Supplier payments funded between order and sale, with an indicative answer within 2 business days.
- Indicative assessment within 2 business days, with new facilities typically in place within 1 to 6 weeks
- Facilities from $100K to $5M for supplier deposits, balances, freight and landing costs
- Wholesalers, retailers, distributors and manufacturers buying stock or components from overseas
- Covers supplier payments, letters of credit, freight, customs duty and GST due at the border
- 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
Your overseas supplier wants a deposit when you place the order, and often the balance before the goods ship. Then come freight, customs duty and GST at the border, and the stock still has to arrive, clear and sell before any money comes back. Trade and import finance covers that stretch. A lender pays the supplier, or backs the payment, and the business repays once the goods have sold or over an agreed term. Joseph Farhat and his team can look at your order, your suppliers and your trading position, and tell you within 2 business days what is realistic. We are a finance broker, so questions about duty, GST and how your goods are classified go to your customs broker or accountant.
Who we can help access finance
- ✓Wholesalers placing a large seasonal order, where the supplier asks for a deposit at order and the balance before shipping.
- ✓Retailers bringing in stock ahead of their busiest months, who need the supplier paid now and the cost carried until the goods sell.
- ✓Distributors that have won a larger customer and must order more stock than their usual cash cycle can fund.
- ✓Manufacturers importing components or raw materials that will be turned into finished products over several months.
- ✓Importers whose supplier will accept a letter of credit, and who want the bank undertaking issued in time for the order.
- ✓Growing importers whose GST at the border is tying up cash, and who are checking with their accountant whether deferred GST applies.
- ✓Businesses with equity in commercial property that want to use it to support a larger trade facility.
How Trade and Import Finance Works
Many trade facilities run as a revolving limit. When an order needs paying, the lender pays the supplier directly, and some lenders can pay in the supplier's currency. Each payment becomes a draw with its own repayment date, set by many lenders to allow time for shipping, clearing and selling. As each draw is repaid, that part of the limit is free for the next order. A letter of credit works differently. It is an undertaking from your bank to pay the supplier once the supplier presents documents that match the terms of the letter. The bank checks the documents, not the goods, so the terms need to describe the order exactly. Where a dedicated trade facility does not fit, the need can sometimes be met with a business line of credit, invoice finance once the goods are sold to customers on credit terms, or a loan secured over property. Joseph Farhat and his team look at the order, the supplier terms, your sales cycle and the security available, then match the file across our panel of 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders.
Imported goods also carry costs at the border, and a limit sized only to the supplier invoice can leave them uncovered. GST on imports is 10% of the value of the taxable importation: the customs value, plus any duty, international transport and insurance, plus wine equalisation tax where relevant. It is paid to the Australian Border Force at clearance unless it is deferred. Consignments over AUD 1,000 need a full import declaration and pay all duties, taxes and an import processing charge. Customs duty depends on how the goods are classified and whether a free trade agreement applies. Under the deferred GST scheme, approved importers pay import GST on their monthly BAS instead of at the border, and the same BAS usually claims the matching credit.
We are a finance broker, not a customs broker, accountant or foreign exchange provider. Classification, duty and GST are for your customs broker and accountant. Where a supplier is paid in another currency, the exchange rate can move between order and payment, which changes the Australian dollar cost. Talk to your bank or FX provider about that timing risk. If the business is under cash pressure and may not be able to pay its debts as they fall due, speak to your accountant or a registered insolvency practitioner before taking on a new facility.
What Lenders Assess for Trade and Import Finance
Supplier history
how long you have bought from each supplier, the payment terms they set, and whether past shipments arrived as ordered.
The goods themselves
what you import, how quickly it sells and whether it holds its value while in transit or in the warehouse.
The cash cycle
the time from order to shipping, clearance, sale and payment, which sets the term each draw needs.
Your customers
who buys the stock, on what terms, and whether the sales are confirmed orders or forecasts.
Trading record
recent bank statements, BAS and financials showing the business can repay each draw from sales.
Tax lodgements
BAS and GST up to date, which lenders check and which also matters for deferred GST eligibility.
Security
usually a general security agreement, which is a charge over the business's assets, and a director guarantee. Some lenders also take property for larger limits.
The Trade and Import Finance Process: What to Expect
- 1Tell Joseph Farhat and his team about the order: the supplier, the amount, the currency, the payment dates, and when the goods should land and sell.
- 2Share recent bank statements, BAS, financials where available, and your main suppliers and customers. Your customs broker or accountant can confirm the duty and GST position so the limit covers the landed cost.
- 3We compare trade facilities, letters of credit and other options across the panel, and you see the total cost of each side by side.
- 4The lender approves the facility with the limit, rate, fees, draw terms and security set out. We go through it with you before anything is signed.
- 5With the facility in place, each supplier payment is drawn when due and repaid from sales by its repayment date, which keeps the limit available for the next order.
