9 Mistakes Tradies Make Financing Site Power (2025)
Site power finance mistakes for tradies – Switchboard Finance
⚡ Tradies · site power · pumps · lighting · Tradie Hub · 2025
Looking up site power finance in 2025 for a genset, pump, or lighting tower? Most delays come from avoidable paperwork and a messy “ownership story”.
Start with the bigger tradie overview: Tradie finance Australia — then if you want the prebuilt checklist/pack, jump to the Tradie Loan Pack.
- You need reliable site power gear but don’t want to drain working cash.
- You want a lighter-doc path (see Low Doc once, then keep the file clean).
- You want the main “money page” context first: Low Doc Asset Finance.
The 9 mistakes (and the clean fix for each)
Site power gear is easy to fund when the quote is itemised and the borrower is clear. Keep it boring, consistent, and readable — that’s what speeds up the yes/no.
Below is the checklist. If you only do one thing: make the quote and delivery story obvious.
Mistake: “Generator package – $18k” with no model, inclusions, or delivery date.
Fix: Ask for an itemised quote that reads like a Tax Invoice (model + inclusions + delivery/install lines).
Mistake: Buying under your name “because it’s faster”, then trying to explain business use later.
Fix: Decide the borrower up front and set Business Use % once (then don’t change the story).
Mistake: Second-hand genset with a vague receipt and no identifiers.
Fix: Treat it like a “clear title” purchase — run a PPSR Check mindset and document the seller + asset details properly.
Mistake: Fuel tanks, hoses, cabling, install bundled as “misc”.
Fix: Split hardware vs install vs accessories so the Credit Assessment stays simple.
Mistake: Treating a bigger upgrade like a tiny tool buy, then getting surprised by extra questions.
Fix: Match the structure to the asset (e.g. Equipment Finance style thinking for clean asset-backed funding).
Mistake: Approval’s fine… then delivery week + supplier bills squeeze you.
Fix: Map the gap with a quick Cash Flow Forecast before you lock dates.
Mistake: Adding one repayment… then another… then another.
Fix: Check Servicing first (then decide what you can safely stack).
Mistake: “Shopping around” and collecting multiple credit hits.
Fix: Keep it to one clean pathway to reduce Credit Enquiry noise.
Mistake: You finish early or swap gear and get surprised by fees.
Fix: Ask about exit terms up front — including any Exit Fees — before you sign.
The “clean quote” template (copy/paste to your supplier)
The fastest approvals are the boring ones: one supplier, one quote, one delivery window, one story. Use the template below and keep everything consistent.
If you’re building a broader gear plan across the year, the Tradie Loan Pack is the “do it in order” pathway (tools → bigger gear → vehicles) without burning cash.
- Asset type + model + year (if used) + any identifiers they provide
- Itemised hardware lines (genset / pump / lighting tower + key accessories)
- Delivery + install/calibration scope (separate line)
- Total inc GST (and note if you’re GST Registered)
- Expected delivery / install date window
Site power finance is usually straightforward — until the quote is vague, the “who owns it” story changes, or you stack repayments without checking capacity.
Start with Tradie finance Australia, then anchor asset funding on Low Doc Asset Finance. If your real issue is timing and supplier bills, compare options under Business Loans — including a Business Line of Credit and Working Capital Loans.
FAQ
Often yes — provided the quote is itemised, the borrower details are consistent, and the delivery/install story is clear. Most delays come from “vague quote + changing story”, not the asset itself.
Commonly: a clean itemised quote and enough trading evidence to support repayments. The cleaner the quote, the fewer follow-up questions you’ll get.
Most asset-backed funding behaves like secured funding because the gear is identifiable. That’s why model details and ownership paperwork matter so much.
When the pain is timing (supplier bills, wages, fuel) rather than the asset purchase itself. If the purchase is a defined item with a clean quote, asset funding is usually the cleaner path.
You’ll usually need the current payout amount before you can exit or swap the asset. Ask for that figure early so you don’t get surprised by timing or fees.
For tax source-of-truth, start at ato.gov.au.
Disclaimer: This content is general information only and isn’t financial, legal, or tax advice.
