Quick answer
Business funding for mining services businesses usually covers mobilising crews and equipment for new contracts, heavy machinery, and the gap between monthly costs and payment terms from large mining companies, which can be long. Equipment finance covers machinery and vehicles, invoice finance and lines of credit cover payment terms, and property security supports larger needs.
Key points
- Contract mobilisation costs come before revenue
- Heavy equipment is a major investment
- Large clients often pay on long terms
- Invoice finance suits reliable mining-company debtors
Mining services contractors work for some of the biggest companies in the country, which brings reliable clients but demanding terms. Crews, equipment, flights and accommodation are paid up front, while invoices are paid on the client’s schedule.
How cash moves through mining services businesses
Winning a contract usually means mobilising equipment and people before the first invoice. Monthly invoices are then paid on terms that can stretch for weeks. Equipment needs regular maintenance and replacement, and the remoteness of sites adds travel and logistics costs.
Common pressure points
- Mobilising equipment and crews for a new contract.
- Long payment terms from large clients.
- Heavy equipment purchases and repairs.
- Fly-in fly-out travel and accommodation costs.
- Contract changes and commodity price cycles.
Weighing it up? You can check your eligibility without any credit check, then decide in your own time whether to go further.
Which funding suits mining services businesses?
| Funding | Why it suits mining services businesses |
|---|---|
| Equipment finance | Excavators, haul trucks, light vehicles and plant |
| Invoice finance | Invoices to large mining clients on terms |
| Line of credit | Mobilisation and monthly cost peaks |
| Property-secured loan | Larger growth needs |
How a lender assesses mining services businesses
- Client contracts and payment history.
- Equipment fleet and existing finance.
- Concentration on one client or site.
- Margins after travel and accommodation.
Most unsecured lending in this sector falls between $5k and $500k. Owners with residential or commercial property can access $20k to $5m on a property-secured basis, with no valuation and flexible repayment structures.
Making your application easy to say yes to
Lenders who see a lot of mining services businesses know the industry’s rhythms, but they still need to see yours. Run all income through one business account, keep BAS lodgements current and be ready to explain any unusual months, such as a big one-off job or a slow patch caused by weather or a lost client. A short note on what the money is for, how much you need and how it will be repaid does more for an application than a long business plan.
An illustrative example
A maintenance contractor in the Pilbara wins a 12-month shutdown support contract. Mobilising two crews, vehicles and tooling costs $220,000 before the first invoice, which will be paid on 45-day terms. Equipment finance covers the vehicles and tooling, and invoice finance funds the monthly invoices once work begins.
Ways to need less funding
Negotiate mobilisation payments in contracts, invoice promptly and accurately, keep a maintenance schedule and avoid relying too heavily on one client or commodity.
The short version
- Contract mobilisation costs come before revenue
- Heavy equipment is a major investment
- Large clients often pay on long terms
- Invoice finance suits reliable mining-company debtors
How we work through it with you
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.
When borrowing helps, and when it does not
Ask yourself where the repayment will come from. A customer payment, the next peak season, a property sale or steady trading are all real sources. Hope is not. If you can point to the money that will clear the loan, and roughly when, funding is likely to help. If you cannot, talk to your accountant about the underlying numbers first.
A simple preparation list
Have these within reach and the process moves quickly, because each one answers a question the assessor would otherwise have to come back and ask:
- ABN, business structure and how long you have traded.
- Recent business bank statements, ideally shared online.
- What the money is for and how it will be repaid.
- Any tax debt, default or arrears you should mention up front.
- Contact details for anyone else who would need to sign.
About the questions we ask
The enquiry asks for the amount, the purpose, how long you have traded, your monthly revenue, your credit history, your state and whether you own real estate. Each answer steers your enquiry towards the right option. Accurate answers let the first call move straight to solutions. Rounded-up turnover or a credit history that turns out to be different from the form means starting again, which costs everyone time.
Ready to check your options?
Ready when you are. Send your enquiry and a real person will review it and call you back. There is no credit check to enquire and no selling of your details. The only thing we ask is accuracy: tell us what you really need, what the business really turns over and how your credit really looks, so the first match is the right match.
Frequently asked questions
Can mining contractors fund mobilisation costs?
Yes. Working capital loans, lines of credit and equipment finance are commonly used to mobilise for new contracts.
Is invoice finance available for mining clients?
Often, yes, because large mining companies are generally reliable payers even when terms are long.
How quickly can funding be arranged for mining services businesses?
On a complete file, approval within the hour is possible, and funding within 24 hours can happen once documents are signed. Larger or property-secured loans can take a little longer.
Will an enquiry affect my credit score?
No. An enquiry runs no credit check. A credit check only happens if you decide to go ahead with a specific offer.
Ask right here, it takes a minute
The same 60-second enquiry, on this page. No credit check to enquire, and the person who reads it is the person who calls you.