Case Study (Civil Subbie) (2026): Winning a $220k Job but Stalling at Pre-Start
Civil subcontractor funding case study for tradies and civil contractors | Switchboard Finance
🧱 civil subbie · mobilisation · plant · sequencing · 2026 ·
Tradie Hub
This happens more than people admit: you win the job, you sign the start date, then you stall at pre-start because mobilisation cash and plant deposits land at the same time. The goal wasn’t “more debt.” It was clean sequencing, minimal credit noise, and a pack that made the lender say “yes” fast.
If you’re in the civil/tradie corridor, start with Tradie Finance Australia. If your priority is approval speed on plant, the direct lane is Low Doc Asset Finance.
1) The situation (why a “good job” still stalls)
A civil subcontractor won a $220,000 package on a tight pre-start timeline. The issue wasn’t profit — it was timing. Mobilisation costs hit first, but the first meaningful progress claim was weeks away.
- Mobilisation: inductions, traffic control setup, initial materials, labour ramp, fuel/transport
- Used plant upgrade: reliable machine to meet the program (and avoid hire blowouts)
- Goal: avoid scattered applications (and the “enquiry damage” spiral)
2) The numbers (simple, lender-readable)
The lender didn’t care about the story — they cared about whether the job cashflow could carry the commitments, and whether the bank conduct showed control. So we turned it into a one-page snapshot.
| Line | Number | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Contract value | $220,000 | Proves revenue and timing (not “maybe work”) |
| Job duration | 8 weeks | Shows turnover pace + how fast cash returns |
| Upfront mobilisation window | 14 days | This is where stalls happen (cash out before cash in) |
| Mobilisation cash need | $38,000 | Enough to hurt, not enough to justify a messy facility |
| Used plant purchase | $135,000 | Main asset funding decision |
| Expected plant deposit (budget) | ~10% | Deposit risk needed controlling |
| Cash buffer target | $15,000 | Stops “overdraft chaos” on Bank Statements |
3) The sequencing (how we avoided enquiry damage)
We ran a “one story, two-step” approach: cover mobilisation first without throwing hard enquiries everywhere, then place the plant once the pack was clean and the story was consistent. The point was to protect the Credit File while still moving fast.
- Step 1: a short, controlled buffer for mobilisation (keep it tight and purpose-led)
- Step 2: plant approval once the invoice + condition pack was ready (single lane, no shopping)
- Rule: no scattergun applications → no unnecessary Hard Enquiry noise
4) What the lender actually cared about (decision points)
The lender’s “yes” wasn’t emotional. It came down to three boxes: conduct, story, and asset confidence. We built the submission around those exact boxes.
- 1) Conduct: clean Bank Statements (no chaos, no constant reversals, no unexplained spikes)
- 2) Story: the cash timing explained as a Facility purpose (mobilisation → first claim → stabilise)
- 3) Asset confidence: clear plant IDs and condition support so valuation doesn’t trigger an LVR haircut
If you want the most direct approval lane for the plant side, start at Low Doc Asset Finance. If you need a buffer facility that doesn’t wreck the rest of your file, start at Working Capital Loans.
For broader context on cashflow warning signs (the “why this happens”), see 5 Cash Flow Warning Signs Your Business Needs a Finance Safety Net.
The job wasn’t the problem — timing was. We funded mobilisation first with a controlled, purpose-led facility, then placed the used plant with a clean invoice and condition pack. The lender cared about conduct, a single coherent story, and asset confidence — not “how excited” the client was.
If you’re trying to start a job without credit noise, build your pack around the lender’s three boxes and keep the sequencing tight.
FAQ
Mobilisation costs hit before progress claims land. If the business doesn’t have a controlled buffer, it either delays the start or applies everywhere — and that can create credit noise and deposit blowouts.
Multiple Hard Enquiries can make lenders treat the file as higher risk. That often results in slower approvals, lower limits, and bigger deposits — especially on used plant.
Clean Bank Statements, a simple Facility purpose tied to cash timing, and a plant pack that supports valuation (clear IDs, condition clarity, clean invoice lines).
Usually it’s cleaner to sequence it. A tight mobilisation buffer first keeps the start date safe, then plant finance can be submitted with a clean invoice and valuation-ready condition pack — without mixing stories.
If it’s plant first: Low Doc Asset Finance. If it’s timing buffer first: Working Capital Loans. For the full corridor context: Tradie Finance Australia.
Disclaimer: This content is general information only and isn’t financial, legal, or tax advice.
