Quick answer
After you enquire, a lender or specialist usually calls to understand your needs, then asks for documents such as identification, bank statements and BAS. If you decide to proceed, a credit check is run, the application is assessed and indicative terms are issued. Once you accept, loan documents are prepared, signed and verified, and funds are released. Simple deals can move within days.
Key points
- First call: purpose, amount, trading, credit and security
- Documents: ID, statements, BAS, property papers if relevant
- Credit check only once you choose to proceed
- Terms in writing, then signing and funding
Step one: the enquiry
You share the basics: amount, purpose, time trading, turnover, credit history, tax position and whether property is available. With us, this takes about 60 seconds and involves no credit check. Accurate answers here shape everything that follows.
Step two: the first call
A real person calls to fill in the picture. Expect questions about what the money will do, how it will be repaid, what has happened with other lenders and anything unusual in your history. This conversation usually decides the route. Our guide on preparing for the first call helps you get ready.
Step three: documents
You will be asked for documents suited to the route: identification, bank statements or secure data access, BAS, sometimes tax returns, and for property-secured loans, the rates notice and mortgage statement. The documents checklist lists everything by loan type.
Step four: credit check and assessment
If you decide to proceed, a credit check is run, usually with your consent recorded. The lender assesses bank statements, credit history, the purpose and any security. For our property-secured loans, the property is assessed from sales evidence and title searches, with no valuation needed before approval. Questions may come back; quick answers keep things moving.
Step five: indicative terms
If the deal works, you receive indicative terms setting out the amount, term, repayment structure, security and every cost. This is the moment to compare carefully: total cost, repayment frequency, early repayment terms and what happens if something goes wrong. See comparing offers on total cost.
Step six: loan documents and advice
Once you accept the terms, formal loan documents are prepared. For property-secured loans, independent legal advice is common. Guarantors and property co-owners sign too. Read everything; ask about anything unclear.
Step seven: verification and settlement
Identification is verified, documents are signed, often electronically, and for secured loans the mortgage or caveat is registered or lodged. Funds are released to you or directly to the party being paid, such as the ATO or a supplier.
Step eight: during the loan
Make repayments as agreed, or if interest has been prepaid or added to a secured loan, keep the lender informed about your repayment plan. If something changes, talk to the lender early; flexible terms are far easier to use when issues are raised before they become problems.
Typical timelines
Simple unsecured deals can complete within a few days, sometimes faster. Property-secured loans can fund in as little as 24 hours on straightforward deals once documents are signed, though third-party consents and solicitor availability affect timing.
An illustrative example
A gym owner enquired on a Monday, spoke with a specialist that afternoon, shared statements securely the same evening and received indicative terms for equipment finance on Tuesday. Documents were signed on Wednesday and the equipment supplier was paid on Thursday.
Common reasons for delay, and how to avoid them
Missing or incomplete bank statements, unlodged BAS, identification that does not match, a credit listing nobody mentioned, a co-owner who has not been told about the loan, a solicitor on leave, or an existing lender slow to provide a payout figure. Almost all of these can be avoided with preparation: gather documents before you enquire, mention every credit issue on the first call, involve co-owners early, and line up your solicitor if property is involved.
What a good lender communicates
You should know at each stage what is happening, what is needed from you and roughly how long the next step will take. If you are not hearing back, ask. Clear communication is a reasonable expectation, especially when the money matters to your business.
Start the process
Use the 60-second form. There is no credit check at enquiry, an expert looks it over, and there is no lender auction. Get started.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the whole process take?
Straightforward unsecured loans can complete within days. Property-secured loans can fund in as little as 24 hours on straightforward deals once documents are signed.
When is my credit checked?
Only if and when you decide to proceed with an application. There's no credit check upfront with us.
What are indicative terms?
A written outline of the amount, term, costs, security and conditions, issued before full documents.
Do I need a solicitor?
For property-secured loans, often yes. Independent legal advice is common and sometimes required.
What if I am declined?
A good lender explains why and, where possible, what would change the answer.
Prefer to start now? Enquire here
About 60 seconds. No credit check when you first enquire, and a person who handles unusual deals calls you back.