Funding assessed on how the business trades, not on property.
- Funds can land within 2 business days when the statements are clean and the purpose is clear
- $20K to $500K, with no mortgage over your home or premises
- For owners, company directors and ABN holders who rent, or who would rather not offer their home as security
- Stock, materials, hiring, a fit-out, marketing, a tax bill or a short gap before a large payment arrives
- Full-doc (tax returns), low-doc or alt-doc (BAS, bank statements or an accountant's letter instead), and statement-only options on smaller amounts
You may lease your premises and rent your home. Or you own a home and would rather not offer it as security for the business. Either way, the funds are needed soon and there is no property to put up. An unsecured business loan is assessed on how the business trades. Lenders read your business bank statements, check your turnover and how long you have been operating, and size the loan to what the account can carry. It comes with conditions of its own. Most lenders ask a director to sign a personal guarantee, the terms are shorter, and the price sits above a loan secured on property. Joseph Farhat and his team set out those trade-offs plainly first, then put your file to a lender that funds businesses like yours without property security.
Who we can help access finance
- Cafe, salon and retail owners who lease their shopfront and have no property to offer a lender.
- Directors who own a home but would rather not offer it as security for business borrowing.
- Trades businesses paying for materials and labour on a new contract while the next progress payment is weeks away.
- Online sellers and wholesalers placing a large stock order ahead of their busiest season.
- Professional practices funding a new hire, a small fit-out or a software rollout from steady fee income.
- Owners whose property is already mortgaged close to its limit, where a second mortgage is unavailable or unwanted.
- Businesses with 12 months or more of steady deposits but financial statements that are not yet finalised.
How Unsecured Business Loans Work
The lender advances a lump sum into the business account, and it is repaid over a fixed term, usually somewhere between 3 months and 3 years. Repayments are commonly debited daily, weekly or monthly. There is no valuation and no property title to check, which is why these loans can move quickly. The amount is set by turnover. Many non-bank lenders cap an unsecured loan at somewhere between half and one and a half times the average monthly deposits, and a business with several years of steady trading may be offered more. Some lenders quote an annual interest rate. Others quote a fixed dollar cost for the whole loan. Both usually carry an establishment fee.
"Unsecured" means no mortgage over property. It does not usually mean no personal liability. Most lenders require a personal guarantee from one or more directors. If the business cannot repay, the lender can then pursue the director personally for the debt, so a guarantee can still reach the director's own assets. MoneySmart notes that a guarantor may have to repay the whole loan plus interest, and that a default can be listed on the guarantor's credit report. Many lenders also take a general security agreement, which is a charge over the business's assets other than land. We arrange finance. We are not lawyers, so get independent legal advice on any guarantee before you sign it.
Joseph Farhat and his team look at your monthly deposits, your trading history and the existing debits on the account. They then match the amount and the timeframe to a lender from a panel of 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, and manage the file until the funds are in your account.
What Lenders Assess for Unsecured Business Loans
Average monthly deposits
the figure most lenders size the loan from, usually read across the most recent 6 months or more.
Trading history
how long the ABN has been active. Some non-bank lenders start from around 6 to 12 months, and banks generally look for longer.
Account conduct
dishonoured payments, returned debits and days spent overdrawn, all of which affect the price and the amount.
Repayments already committed
other loans, cash advances or payment plans already debiting the account each week.
The guarantor's credit file
because a director usually guarantees the loan, that director's personal credit history is checked too.
ATO position
overdue BAS or a tax debt, and whether any payment plan with the ATO is being kept.
Industry and seasonality
some lenders limit certain industries, and a seasonal business may be read across a full year of statements.
The Unsecured Business Loan Process: What to Expect
- Tell Joseph Farhat and his team how much you need, what it is for and when it has to land. You will hear early whether the turnover supports that amount.
- Send recent business bank statements, your ABN and the director's identification. Some lenders accept a secure read-only connection to your bank account in place of PDF statements.
- Your file goes to the lender whose turnover limits and industry policy suit it. Each credit enquiry is recorded on your file, so one targeted application is better than several.
- The offer sets out the amount, the term, the repayment frequency, the fees, the total repayable and who must sign the guarantee. We go through it with you before anything is signed, including whether paying the loan out early reduces the total cost. On some fixed-cost loans it does not.
- Funds are paid into the business account and repayments start on the agreed schedule.
Indicative Finance Options
| Lender Type | Indicative Rate | Security | Typical Loan Range | Loan Term | Speed to Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | From ~10% p.a. | Unsecured, director guarantee, full financials usually needed | $20K to $250K | 1 to 5 years | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Non-Bank Lenders | From ~12% p.a. | Unsecured, director guarantee, sometimes a general security agreement | $20K to $500K | 3 to 36 months | Within 2 business days |
| Private Finance | From ~1.5% per month | Usually property or other security | $100K to $500K | 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 unsecured business loans
Every offer in the same terms
some unsecured lenders quote a rate and others a fixed dollar cost, so we convert each into a total repayable before you compare.
