Overview
Business Loan Matching is a free, no-obligation guidance service for Hobart and Tasmanian business owners who are thinking about borrowing. We help you work out which kinds of finance suit the job you need the money for, get your numbers and documents in order, and, only if you want to, introduce you to an Australian Credit Licence holder who can arrange or provide the loan.
Hobart Loans is not a lender and does not hold an Australian Credit Licence. We don't assess applications, set interest rates or make credit decisions, and we can't promise approval or how quickly a lender will decide. What we can do is help you arrive prepared: clear on the loan's purpose, realistic about repayments and holding the paperwork a lender is likely to ask for.
"Matching" here means matching your situation to the types of finance worth exploring and, if you choose, to a licensed professional. It does not mean matching you to an approval. If we refer you to a broker or lender, we tell you before the referral whether we receive a referral fee and how much it is, and you are free to say no.
Who it's for
The service is designed for small and medium businesses in Hobart and across Tasmania, including:
- Sole traders and partnerships such as tradies, consultants, allied health practices and hospitality operators who need finance for equipment, vehicles, fit-outs or stock.
- Companies and trusts weighing up growth finance, a working capital facility or refinancing existing business debt.
- Seasonal businesses in Tasmanian tourism, agriculture and hospitality that need to bridge quieter months.
- Newer businesses with a short trading history that want to understand what lenders usually look for before applying.
If your business is already behind on tax, wages or loan repayments, borrowing more may not be the answer. We will say so plainly and point you to free help such as the small business resources at business.gov.au and a financial counsellor.
What we help with
Choosing the right type of finance for the purpose
Matching the finance to the purpose avoids expensive mistakes. A long-lived asset such as an excavator usually suits equipment finance; a gap between invoicing and getting paid may suit invoice finance or an overdraft; a one-off project may suit a term loan. Our guide to types of business finance in Australia covers each option in more depth.
Testing affordability and return
We help you model repayments at different terms and illustrative rates using our loan calculator, then compare them with the extra profit or savings the money is expected to produce. Our framework for deciding whether to borrow to grow walks through this step by step.
Getting lender-ready
Lenders generally want to see trading history, cash flow, existing debts, security and your tax track record. We help you assemble these in a tidy pack and flag gaps, such as late BAS lodgements, before a lender sees them. How lenders assess loan applications explains the "5 Cs" they commonly weigh up.
Understanding security and guarantees
Many business loans are secured over equipment, vehicles or property, and directors are often asked to give a personal guarantee. We explain what those terms mean in plain English so you can ask the right questions. Keep in mind that credit used mainly for business purposes generally sits outside the consumer protections of the National Credit Code, so reading the contract carefully matters even more.
Finding a licensed broker or lender (optional)
If you'd like to proceed, we can introduce you to an Australian Credit Licence holder. You can also take your readiness summary to your own bank, broker or accountant. The choice is yours.
How it works
Tell us what you need
Use the contact form or email [email protected] with a short description of your business, what the money is for and roughly how much you need. We reply within one business day.
Free review conversation
We talk through the purpose, timing, trading history, existing debts and any security you could offer. There is no cost, no credit check and no obligation.
Your readiness summary
You receive a written summary covering the finance types worth exploring, the questions to ask any provider, a document checklist and any gaps to fix before applying.
Optional referral
If you want an introduction to a licensed broker or lender, we first disclose any referral fee we would receive. With your consent, we pass on the details you have approved.
You decide
The licensed provider handles any application, assessment and credit decision. You are under no obligation to proceed at any stage.
What you'll need
Not every lender asks for everything below. Tick items off as you go.
