Can You Finance Equipment for Your Business Through a Private Lender?

Why banks won't fund this

Banks want businesses with established credit and strong financials. A startup or business with recent defaults can't access traditional equipment finance. Banks also take 4–6 weeks to approve equipment loans.

How specialist lenders look at this differently

Specialist lenders assess deals using a different framework:

Equipment is the security. Credit doesn't matter as much because the lender can repossess if needed.
Fast approval and settlement. Equipment finance settles in days, not weeks.
Terms match equipment life. You pay off the equipment over its useful life, matching revenue generation.

Ready to explore your options?

Tell us about your situation and we'll show you what lenders can offer.

Describe Your Situation

What a typical deal looks like

Illustrative example — not a real case

A plumbing business needs $80K in new tools, vehicles, and equipment to scale operations. Bank declined due to recent tax issues.

Equipment finance lender approves $80K at 9.5% p.a. for 60 months. Monthly payment is $1,600. Equipment is security. Business can immediately deploy new tools and vehicles to generate revenue.

Typical deal structure

Loan sizes

$20K–$2M

Interest rates

8.75–10.75% p.a.

Loan term

12–60 months

Security

The equipment itself

Credit impaired

Yes — often accepted

New business

Possible with established business owner

Settlement speed

5–10 business days

ATO debt

Accepted

Ranges shown are across our full panel of specialist lenders. Your deal may fall within a narrower range depending on your specific circumstances.

Documents to prepare for your application

Equipment lenders need: equipment invoice or quote with full specifications, recent business financials (last 12 months profit and loss), business bank statements (last 3 months), proof of down payment, business details (ABN, business structure, trading history), and personal ID. Some lenders may want a brief description of how the equipment will be used to generate revenue.

What lenders want to see

For this scenario, lenders focus on:

Equipment details — type, value, age/condition, supplier quote
Business details — type, turnover, how equipment benefits business
Your capacity — ability to repay from business cash flow
Current debts — other loans, ATO obligations
Use of equipment — will it directly generate business revenue?

When this might not work

Specialist lending has limits:

Equipment is outdated or specialist — hard to repossess/resell
Your business has no clear revenue from equipment
Equipment value is uncertain
You have ongoing defaults or insolvency
Debt-to-income ratio is already stretched

What our panel can offer

Our panel includes specialist lenders who actively fund this scenario.

$20K–$2M
8.75–10.75% p.a.
12–60 months
The equipment itself
Yes — often accepted
Possible with established business owner
5–10 business days
Accepted

Describe your situation and we'll match you with the best options.

How to get funding — Step by step

The process is straightforward:

Step 1: Describe your deal. Tell us the property type, location, value, and what you need the funds for.
Step 2: Get matched. Our AI matches your situation against specialist lenders on our panel.
Step 3: Move forward. Contact your matched lenders directly. Settlement can happen within days.

Common questions

What types of equipment can be financed?

Machinery, vehicles, computers, tools, commercial kitchen equipment, medical devices—anything that has value and is used in your business.

How much can I borrow for equipment?

Loan sizes typically range from $20K to $2M, depending on equipment value and your business strength.

Can I finance used equipment?

Yes. Equipment finance lenders assess the used equipment's residual value and condition. Newer equipment gets lower rates.

What if I have bad credit?

Equipment finance is often approved despite bad credit because the equipment is the security. If you can't repay, the lender repossesses the equipment.

Can I extend an equipment loan if needed?

Usually not. Equipment loans have fixed terms matching the equipment's useful life. If you need to extend, you'd need to refinance.