Business Loan
A Business Loan is any form of financing provided to a business for cashflow, operations, working capital, equipment, vehicles, growth, or expansion. Business loans include Working Capital Loans, Business Lines of Credit, Invoice Finance, Secured and Unsecured Business Loans, plus Equipment Finance and Vehicle Finance as separate asset-backed categories.
The core business lending category in Switchboard’s ecosystem is the 3 Pillars of Business Loans:
These sit within the Business Owners Finance Hub, which supports businesses across industries including tradies, truckies, medical practices, cafés, contractors, and SMEs.
Why Business Loans Matter
Business loans enable owners to manage cashflow, handle growth, expand teams, and fund operational expenses. The right loan structure depends on whether a business needs:
- fast cashflow support via a Working Capital Loan
- flexible ongoing funds through a Line of Credit
- funds advanced against invoices using Invoice Finance
- secured borrowing to reduce cost of capital
- unsecured funding for speed and simplicity
Businesses in the Tradie Hub, Truckie Hub, Café Hub, and Whitecoat Hub frequently use business loans to stabilise cashflow or fund expansions.
Types of Business Loans
- Working Capital Loan – short-term cashflow support
- Business Line of Credit – revolving credit facility
- Invoice Finance – funds against unpaid invoices
- Secured Business Loan
- Unsecured Business Loan
- Merchant Cashflow Loans (daily debit loans)
- Asset Finance (vehicles, trucks, equipment)
These loan types are also used in Switchboard’s cashflow strategies explained in Business Cashflow System.
How Business Loans Work
- A lender assesses the business (bank statements, cashflow, affordability).
- Security is determined (secured vs unsecured).
- Loan structure is selected (term, limit, rate type).
- The loan settles via a Settlement process.
- Repayments are made daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on loan type.
Loan cost is affected by Fixed Rates, Variable Rates, and the Comparison Rate.
Related Switchboard Resources
For official business funding information, visit business.gov.au.