Business funding for electricians, plumbers and trades

Trade businesses run on a mix of small daily jobs and the occasional big one. The small jobs keep cash moving, while the big jobs and commercial work can tie up money in materials and long payment terms. Add a van that needs replacing and a BAS bill, and even a busy trade business can find the account running thin.

Where the money goes in tradies

Domestic call-outs are often paid on completion, which keeps money flowing. Commercial and builder work is different: materials and labour go out, the invoice goes in, and payment follows on 30 days or longer. A tradie doing both can have healthy weekly deposits and still carry tens of thousands in unpaid invoices. Vehicles and tools are a constant, lumpy cost.

What usually triggers a funding need

• Materials for a larger job bought before the deposit or first claim.
• A van breakdown that takes the business off the road.
• Builders and commercial clients paying on long terms.
• Quiet weeks in the wet season or over the holidays.
• Taking on an apprentice or second tradesperson.

Short on time? Skip the reading and send a quick enquiry. No credit check, no lead auction, and a real person on the other end.

Funding that tends to fit

Funding	Why it suits tradies
Line of credit	Covers quiet weeks, BAS and materials, repaid as jobs pay
Equipment finance	Vans, utes, trailers and specialised tools
Working capital loan	A one-off push such as a large commercial job
Invoice finance	Commercial work invoiced to builders on terms

How a lender assesses tradies

• Regular deposits from a mix of customers.
• Licences and ABN details that match the business.
• Vehicle and equipment finance already in place.
• How much is owed by builders or commercial clients.

For larger amounts, or when the statements do not yet show the full picture, property security from $20k to $5m changes the assessment. No valuation is needed, and repayments can be deferred by paying interest up front or capitalising it.

Getting your file ready

Think about what an assessor sees when they open your statements. For tradies, they will look for regular income, how the account copes in the leanest month and whether other lenders are already taking a slice each week. You can help by choosing a sensible time to apply, explaining seasonal swings or one-off events, and bringing tax lodgements up to date before you enquire.

How it might look (illustrative)

A Brisbane electrician with two employees wins a fit-out job worth $85,000 for a commercial builder on 45-day terms. Cable, switchboards and fittings cost $28,000 up front. A line of credit draw covers the materials and two fortnights of wages, and it is repaid when the builder’s payment arrives. A separate equipment finance agreement replaces the ageing van without touching the line.

Ways to need less funding

Use supplier trade accounts with 30-day terms, ask for deposits on bigger domestic jobs, invoice on completion from your phone and offer easy payment options. Keep a list of your vehicles and tools with replacement dates so a breakdown is a planned expense rather than a crisis.

Key takeaways

• Materials and labour are paid before the invoice is
• Vans and tools are essential and costly to replace
• A line of credit smooths quiet weeks and tax time
• Equipment finance keeps cash free for running costs

From enquiry to an answer

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.

Is funding the right answer here?

Not every cash problem is a funding problem. Sometimes the better fix is a conversation with a supplier, a payment plan with the ATO, chasing an overdue invoice or adjusting prices. Funding earns its place when it solves a timing gap or unlocks an opportunity worth more than its cost. We will tell you honestly which situation you are in.

A simple preparation list

A little preparation makes the first conversation far more useful, and it means the person who calls you can talk about options rather than chasing basic details:

• Your ABN and the legal name of the business.
• Online banking access, so recent statements can be shared through a secure read-only link.
• A rough figure for monthly turnover and the amount you need.
• A list of current loans and repayments, including any ATO payment plan.
• If property is involved, the address and roughly what is owed on it.

Help us match you first time

Think of the enquiry as the brief for your funding. A clear brief gets a fast, accurate answer. Give the amount you genuinely need, the revenue your bank statements will show, an honest view of your credit and a straight yes or no on property, and we can match you to the right option on the first attempt.

See what you could qualify for

You can check your eligibility in about a minute. There is no credit check to enquire, no lead farming and no call centre script, just a person who looks at your situation and tells you plainly what could work. The more accurate the answers on the form, particularly the amount, revenue and whether you own real estate, the faster and better that first conversation will be.