fbpx
  1. Insights
  2.  → Business Loans for Sole Traders

Business Loans for Sole Traders

Apr 5, 2023 | Insights

If you’re a sole trader, a business loan can sometimes feel out of reach. However, this need not be the case.

In fact, there are several options for business owners looking to borrow money to improve their business.

If you run a sole trader business and want to learn more about your financing options, keep reading as we unpack sole trader business loans, including how to access them if you’ve got a bad credit history.

Why use sole trader business loans?

For some sole traders, the cost of running a business may be too high to cover the purchase of business vehicles or assets from cash flow alone. Cash flow is particularly tight for businesses that are just getting off the ground or building their customer base. For cyclical industries or for those with long invoicing periods, it can feel like they’re stuck in limbo — they want to scale their business to increase revenue but can’t do so until they have more equipment.

Sole trader business loans are designed for sole traders, meaning that they aren’t forced to satisfy the same criteria as personal loans. Whether you need a car for your business or require specific equipment like video cameras or drones, paying outright may be impossible. A sole trader business loan could be the solution.

By accessing tailored finance for your business needs, you can not only grow your business, but improve your business credit score through diligent repayments and management of your loan account.

Other uses for sole trader business loans

Aside from acquiring vehicles or upgrading equipment, many small business owners use sole trader business loans to take advantage of growth opportunities for their business. Some of the ways that a small business loan can be utilised include:

  • Funding expansion plans.
  • Launching new products.
  • Rolling out marketing campaigns.
  • Purchasing stock.
  • Immediately improving cash flow to cover expenses.

How does a sole trader business loan work?

Just like any other form of personal or business loan, a sole trader loan provides a lump sum of money borrowed from a lender, over an agreed time frame, with interest payable.
Unsecured business loans

Unsecured business loans are generally uncommon, as most business loans are secured against property or an asset of some sort.

Secured loans using personal or business assets

Sole trader loans are generally a secured loan, meaning that a property or equipment is used as collateral to help provide security to the lender if you’re unable to repay the loan amount.

Loan amounts

Different loan products will come with different available loan amounts. Traditional lenders such as banks and credit unions may offer different loan amounts or loan terms than alternative lenders who specialise in small business finance.

At Finance One Commercial, we offer a range of sole trader loans between $8,000 - $150,000!*

Call us today on 1800 346 663 to find out how we may be able to help you or apply online now!

Apply Online Now
Loan term

You can choose how long to take your small business loan over. At Finance One, we offer loan terms between three and seven years for our range of sole trader finance options.

Good to know:

Many lenders lock you in for a fixed period, however, at Finance One, we do not penalise you for repaying your loan early!

Getting a sole trader loan with a bad credit history

If you’re a business owner with bad personal credit history or have yet to build a credit history for your business, getting business finance can be tough. Thankfully, bad credit borrowers may still be eligible for business finance through alternative lenders that specialise in small business loans for sole traders and bad credit business loans.

How to access a bad credit business loan

Before you look to compare your business loan options, it’s important to remember that not all lenders specialise in bad credit business loans. By accessing a business lending specialist that specialises in bad credit business loans, you give your business the best chance of accessing the finance it needs to get ahead.

Finance One Commercial is a non-bank lender who works with sole traders with bad credit to give them an opportunity to access finance. Contact the team to find out if we can help you access a bad credit business loan to give your business the boost it needs.

Apply Online Now

Frequently asked questions about sole trader loans

How do I know what my business credit score is?

Before applying for finance and having a credit check run on your business, you can use an online service to check your business credit score. If this is your first time borrowing money using your Australian Business Number (ABN), it’s likely that your score will be low, as there’s no borrowing history.

All hard credit enquiries will show on your credit file, which is why it’s important to be certain before you apply for any form of finance. Multiple enquiries can reflect negatively on your credit score.

Is it hard to get a business loan?

There is no denying that an existing business may find it more straightforward to access business finance, as they have a trading history and have likely borrowed money before. However, by accessing specialist lenders such as Finance One Commercial, getting a small business loan doesn’t have to be hard.

Are business credit cards a good alternative to getting a loan?

Getting a business credit card can be a tempting alternative to taking out a business loan, however, credit cards for businesses work similarly to personal credit cards, with high interest rates and fees attached. Also, as credit cards are unsecured, it can be tricky to be approved.

Can I use a personal loan for my business?

It is possible to use the funds from a personal loan for your business needs. However, this would typically be an unsecured loan (as you may not be able to use business assets as security for a personal loan). This means that you’d be relying on your personal credit score to support the loan application.

Bear in mind: if your business needs to close, you’ll still need to repay the personal loan as per your loan agreement.

Finance One Commercial can help you...

Contact the team to find out if we can help you access a bad credit business loan to give your business the boost it needs.

Apply Online Now

*Loans between $75,000 – $150,000 must be property backed.

Normal lending criteria apply. Fees and charges are payable. Terms and conditions apply.

Finance One means:
Fin One Pty Ltd – ABN: 80 139 719 903
Australian Credit Licence: 387528

Disclaimer: The information above is of a general nature only and does not consider your personal objectives, financial situation or particular needs. You should consider seeking independent advice regarding your legal, financial, taxation or other needs, to check how the information relates to your particular circumstances. We do not accept responsibility for any loss arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information. All loan applications are subject to normal lending criteria. Fees and charges payable. Terms and conditions apply.

 

Share this article

PROVIDED BY

PROVIDED BY

Finance One

Related articles

Say HELLO to our new logo!
News

Say HELLO to our new logo

We are proud to announce that after 11 years, Finance One has a new look. We assure you we are the same friendly, compassionate team striving to help everyday Australians with finance, even if they have experienced a poor credit history.While we...

News

Finance One Turns 10

Finance One is celebrating 10 years in business in 2020. While the business has grown to service close to 14,000 clients, the Finance One motto remains the same - to empower people through personal finance.Specialising in a compassionate...

covid 19 and my loan faq
News

COVID-19 and My Loan FAQs

We have compiled some responses to questions you may have in respect to your loan with Finance One during this time of uncertainty. We are here to help you work through this time. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the...