InfoChoice’s top five Secured Business Loans in Australia

At some point
during the life of a business, the owner will think about getting a business
loan for some reason or other.

A business may
need a loan because it’s growing and needs to move to larger premises, or it
may need working finance to buy raw materials or stock to fulfil a big order.
If the funds aren’t there to buy the materials then the business will miss out,
which is why a small business loan can be invaluable.

There are lots of
different business loans on the market, so it’s important to find out what they
are and which one is the most suitable for your enterprise.

Of the many
financial solutions available, the two most commonly-used are unsecured
and secured
business loans. Each type has its pros and cons.

Unsecured
business loans are useful if:

• You’re looking for a relatively small business finance solution, like $10,000 to $25,000, for example
• You’ve not been in business for long and you don’t have much equity in your business or many assets to use as security
• You need the funds fairly soon, as unsecured loans don’t involve much legal set–up or valuations of assets
• You don’t want to expose your assets or property to the risk of repossession
• You’re looking for a more flexible repayment term, and
• You can demonstrate that your cash flow finance is enough to accommodate the repayments.

Secured
loans might be more appropriate if:

• You’ve been operating for a number of years, with a steady track record
• You’re looking to borrow a larger amount – $50,000 or more – because you can back up your loan with assets or property
• You can wait longer for the funds, as secured loans take longer to be set up
• You’re hoping for lower interest rates, as the security means the lender isn’t taking as much of a risk as with an unsecured loan
• You’re looking for a longer repayment period, sometimes up to 25 years, and
• You have a patchy credit record, as lenders will feel “safer” lending money to you if they have the security of your assets.

How to
choose the best secured loan for your business

Head to a comparison site to look at secured business loans before making a shortlist of
the most likely prospects. You should look at:

• The lender’s eligibility criteria; make sure you fit all of them before you apply as you’ll simply be rejected if you don’t
• The interest rate, as well as any set up or ongoing fees involved, as these will help you to work out the total cost of the loan
• How long the repayment terms can be, as the longer the term, the more you’ll pay in interest over the years
• What, if any, fees there are for early repayment, late payments or occasional over payments, and
• What types of asset or property the lender accepts and how the value of the assets affects the amount of money you can borrow.

What you can offer as collateral

The assets that
are most commonly used as collateral are commercial or residential property. In
practice, however, any item that has significant value can be used as security.
Each lender will have different requirements and allowances for collateral,
which is why it’s important to find these out before applying. Assets can
include:

• Your business inventory and equipment
• Future invoices
• Commercial or personal vehicles
• Jewellery
• Fine art pieces, and
• Personal savings.

How to apply for a secured
business loan

Secured business
loans take longer to apply for and establish than unsecured loans, mainly
because they involve getting items valued and then pledging them. Here are some
tips to increase your chances of a successful application.

Get your assets valued

Make sure you
have a professional valuation of each asset before you include it in your
collateral offer so that you – and your lender – are certain about its value.

Create a business plan

If you’re looking
for a large sum, even if it’s for ongoing trade finance, then you’ll have to
explain to the lender why you need it and why it’ll work out well for you both.

Check and tidy up your credit report

Even though you’re applying for a secured loan, your credit history is still important, so make sure it’s alright. If there are any listings on it that shouldn’t be there, get them deleted. مواقع تقبل الدفع paypal

Justify your loan amount

To yourself and
to your lender. It should be enough to do what your want to do; not too little
or too much. Too little means you may have to ask for further credit and too
much can result in unmanageable repayments.

Work out how you plan to repay

Most loans
require monthly repayments, but if your loan calculates interest daily, then
making fortnightly or weekly repayments can reduce your overall interest
burden.

Infochoice’s top picks for secured business loans

The Valiant
Finance Secured Business Loan

This loan has a
variable rate of interest but the base rate is 4.5 per cent. The amounts on
offer range from $5,000 to $5,000,000 and interest is calculated daily. Your
repayment terms will range from three months to five years and there are no set
up or early repayment fees.

The BOQ
Discounted Variable & Fixed Business Term Loan with Commercial Security

These loans vary
from $20,000 to $9,999,999 and offer a discounted variable rate of 4.79 per
cent or a base rate of 8.12 per cent. Repayment terms are between one and 15
years and borrowers can manage this loan online as well as use a redraw
facility. The establishment fee is 0.75 per cent of the total loan amount and
there is also a $20 service fee.

The Suncorp
Business Essentials Variable Rate Loan

This loan also
requires commercial security and offers repayment terms of between one and 15
years. It has a variable interest rate of 4.49 per cent and a base rate of 4.19
per cent, as well as a redraw facility and internet access. The establishment
fee is $800 and there’s a $15 service fee as well.

The Bendigo
Business Residential Investment Loan

This loan
requires residential security and offers amounts from $20,000 t0 $1,000,000 at
a variable rate of 5.21 per cent. Repayment terms range from one month to 25
years and there’s internet access and a redraw facility. Establishment fees
start at $250 and there’s a service fee of $10.

The Auswide
Bank Business Term Loan

This loan
requires commercial security and offers borrowers amounts from $20,000 to
$5,000,000 at a variable rate of 5.73 per cent. Fixed rates start at 6.0 per
cent for two-year repayment terms. The lengths of repayment terms range from
one year to 15 years and there’s an establishment fee of 0.50 per cent of the
loan amount as well as a service fee of $20.

Compare secured
business loans and unsecured
business loans at InfoChoice.

The information contained on this web site is
general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You
should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where
appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. If you or
someone you know is in financial stress, contact the National Debt Helpline on
1800 007 007.