The guarantee is clear before you apply
you know which lenders want a director guarantee, from whom, and whether a general security agreement comes with it.
An amount that matches your turnover
we approach lenders whose limits fit your monthly deposits, so the approval is closer to the figure you asked for.
Repayment frequency matched to your income
daily, weekly or monthly debits suit different businesses, and the panel offers all three.
Fewer enquiries on your file
one targeted application to a lender likely to say yes, rather than several lodged at once.
One panel, every lender type
90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, so a business with full financials can reach bank pricing and a newer one still has options.
We represent you, not the lender
Joseph Farhat and his team work for you from the first call until the money is in the account.
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, wage or tax date is fixed, tell us early and we will tell you what is realistically achievable before that date.
Frequently asked questions
What is an unsecured business loan?
It is a business loan with no mortgage over property. The lender assesses the business on its bank statements, turnover and trading history, then advances a lump sum that is repaid over a fixed term. Terms are shorter and pricing is higher than a property-secured loan, because the lender has no property to fall back on. Most lenders still ask for a director's personal guarantee.
How much can I borrow without security?
Across our panel, unsecured business loans run from $20,000 to $500,000. Where you land in that range depends mostly on turnover. Many non-bank lenders lend somewhere between half and one and a half times average monthly deposits. As an illustration only, a business banking $80,000 a month might see offers between about $40,000 and $120,000. Longer trading, clean account conduct and full financials can lift the figure. Existing debits on the account bring it down. Joseph Farhat and his team will give you an indicative range before any application.
Is a director guarantee required?
In most cases, yes. Unsecured means no property is mortgaged, but most lenders want a director to personally guarantee the debt. Where there are several directors, a lender may ask all of them to sign. A guarantee means the lender can pursue you personally if the business does not repay, and MoneySmart notes a guarantor may have to repay the whole loan plus interest. Get independent legal advice before signing. We will tell you up front which lenders require a guarantee and from whom.
How fast can an unsecured business loan be funded?
With clean bank statements and a clear purpose, non-bank lenders on the panel can often fund within 2 business days. Bank options usually take 1 to 3 weeks because they assess full financials. The main thing that slows a file down is missing paperwork, so having recent statements and the director's identification ready helps. No timeframe is guaranteed. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you which lenders can realistically meet your date.
What do lenders look at in my bank statements?
They look at average monthly deposits and how steady they are from month to month. They check the closing balance pattern, any dishonoured payments or returned debits, and how many days the account was overdrawn. They list the regular debits going to other lenders, cash advance providers and the ATO, because those show how much of each week's cash is already committed. Large one-off deposits, such as a transfer from a director or a loan, are usually set aside when turnover is worked out.
Can I get an unsecured business loan with low-doc or no-doc?
Often, yes. Many lenders in this space work from business bank statements alone, sometimes with a BAS or an accountant's letter, rather than full financials and tax returns. On smaller amounts some will lend on statements and identification only. Less documentation usually means a higher price and a lower limit. Full financials open up bank pricing and larger amounts. Joseph Farhat and his team will set out both paths so you can compare them.
Do you work with borrowers with bad credit?
Yes, we do. A default or a past arrears listing does not rule you out, and it is not something you need to feel awkward telling us. Because an unsecured loan rests on cash flow, several lenders on our panel put more weight on recent deposits and account conduct than on the guarantor's credit file, and set a price for the risk rather than declining. Tell us at the start, so we go to a lender likely to accept it and avoid extra enquiries. Joseph Farhat and his team will give you an honest view of what is achievable before you apply anywhere.
Why work with Settled With Joe to arrange your unsecured business loans?
Because one conversation replaces a string of separate applications. Most people who call us about unsecured funding are self-employed owners and company directors with a date in front of them: a stock order to confirm, a contract that needs materials bought this week, a new staff member starting, or a BAS payment due. None of that is unusual to us, and nobody here will judge you for it. What counts with these lenders is steady deposits, clean account conduct and a repayment the business can carry. Our panel covers 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders, so a business with full financials can reach a bank at a sharper rate, and there are still options when the documentation is thin or the money is needed this week. We are based in Sydney and arrange this funding Australia-wide. Joseph Farhat and his team will say 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 unsecured business loans outside Sydney?
Yes. Settled With Joe is based in Sydney and arranges unsecured business loans Australia-wide, for businesses in cities 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. With no property involved, location matters less than turnover and industry. Joseph Farhat and his team will narrow the panel to the lenders that suit your business.
