Quick answer
Online stores typically need funding for stock bought weeks before it sells, advertising that pays back over time, and the gap between sales and platform payouts. Trading stores with consistent payouts into a business account can access unsecured options, typically $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover. Property-secured loans from $20,000 to $5,000,000 suit bigger moves, such as a warehouse, a large import order or clearing tax debt.
Key points
- Stock and advertising are paid up front; sales and payouts follow later.
- Route every platform payout into one business account so lenders see the full picture.
- Know your cost to win a customer before borrowing to scale ad spend.
- Large import orders and warehousing often suit longer-term or property-secured funding.
- Unsecured
- Typically $5k – $500k
- Property-secured
- $20k – $5m
- GST threshold
- $75,000 turnover
Running an online store can feel like running two businesses at once: a marketing business that finds customers, and a logistics business that gets products to them. Both cost money before they make money. Ads run today, stock arrived last month, and payouts from your platforms land on their own schedule.
That timing gap is where funding comes in. Here’s how to work out which option suits your store — and how to present your numbers so a lender understands them.
Where does cash get stuck in an online store?
- Stock. Whether you import, manufacture or buy locally, you pay for stock well before it sells.
- Advertising. Paid social and search ads are charged now; the customers they bring may buy over weeks or months.
- Payout timing. Marketplaces, payment gateways and buy-now-pay-later providers each settle on their own schedule.
- Returns and refunds. A busy period can be followed by a wave of refunds.
- Shipping and fulfilment. Freight, packaging and 3PL fees add up fast.
Which funding suits which ecommerce need?
| What you need | Tends to suit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Restocking best-sellers | Line of credit | Draw to reorder, repay as stock sells |
| A large import order | Longer loan or property-secured | Long lead times mean slower payback |
| Scaling ad spend | Carefully sized unsecured loan | Only when your customer maths is proven |
| Moving into a warehouse | Property-secured or larger loan | Bigger, longer-term commitment |
| Peak-season stock | Line of credit or short loan | Repaid through peak sales |
| Clearing an ATO debt | Case by case | Keep lodging on time regardless |
Our stock funding guide covers how to time reorders around your sales peaks.
What do lenders want to see from an online store?
Online stores can be very readable for lenders — if the money is organised:
- All payouts into one business account. If marketplace payouts go to one account and gateway payouts to another, a lender only sees part of your trading.
- Several months of statements showing consistent payouts, ideally including a peak and a quieter period.
- Refund patterns. High refund rates aren’t a deal-breaker, but they need explaining.
- Lodgements. Once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 you must register within 21 days, and BAS lodgements should be up to date.
- A clear use for the money. “Reorder our three best-sellers ahead of peak” is a strong purpose.
To see what your store could access, start a short enquiry — no credit check when you first enquire, and a real person reads it.
Should you borrow to grow your ad spend?
This is one of the most common questions online store owners ask, and the honest coaching answer is: only when the numbers are proven. Before you borrow, you should know:
- Your cost to win a customer on each main channel.
- Your margin per order after product, shipping, fees and returns.
- How often customers come back, and over what time frame.
- How long it takes for a dollar of ad spend to turn back into a dollar of profit.
If you’ve tested a channel at a small budget and it reliably returns more than it costs, funding can help you scale it. If you haven’t, a loan simply lets you lose money faster. Our business health check covers the core numbers to know.
An illustrative example
Illustrative only. An online activewear store sells through its own website and two marketplaces. Sales are growing, but its best-sellers keep going out of stock for weeks at a time while the owner waits for cash to reorder. Payouts from the marketplaces land in a separate account.
Her funding plan ranks a line of credit first for rolling restocks and suggests consolidating all payouts into one business account before applying, so her full trading is visible. Her prep checklist includes six months of statements from both accounts and a list of her top sellers with reorder lead times.
What should an online store have ready?
- Photo ID and ABN (plus ACN if you trade through a company)
- Last six months of business bank statements covering all payout accounts
- BAS lodged and up to date
- Supplier quotes or purchase orders for stock
- Basic performance numbers: margin per order, refund rate, ad spend
- Property details if you’re offering security
Should you use platform-offered finance?
Many ecommerce platforms and payment providers now offer cash advances repaid as a share of your daily sales. They’re convenient and quick to accept, and for a small, short need they can work. The watch-outs: the true cost can be hard to compare, repayments rise and fall with sales in ways that can squeeze a slow week, and several advances at once can crowd out other options. If you’re considering one, compare the total cost in dollars against a standard loan or line of credit, and avoid stacking them.
Online store owners: let’s fund the growth you’ve already proven
You’ve built something customers want. We’ll help you find funding that suits the way your store actually earns — whether that’s rolling restocks, a big import or the next stage of growth.
Enquiring takes about a minute with no credit check. Your details go to a real person who works on your situation, not to a bidding war between lenders. Please be accurate about your monthly payouts and what the money’s for, so we can match you properly from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Can an online store get a business loan?
Yes. Lenders look at your business bank statements — particularly platform and payment gateway payouts — to see how the store trades. Consistent payouts into one account make assessment straightforward.
Should I borrow to increase my ad spend?
Only if you know your numbers: how much it costs to win a customer and how much profit that customer brings. If the maths is proven on a small budget, funding can help you scale. If it isn't, test first.
How do I fund a large import order?
Large orders with long shipping times often suit a longer loan or property-secured funding, because the stock may take months to arrive and sell. Match the funding term to the time it takes to turn the stock back into cash.
When does my online store need to register for GST?
When your GST turnover reaches $75,000, you need to register within 21 days. Staying on top of GST and BAS lodgements also helps any funding application.
Do lenders look at my Shopify or marketplace dashboard?
Mostly they rely on bank statements, which show the payouts actually received. Some may ask for platform reports to understand refunds, returns and seasonality.