- ABN and, if registered, GST registration details
- Photo ID for every owner, director or guarantor
- Last two years of business tax returns and financial statements
- Recent BAS lodgements (usually the last four quarters)
- Six months of business bank statements
- An ATO integrated client account statement showing your tax position
- Year-to-date profit and loss and balance sheet from your accounting software
- List of existing business debts, limits and monthly repayments
- Quotes or invoices for the equipment, vehicle or fit-out you plan to buy
- A simple 12-month cash flow forecast showing how repayments will be met
- Details of any property or assets you could offer as security
Options compared
The table below is a general comparison. Terms, security requirements and fees vary between lenders, so always check the actual offer.
| Product | Typical purpose | Typical term | Security | Things to watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secured term loan | Expansion, fit-outs, buying a business | Often 1–15 years; longer if secured by property | Property or business assets, often plus a director's guarantee | Break costs on fixed rates; security over your home if residential property is used |
| Unsecured business loan | Short projects, stock, marketing | Commonly a few months to 5 years | None over specific assets; personal guarantee usually required | Generally higher rates; daily or weekly repayments on some products |
| Overdraft | Smoothing day-to-day cash flow | Ongoing, reviewed periodically | Often secured | Limit can be reduced at review; line fees even when unused |
| Line of credit | Recurring or seasonal expenses | Ongoing, reviewed periodically | Often secured by property | Easy to let the balance drift up and stay there |
| Equipment finance (chattel mortgage, hire purchase, finance lease) | Vehicles, machinery, technology | Commonly 1–7 years | The equipment itself | Balloon or residual payments; GST and tax treatment differ by product |
| Invoice finance | Releasing cash tied up in unpaid invoices | Ongoing facility | Your receivables | Fees charged per invoice can add up; customers may be notified |
For vehicles and machinery, our Car & Equipment Finance Guidance service goes into more detail.
Advantages & watch-outs
Advantages
- Free, independent explanation of options before you speak to anyone selling a product
- A clear document pack that can save back-and-forth with a lender
- Repayment modelling tied to the actual purpose of the loan
- Any referral fee disclosed before a referral, and no obligation to proceed
Watch-outs
- We don't provide credit assistance or personal financial advice; a licensed provider makes any recommendation
- We can't influence approval, rates or the time a lender takes to decide
- A referred broker may not have access to every lender in the market
- Talk to your accountant about tax and GST treatment before signing
Worked example: a café fit-out
Example (illustrative only): a Hobart café owner wants to borrow $80,000 to refit the kitchen and add seating. She estimates the work will add about $2,000 a month in gross profit once complete. We compare two terms at an illustrative 10% p.a. with monthly repayments, ignoring fees and tax for simplicity.
| Term | Monthly repayment | Total repaid | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years (36 months) | $2,581.37 | $92,929.50 | $12,929.50 |
| 5 years (60 months) | $1,699.76 | $101,985.81 | $21,985.81 |
The 3-year loan costs less overall, but its $2,581.37 repayment exceeds the expected $2,000 extra profit, so $581.37 a month would come from existing cash flow. The 5-year loan leaves about $300 a month of headroom, at the cost of roughly $9,000 more interest. The better choice depends on the café's cash reserves, how reliable the profit estimate is and whether early repayment is allowed without penalty: exactly the questions to put to a licensed provider. Our article on how loan term changes what you really pay explores this trade-off further.
Thinking about business finance? Get a free, no-obligation readiness review. We reply within one business day.
Request a free reviewFrequently asked questions
Is Business Loan Matching really free?
Yes. There is no charge for the review or the readiness summary. If you choose to be referred to a licensed broker or lender, we may receive a referral fee from them; we disclose whether we do, and the amount, before making the referral.
Will you check my credit file?
No. We don't make credit enquiries. You can request a free copy of your own credit report from credit reporting bodies such as Equifax, Experian and illion, which is worth doing before any lender applies a check.
Can you get my business loan approved faster?
No. Only the lender decides whether and when to approve a loan. A complete, accurate document pack can reduce back-and-forth, but we can't promise any outcome or timeframe for a credit decision. Our own commitment is to reply to your enquiry within one business day.
My business has only been trading for a short time. Can you still help?
Yes. We can explain what lenders commonly look for with newer businesses, such as personal credit history, industry experience, a realistic cash flow forecast and sometimes additional security, so you know what to prepare.
Do I have to use the broker or lender you refer me to?
No. You can take your readiness summary to your own bank, broker or accountant, or decide not to borrow at all.
What if I have an ATO debt?
Tell us early. Lenders usually ask about tax debts, and an unmanaged ATO debt can be a significant concern for them. The ATO offers payment plans in some circumstances, and your accountant can help you understand your options.
Have a broader question? See our general FAQ or look up terms like "chattel mortgage" or "LVR" in the glossary.
