is funding set up for that kind of gap: a lump sum, a term measured in months, and a clear event that pays it back. Because the term is short, fees and the way interest is charged matter more than the headline rate. Joseph Farhat and his team look at what the money is for, what will repay it and when, then find lenders whose terms line up with your dates.
Who we can help access finance
- A wholesaler offered a better price for paying a container of stock up front, with the stock sold through within 4 months.
- A construction subcontractor holding a large final claim that is approved but not yet paid, with wages and materials due this fortnight.
- A manufacturer whose BAS and an income tax instalment land in the same month as a slow trading period.
- A hospitality group paying deposits for its December functions and summer staffing before the bookings are paid in full.
- A transport operator who has agreed to sell two older trucks, with the sale settling after a new contract starts.
- A professional practice waiting on a large fee from a matter that has finished, while the next quarter's costs fall due.
How Short-Term Business Loans Work
The lender advances a single amount and sets a short repayment window, often somewhere between a few weeks and 12 months, and sometimes up to 2 years. Some loans are repaid in regular instalments from trading income. Others allow interest only for the term, with the balance paid in one amount when the expected money arrives. Smaller amounts are often unsecured, which usually still means a director signs a personal guarantee that can reach their personal assets. Larger amounts are commonly secured against business assets or property. Lenders vary on all of this.
Cost is worked out differently on a short loan. An establishment fee that barely shows on a 5-year loan can be a large part of what a 4-month loan costs. Some lenders charge interest monthly, some quote one fixed charge for the whole loan, and some charge for repaying early. To compare offers properly, set each one out as total dollars repaid over the time you expect to hold it. Joseph Farhat and his team do that across a panel of 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders.
Lenders also ask you to confirm what the money is for. Where the borrower is an individual, such as a sole trader, many lenders ask for a business purpose declaration: a signed statement that the loan is wholly or mainly for business use. Business loans are not covered by the consumer responsible-lending rules, so each lender sets its own criteria, and we still check the loan suits your cash flow. If the business may not be able to pay its debts as they fall due, speak with your accountant or a registered insolvency practitioner before borrowing. We are a finance broker, not an accountant or insolvency practitioner, and that call is theirs.
What Lenders Assess for Short-Term Business Loans
The exit
the specific receipt that repays the loan, such as a customer payment, an asset sale or stock turning into cash, and how certain its date is.
What the funds pay for
a named cost with a known amount, for example an invoice from a supplier or a notice of assessment.
Recent trading
deposits through the business account over the last 3 to 12 months, depending on the lender.
Account conduct
dishonoured payments, days overdrawn, and the repayments already leaving the account each week.
Tax position
whether lodgements are up to date and whether any ATO debt sits on a payment plan.
Security and guarantees
unsecured, business assets or property, and which directors will guarantee the loan.
A fallback
what happens if the expected payment is late, and whether the business can carry the loan for longer.
The Short-Term Business Loan Process: What to Expect
- Tell Joseph Farhat and his team how much you need, what it pays for, and what repays it and when.
- Send recent business bank statements, your ABN details, and evidence of the cost and the exit: an invoice, a contract, an approved claim or a sale agreement.
- We compare lenders whose term and pricing fit your dates, and set out the total repayable for each option before anything is lodged.
- The chosen lender assesses the file and issues terms. You read them, with your accountant where tax or cash flow is involved, before you sign.
- Funds are paid to the business, and the loan is repaid on schedule or in full when the expected money arrives.
Indicative Finance Options
| Lender Type | Indicative Rate | Security | Typical Loan Range | Loan Term | Speed to Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | From ~8% p.a. | Property or business assets, with full financials | $50K to $2M | 6 to 24 months | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Non-Bank Lenders | From ~12% p.a. | Unsecured with a director guarantee, or business assets | $20K to $1M | 1 to 24 months | Within 2 business days |
| Private Finance | From ~1.2% per month | Property | $100K to $2M | 1 to 12 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 short-term business loans
We represent you, not the lender
Joseph Farhat and his team act for you from the first call through to settlement.
Cost in dollars, not just a rate
we show the total repayable over the time you expect to hold the loan, including fees and any charge for paying early.
A term that matches the exit
we line the loan up with the date your money arrives, so you are not locked into a longer term than you need.
Lender habits you cannot see from outside
which lenders allow early payout without a penalty, which take a single repayment at the end, and which want weekly debits.
