Cash flow and business loans
Working capital that fits the way the business gets paid.
Seasonal gaps, slow-paying customers, or a tax debt to clear. We compare overdrafts, lines of credit, invoice finance and term loans on total cost, and say plainly when a short-term online loan is the wrong tool.
Tax debt you tell us about can often be worked with. An enquiry is not an application, and no credit check is authorised by sending one.
The facilities
Match the facility to the shape of the gap.
| Item | What to expect | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Overdraft or line of credit | Draw and repay as needed; interest on the balance used | Recurring gaps; secured or unsecured depending on the lender |
| Invoice or debtor finance | Advance against unpaid invoices, typically a share of the invoice value | Businesses waiting 30 to 90 days for customers to pay |
| Term loan | Fixed amount, fixed term | One-off needs: fit-out, acquisition, refinancing expensive short-term debt |
| ATO debt facility | Refinances a tax debt into a structured repayment | A formal, up-to-date ATO payment plan and evidence of trading |
| Trade or import finance | Funds stock between supplier payment and sale | Importers and wholesalers with a clear sales cycle |
Tax debt
Disclosed and on a plan can be worked with. Hidden cannot.
Several lenders accept a formal ATO payment plan that is up to date. We ask for the plan and your recent payment history, then match you to a lender that accepts it. Where the debt is large relative to turnover, refinancing it into a longer facility can be cheaper than the ATO's general interest charge, but only if the business can afford the repayments on the new facility. That is a numbers conversation, not a sales one.
If the business cannot meet its debts as they fall due, the right first call is your accountant or a registered liquidator, not a lender. We will say so.
Online lenders
A different product with a different cost.
Short-term online lenders charge for a lighter assessment, and in some situations that is worth paying for. The cost is usually higher and the term shorter than a bank or non-bank facility, and daily or weekly repayments can create the next cash-flow gap. We compare the total cost over the term, and if the online lender is the right tool for the need we say that too.
Imperfect financials
Lenders can use more than last year's tax return.
- Recent BAS to show current turnover.
- Business bank statements, usually three to six months.
- An accountant's letter or interim financials where the tax return is out of date.
- Contracts, purchase orders or a rent roll that show committed income.
Which evidence a lender accepts depends on the amount and the facility. Sending what you have with your enquiry lets us tell you the path before you spend time on paperwork.
How it works
What we do for you, in four steps.
The same four steps for every business enquiry. We look at what repayments the business can afford, not only what a lender will approve.
- 01
Understand your business
Tell us what the finance is for, how much, when, who will borrow and how the business earns. We ask for documents only once we know which lenders fit.
- 02
Compare your options
We compare suitable lenders on total cost, structure and conditions, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Waiting, or staying with your bank, can be the right answer.
- 03
Set the terms
The loan term, any lump sum at the end, the security, presales, progress payments and review dates are set to fit how the business earns and pays, not the lender's standard template.
- 04
Settle and follow through
We prepare the application, handle lender questions and valuations, and stay with you through settlement.
General information only. Any finance is subject to lender assessment and approval.
Questions people ask
Questions before you enquire
Can I get finance with ATO debt?
Often yes. Several lenders accept a formal ATO payment plan that is up to date. We ask for the plan and your recent payment history, then match you to a lender that accepts it. A debt disclosed at the start is usually workable.
Overdraft, line of credit or invoice finance: which one?
An overdraft or line of credit suits recurring gaps. Invoice finance suits businesses that wait 30 to 90 days for customers to pay. Term loans suit one-off needs such as an acquisition. We compare the total cost over the term.
Are online business loans the same thing?
No. Short-term online lenders usually carry a higher cost and a shorter term than a bank or non-bank facility. They suit some situations. We tell you when a bank or non-bank facility is cheaper for the same need.
Do I have to offer my home as security?
Not always. Unsecured facilities exist for established businesses at a higher price. Secured facilities use business assets, property or a director's guarantee. We explain what each lender asks for before you commit.
What if my tax returns are out of date?
Lenders can often use other evidence. If your tax returns do not reflect current trading, BAS, business bank statements or an accountant's letter can stand in. The path depends on the amount and the lender.
What does the broker cost?
For most loans the lender pays Chorus a commission when your loan settles. Where we charge a fee, for example on some development or private lending, we tell you in writing before you proceed. Advice on the price, the debt or the funding plan is a separate service with its own agreed fee. You can ask for the amounts at any time.
Figures on this page were checked on 8 September 2026 against: ATO payment plans, Moneysmart business finance, RBA lending rates statistics. Bands are typical market ranges and are not offers. Your lender, security and financials decide the actual terms.
All questionsWhen you are ready
Tell us what the money needs to do.
Recurring gap, one-off purchase, tax debt or acquisition: send the amount, the timing and what the business earns. We will tell you which facility type fits and what a lender will ask to see.