Melbourne Importer Cashflow Map (2026): GST, Duty, Freight & the 30–70 Day Inventory Gap
Melbourne importer cashflow map for business owners | Switchboard Finance
📦 melbourne importer · gst + duty · inventory gap ·
Business Owners Finance Hub · 2026
Importing is one of the cleanest “profit on paper, stress in the bank account” businesses. The pain isn’t your margin — it’s timing: cash leaves on arrival (GST/duty/freight), but returns slowly as stock turns.
This guide gives you a simple importer timeline, then shows how to choose the right lane: Business Line of Credit (your flexible buffer), vs Working Capital Loans (a fixed “gap fill”), vs invoice-driven options when your customers pay on terms. For government-level importing basics, see business.gov.au importing guidance.
Two definitions you’ll keep bumping into as an importer: GST (the cash hit that often arrives before sales), and Trade Terms (who pays what, and when, in your shipment).
If you want the “cashflow lanes” big-picture explainer first, start here: Invoice Finance for Growing SMEs. Then use this map to pick the cleanest facility for your importer cycle.
1) The importer timeline: where cash leaves vs where it comes back
Most Melbourne importers don’t “run out of profit” — they run out of runway. The bank balance drops in a tight window (arrival + clearance + freight), then recovers over 30–70 days as inventory sells.
If you don’t map the cycle, the consequence is repeat “urgent top-ups” that look random to a lender. A simple timeline turns it into a planned facility decision.
| Stage | Typical timing | What happens | Cash impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order placed | Day 0 | Supplier deposit / production starts | Cash out (often before any sales) |
| In transit | Days 7–35 | Freight + broker coordination, docs finalised | Small outs, but pressure builds |
| Arrival + clearance | Days 20–45 | GST/duty/freight/handling payable to release goods | Big cash out in a tight window |
| Inventory held | Days 30–70 | Stock sits, sells, ships, returns happen | Cash stuck as inventory |
| Sales convert to cash | Days 35–90 | POS / wholesale invoices settle | Cash back in (often staggered) |
2) Pick the facility: LOC vs working capital vs invoice finance
You’re not choosing a product — you’re choosing a behaviour. Importers win when the facility matches the cycle (short, repeatable gaps) instead of forcing a messy refinance every shipment.
If the wrong tool is used, the consequence is re-work: new submissions, new questions, and “why is this drawn down again?” conversations. Use this quick table to pick the cleanest lane.
| Facility | Best for | Importer use-case | Fastest discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Line of Credit | Recurring, flexible gaps | Cover clearance week (GST/duty/freight), then cycle down as sales land | Draw → clear stock → repay in clean chunks |
| Working Capital Loan | One defined gap with a set plan | Fund a specific shipment cycle when you want a fixed structure | Match term to sell-through window |
| Invoice Finance | When customers pay on terms | Wholesale/B2B invoices (e.g., 14–45 day accounts) after stock ships | Finance invoices, not inventory |
Want a deeper explainer on the “three-lane” setup? See Business Cashflow System (WCL + LOC + Invoice). If you’re actively comparing LOC structures, start with the guide: Business Line of Credit Guide.
3) The approval-ready submission order (to avoid re-work)
Importer files get delayed when the lender can’t see the cycle: how the money leaves, how it comes back, and how you’ll keep the facility “clean”. You’re not trying to be perfect — you’re trying to be easy to understand quickly.
If your story arrives in fragments, the consequence is clarification loops (and sometimes a full re-assessment). Send it once, in order, and cut the back-and-forth.
- Page 1: 1-page cashflow map (arrival week costs + sell-through window + repayment rhythm).
- Page 2: Shipment snapshot (supplier terms, freight/broker costs, landed cost summary).
- Page 3: Sales pathway (how stock converts to cash: retail vs wholesale, average time-to-cash).
- Pages 4–6: Bank statement highlights (what to ignore, what repeats, what’s “one-off”).
- Page 7: Facility behaviour plan (when you draw, when you repay, what “good” looks like).
If your lender keeps pushing “tax proof” questions into a cashflow discussion, this companion read helps: Low Doc Loans for ATO & BAS. For the core working capital explainer (as a “winner seed” to anchor the concept), use: Working Capital Loans 2025.
Importers don’t fail because of margin — they fail because cash leaves early (arrival/clearance) and returns late (sell-through). If your facility matches the cycle, approvals and day-to-day stress both get easier.
Use a Business Line of Credit for repeatable clearance-week gaps, use Working Capital Loans for a defined shipment gap, and use invoice-based funding when customers pay you on terms.
FAQ
Because the cash out happens in a tight clearance window, while cash back arrives over many smaller sales. If you don’t build a repayment rhythm (cycle down after sales land), the lender sees persistent utilisation and asks more questions next time.
When the gap repeats every shipment and you can clearly cycle the balance down after sales settle. If the gap is a one-off (or you want a fixed plan around a specific shipment), a structured working capital loan can be cleaner.
Fragmented submissions: costs described verbally, shipment proof arriving later, or no clear plan for how the facility will be repaid. The fix is one bundle in order: cashflow map → shipment snapshot → sales pathway → repayment rhythm.
A simple cycle map: arrival week costs, sell-through window, and how repayments occur after sales land. It reduces assessor effort because the timing story is obvious inside 60 seconds.
Usually invoice finance shines when you issue invoices on terms (B2B/wholesale). If you’re mainly retail, a LOC or a working capital structure often matches the inventory cycle better — especially around clearance-week cash hits.
Disclaimer: This content is general information only and isn’t financial, legal, or tax advice.
