Which business loan is right for you? Build your funding profile

How the funding profile works

Most people searching "which business loan is right for me" get handed a list of loan types and left to figure out the rest. The trouble is that the right answer depends on things a list can't see: how long you've been trading, what flows through your account each month, whether there's property in the picture, and what you actually want the money to do.

The funding profile asks those questions in plain English, one at a time. Behind the scenes it weighs your answers the way an experienced business lending specialist would on a first call. A newer business with property equity looks very different to a three-year-old online store with strong monthly sales and no property, even if both want the same amount. Your plan reflects that.

What your personalised plan includes

• Your options, ranked. Property-secured loans, second mortgages and caveat loans, unsecured business loans and lines of credit — each marked as a strong match, worth exploring or less likely right now, with the reasons spelled out.
• What to prepare. A checklist built from your answers, showing what you already have and what's worth gathering before anyone asks.
• Timing notes. If you need the money this week, the plan tells you what speeds things up. If you're planning ahead, it tells you what to line up now.
• What to read next. Links to the guides for your stage, industry and goal so you can go deeper on your own terms.

Why we ask what we ask

Property matters most. Property-secured business loans run from $20,000 to $5,000,000, and because the security carries much of the weight, they can suit businesses with a short history or a few credit bruises. Trading history and monthly deposits matter for unsecured options, which are typically $5,000 to $500,000 and sized on turnover and bank statements. Credit and ATO history doesn't rule you out — both are considered case by case — but knowing about it up front means no surprises later.

That's also why we ask you to answer honestly. A profile that's a little too rosy produces a plan that points the wrong way, and the same goes for the enquiry form if you decide to talk to us. Accurate answers mean the first conversation is the useful one.

After your plan: talking to a real person

The plan is a starting point, not a verdict. When you're ready, the 60-second enquiry goes to a real person who reads your details and calls you. There's no credit check when you first enquire, and your details aren't passed around a crowd of lenders — they're matched to the option that suits you. Business purposes only.

Funding profile questions

Does the funding profile check my credit?

No. The profile builder runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere and nothing touches your credit file. If you later decide to enquire, there's still no credit check at that first step.

Is the plan an approval or an offer?

No. It's a coaching tool that shows which types of business finance tend to fit a profile like yours and what to prepare. A real person confirms what's genuinely possible once they've looked at your situation.

Why does it ask whether I own property?

Property changes the picture more than anything else. Property-secured business loans run from $20,000 to $5,000,000 and can suit newer businesses or bruised credit, while unsecured options are sized on turnover and bank statements.

Why is there no interest rate in my plan?

Because every business loan is priced on the individual situation — the security, the amount, the term and the business itself. Any rate shown before someone has looked at your details would be a guess, so we don't show one.

Can I change my answers?

Yes. Use 'Edit my answers' on your plan and the builder reopens with your previous choices filled in. Your answers are kept only in this browser.

My business is brand new and I don't own property. Is there anything for me?

Your plan will be honest about it: lenders need either trading history or security. It will point you to the steps that build your funding readiness, including the government grants finder, so you're ready when the time comes.