One conversation, not five applications
each credit enquiry is recorded on your file, so we start with the lender whose policy already fits.
90+ lenders on one panel
bank, non-bank, and specialist, so a business with full financials can go to a bank at a sharper rate, and a tight date 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 a supplier deadline or a tax due date is close, tell us the date on the first call and we will say what is realistically achievable before then.
Frequently asked questions
What is a short-term business loan?
A business loan with a term measured in months rather than years, typically from a few weeks to about 2 years. It is used for a cost the business can see coming to an end, such as stock, a tax bill or the wait for a large payment. Repayment comes from trading income or from one identified receipt. It can be unsecured, or secured against business assets or property.
How is a short-term loan different from an overdraft or a line of credit?
A short-term loan pays one lump sum for one purpose and ends when it is repaid. An overdraft or a line of credit is a standing limit you can draw on and repay again, usually reviewed each year and often carrying a fee on the full limit. If the need is a single cost with a known end date, a loan is simpler to price. If the gap comes back every month, a revolving limit may suit better. We can compare both.
How do I compare the real cost over a few months?
Add every dollar you will pay: interest for the months you expect to hold the loan, the establishment fee, any monthly or account fees, and any charge for repaying before the end of the term. Then compare offers on that total. A lower rate with a high fee can cost more over 3 months than a higher rate with no fee. We set each offer out this way before you choose.
What is a business purpose declaration, and why am I asked to sign one?
It is a statement, signed before the loan contract, that the credit is wholly or mainly for business purposes. Under the National Credit Code, mainly means more than half of the money. Where it is signed, the loan is presumed to sit outside the Code unless the contrary is shown. It only counts if it is true: it does not apply where the lender knew, or should have found out, that the loan was really for personal use, and inducing a false declaration is an offence. Your lawyer can explain the form.
What if the money I am waiting on arrives late?
Tell the lender as early as you can. Some lenders will extend a short-term loan, usually for a fee, and others expect payment on the due date. That is why lenders ask about a fallback before they approve. Before you sign, check what the contract says about extensions, default interest and fees. If a late payment would leave the business unable to meet its debts, speak with your accountant or a registered insolvency practitioner first.
Can a short-term loan pay an ATO bill?
Yes, many lenders will fund a BAS, an income tax instalment or a tax debt. The ATO also offers payment plans, and debts on a plan keep accruing the general interest charge (GIC), which compounds daily. The GIC annual rate is 11.51% for October to December 2026. Your accountant can help you weigh a payment plan against a loan. Joseph Farhat and his team will set out what the loan option costs in full.
Can I get a short-term business loan on low-doc?
Often, yes. Many non-bank lenders assess a short loan on business bank statements, a BAS and evidence of the exit, rather than full financials and tax returns. Bank options usually ask for full-doc and price more sharply in return. Property security can widen the low-doc options, usually at a higher cost. Where a home is offered, it is at risk if the loan is not repaid, so get independent legal advice before you sign.
Do you work with borrowers with bad credit?
Yes, we do. A default, an arrears listing or a judgment does not rule you out, and you will not be made to feel awkward about it. For a short loan, lenders care most about how the account is running now and how certain the repayment is. Several lenders on our panel weigh the exit and recent trading more heavily than the credit file, and will price for the risk rather than decline it. Telling us early means the first application goes to a lender that will consider it. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you honestly what is achievable before you apply anywhere.
Why work with Settled With Joe to arrange your short-term business loan?
Because one conversation replaces a round of applications. Most of the people we help with short-term loans are business owners and company directors with a date fixed by someone else: a supplier wanting payment before dispatch, a BAS due date, or a large customer paying after the work is done. These are everyday situations for us, and nobody will judge you for them. What lenders look at is the purpose, the exit and how the business account runs today. Our panel covers 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, so a well-documented file can go to a bank at a sharper rate, and there are still options when the date is close. We are based in Sydney and arrange these loans Australia-wide. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you early and honestly whether we can help and what your timeframe allows.
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 short-term business loans outside Sydney?
Yes. Settled With Joe is based in Sydney and arranges short-term business loans Australia-wide, covering both metro and regional areas. We work with clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra, as well as regional areas including Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba. Joseph Farhat and his team will match your loan to lenders on the panel that suit your dates.
