Short term business loans

Some funding needs have a clear finish line. The stock will sell by Christmas. The big client pays in sixty days. The property settles in March. A short term business loan matches that finish line, so you are not paying for money long after the need has passed.

How short is short term?

Anything from a few weeks to roughly eighteen months. The right term depends on when the money to repay it will arrive. A good rule: set the term so the loan is repaid shortly after the cash it is waiting on lands, with a small margin for delay.

Need	Typical repayment source	Sensible term
Stock for a peak season	Peak season sales	3 to 6 months
Tax bill in a quiet quarter	Next two quarters of trading	6 to 12 months
Materials for a large contract	Progress claims	Length of the contract
Waiting on a property sale	Settlement proceeds	Until settlement, plus a buffer

Unsecured or secured?

Unsecured short-term loans, typically $5k to $500k, are assessed on bank statements and turnover and usually carry regular repayments. Property-secured short-term loans, from $20k to $5m, need no valuation and can be structured with interest prepaid or added, so there may be nothing to pay until the end. For a business waiting on a lump sum, that can be far easier on cash flow.

Not sure this fits your business? That is exactly what the quick enquiry is for. One team reads it, no credit check runs, and nothing is sold on.

How to compare short term offers

Short-term pricing is presented in many ways: a fee, a factor, a weekly amount. Ignore the presentation and work out three numbers:

1. How much lands in your account after any upfront fees.
2. The total amount you will repay over the term.
3. Whether repaying early saves anything.

The difference between the first two is the true cost. Our guide to the total cost of finance shows how to calculate it from any quote.

The trap to avoid

The most expensive mistake with short-term funding is refinancing it with more short-term funding when the expected cash does not arrive. Each new loan adds fees, and daily repayments from two or three lenders can swallow a business’s cash flow. If that has already happened, our guide to getting off daily repayment loans explains the way out, and it often involves a longer, property-secured loan.

Short or long?

If the need will not resolve within about eighteen months, a longer term usually makes more sense. See short term vs long term business loans for how to choose.

Quick recap

• Repaid over weeks or months rather than years
• Best when there is a clear repayment source
• Unsecured or property-secured
• Compare offers on total cost in dollars, not on how they are described

What happens when you enquire

Everything starts with a short enquiry: how much, what for, how long you have traded, roughly what you turn over and whether there is property in the picture. A person, not a scoring engine, reads it and calls you. They ask for the evidence that actually decides the loan, explain the realistic options and give you the full cost in writing. Nothing goes ahead, and no credit check is run, until you say yes. On a complete file, approval within the hour is possible. Every step is explained as it happens, so you always know what is being checked and why.

Paperwork worth gathering

You do not need a folder of financial statements to start an enquiry. For most unsecured and property-secured funding, these few items cover the essentials:

• Photo ID for each director or owner.
• Access to your business bank account for a secure statement link.
• Your latest BAS, if it is handy.
• Details of existing finance, including any daily or weekly repayments.
• For property-secured funding, the property address and current loan balance.

Help us match you first time

Every question on the form is there for a reason: it changes which funding fits. Describe the business as it stands today rather than the version you expect in six months. Mention any default, tax debt or recent decline in the notes. We look at those situations all the time, and knowing early lets us head straight for options that can actually work.

Ready to check your options?

The next step is simple: send us the basics and a real person will call. There is no credit check when you submit it, and nothing goes to another lender without you knowing. Fill the form in accurately, especially the amount and your monthly revenue, because those two answers decide which option fits and how quickly it can move.