Indicative Finance Options
| Lender Type | Indicative Rate | Security | Typical Loan Range | Loan Term | Speed to Funding |
|---|
| Bank | From ~7.5% p.a. | Property or general security, plus a director guarantee | $250K to $5M | Draws of 90 to 180 days, facility reviewed yearly | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Non-Bank Lenders | From ~11% p.a. | General security over the business and a director guarantee | $100K to $3M | Draws of 60 to 180 days | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Private Finance | From ~1.25% per month | Property security | $100K to $5M | 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 trade and import finance
We represent you, not the lender
Joseph Farhat and his team act for your business from the first order through to settlement of the facility.
Sized to the landed cost
freight, insurance, duty and GST at the border are counted when the limit is set, not only the supplier invoice.
Draw terms that match your cycle
we look for a repayment period that fits how long your stock takes to ship, clear and sell.
Options compared side by side
trade facilities, letters of credit, lines of credit and property-secured loans, each with its total cost.
The right people for tax and currency
your customs broker and accountant handle duty and GST, your bank or FX provider handles exchange rates, and we handle the funding.
One conversation, not several applications
each credit enquiry is recorded on your credit file, so the first lender approached should suit how you import.
90+ lenders on one panel
bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, compared on your suppliers, your goods and your trading record.
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 deposit is due soon, tell us early and we will tell you what can realistically be in place by then.
Frequently asked questions
What is trade and import finance?
It is business funding that pays overseas suppliers and the costs of landing goods, then is repaid as the stock sells or over a set term. It usually takes the form of a revolving trade facility, a letter of credit, or a loan secured over property. The aim is to cover the months between paying for stock and being paid by your own customers. It is for businesses importing goods to sell or use in their operations.
How does a letter of credit work?
Your bank issues an undertaking to pay your supplier once the supplier presents documents that match the terms of the letter. The bank checks those documents, not the goods, so the terms must describe what you ordered precisely. A supplier may ask for one when it has not dealt with you before. Letters of credit are mainly issued by banks, and the bank will set a limit, fees and security for them as it would for any facility.
Does the facility cover GST and duty at the border?
It can, if the limit is set with those costs in mind. Import GST is 10% of the value of the taxable importation, which adds the customs value, any duty, and international transport and insurance. Consignments over AUD 1,000 need a full import declaration and pay all duties, taxes and an import processing charge. Duty depends on the tariff classification and any free trade agreement, so your customs broker confirms the figure. Joseph Farhat and his team then size the facility to the full landed cost.
What is deferred GST, and does it change how much we need?
Deferred GST lets approved importers pay import GST on their monthly BAS rather than at the border, and the same BAS usually claims the matching credit. According to the ATO, eligibility includes an ABN, GST registration, lodging and paying BAS online and monthly, importing goods for use or sale in Australia (the ATO calls this home consumption), and being up to date with lodgments and payments. Late lodgment or a defaulted payment plan can lead to removal from the scheme. Whether it applies to your business is a question for your accountant. If it does, the facility may not need to carry GST at clearance.
What about exchange rate movements?
Where a supplier invoices in another currency, the Australian dollar cost can change between placing the order and paying the balance. That timing risk is one to discuss with your bank or FX provider, who can explain the options they offer. We do not give guidance on currency. Some importers ask for a little room in the facility limit so a currency movement does not leave a payment short, and lenders decide whether to allow it.
How quickly can a facility be in place?
Joseph Farhat and his team aim to give an indicative assessment within 2 business days of receiving your statements and order details. Setting up a new facility then typically takes 1 to 3 weeks with non-bank lenders and 2 to 6 weeks with banks, depending on the security and documents involved. Once a facility is running, each new supplier payment is a draw rather than a new application. If a deposit is due before a facility can be set up, tell us at the first call so other options can be looked at.
Can we get trade finance with low-doc or no-doc?
Sometimes. Some non-bank lenders will set an initial limit from recent bank statements, BAS and the order details rather than full financials, and no-doc options exist for commercial loans secured over property. Expect a smaller limit, a higher rate or more security in exchange for less paperwork. Bank trade facilities and letters of credit generally ask for full financials and usually price better in return.
Do you work with borrowers with bad credit?
Yes, we do. A default, a late payment history or a court judgment does not rule your business out, and you will not be judged for it. For trade finance, lenders look hard at the supplier relationship, how quickly the stock sells and the recent trading record, and several on our panel weigh those more heavily than the credit file. They will price for the risk rather than decline it. Telling us early means we approach the right lender first instead of adding enquiries to your file. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you honestly what is achievable before any application goes in.
Why work with Settled With Joe to arrange your trade and import finance?
Because you get one conversation instead of a round of applications. Most importers we help are business owners and company directors with a dated supplier payment: a deposit due when the order is placed, a balance due before the container ships, or a bigger order than usual for a new customer. There is no judgement in the conversation. What matters to lenders is your supplier history, how quickly your goods sell, the full landed cost and a clear path from sale to repayment. 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 order is larger or more complex. We are based in Sydney and work with importers Australia-wide. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you honestly and early what can be in place before your supplier payment is due.
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 trade and import finance outside Sydney?
Yes. Settled With Joe is based in Sydney and arranges trade and import finance 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. Import GST and the deferred GST scheme are national, so the border costs work the same way wherever your goods land. Joseph Farhat and his team will look for lenders that suit your goods, your suppliers and your timing.
