Bridge the gap
Cover costs while invoices and progress claims are still outstanding.
CASHFLOW LENDING FOR TRADIES
Cashflow lending for builders and tradies.
Full order book, tight account?
Bridge the gap.
Running a trade business means chasing invoices, paying suppliers and wages, and keeping enough back for yourself. Cashflow lending looks at your work pipeline and incoming payments, not just property. We match short-term funding to how your jobs actually pay, for trade businesses on the Sunshine Coast and across Australia.
Excellent · 35 Google reviews
Keep the job moving.Funding that clears when your invoice does.
FUNDEDon your
pipeline.
pipeline.
40+Lenders on our panel
30+ yearsRichard’s lending experience
SpecialistLenders that read your pipeline
Local careSunshine Coast & Australia-wide
WHY TRADE CASHFLOW RUNS TIGHT
Costs land before
the money does.
A job’s half done, the last progress claim is pending, the supplier wants paying before the next delivery and the client wants it finished by Friday. Nothing has gone wrong; that’s how trade work gets paid. Long payment terms leave busy businesses short, even with a full order book.
Keep jobs moving
Fund materials, wages and urgent business costs without stopping work.
Match repayments
Structure funding around incoming client payments and job milestones.
No property to offer as security? Cashflow lenders focus on the strength and timing of the money coming in, not your house or gear.
Start with a free chatTYPES OF CASHFLOW FINANCE
Match the product
to the gap.
Cashflow lending is a family of products. The right one depends on how and how often the gap shows up.
Business overdraft
A flexible limit on your business account, drawn only when needed. Suits short, irregular gaps.
Line of credit
A revolving facility you can redraw as you repay. Useful when the same timing gap keeps coming back.
Invoice finance
Funding advanced against invoices you’ve issued, so the cash arrives before the client pays.
Unsecured business loan
A lump sum over a set term without property security. Priced higher for the risk, but quick to arrange.
A QUICK COMPARISON
Cashflow loan, or bank loan?
| What you compare | Bank loan | Cashflow lending |
|---|---|---|
| Assessed on | Financials and security | Incoming work and invoices |
| Security | Usually property | Often none |
| Speed | Usually weeks | Some lenders in 1–2 days |
| Cost | Lower rates | Higher rates |
Rates, terms and speed vary by lender and your circumstances. Approval isn’t guaranteed.
Compare my optionsKNOW YOUR NUMBERS
What does bridging
the gap cost?
Cashflow funding costs more than secured finance, so it should be short and matched to a real payment. The test is simple: does the cost of the funding make sense against the profit on the job?
We look at the job, the payment timing and the total cost before recommending a product.
- Upfront costs before the job pays
- Days until the client pays
- Interest and fees for that period
- Profit left after funding costs
YOUR GAP, AT A GLANCE
What could the gap cost?
$1k$500k
Illustrative interest for the gap$986
Share of your job profit8.2%
Illustration only, not a quote. Simple interest for the period shown. Excludes establishment fees, line fees and GST. Rates vary widely between lenders and products.
Check my actual optionsWHAT CASHFLOW LENDING COVERS
The same pressure
points, every trade.
Used with a clear repayment plan, it also keeps personal credit cards and the home loan out of the business, and smooths quieter stretches like the wet season or the Christmas shutdown.
COMMON USES
Keep work flowing between payments.
Materials or supplier accounts before an earlier job has paid. Wages or subbies while a client payment is weeks away. The tool or vehicle that breaks down mid-job.
It also lets you take on a larger contract without scraping funds together to start. Paperwork not ready? A low doc business loan may cover the same gaps.
Working capital, brought forward
Some lenders release funds within one to two business days, usually without property security, which keeps personal risk lower. Repayments can follow your client payment schedule rather than a fixed calendar.
Not a fit for every situation
Rates are usually higher than secured finance, and repayments lean on projected income, so forecasts must be realistic. A patchy pipeline can turn funding into pressure. Borrowing more than the job can repay is the main trap.
General information only. Lending is subject to lender criteria, terms, conditions and eligibility.
Let’s size it right. We’ll match the amount and term to the job, so the funding clears when your invoice does.
Check my next stepsHOW LENDERS ASSESS YOU
What cashflow lenders
look at closely.
A lender funding against your income rather than property focuses on four things.
Incoming work
Signed contracts, purchase orders and a booked pipeline show the money is genuinely coming.
Bank statements
How the account runs day to day, including dishonours or overdrawn periods.
Existing debts
Current loans, leases and tax positions affect how much more you can carry.
Repayment source
Where repayments come from and when. A realistic plan beats an optimistic one.
WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY
Less paperwork,
real evidence.
You don’t need a mountain of paperwork, but lenders want to see real work coming in. Requirements vary by lender and your circumstances.
Active ABN
Plus GST registration if you’re over the threshold.
Proof of income
Recent invoices, signed contracts or job schedules.
Bank statements
Usually the last three to six months of business statements.
BAS and forecast
BAS or tax documents, plus a short forecast of upcoming jobs and payments.
Need a ute, tools or a home loan too? We help tradies with self-employed home loans and equipment finance.
Explore tradie home loansHOW CASHFLOW LENDING WORKS
Quicker and lighter
than a bank loan.
Often through specialist lenders rather than the major banks, with repayments lined up with your progress payments.
UNDERSTAND
Talk through the gap
What you’re funding, when you need it and what the pipeline looks like.
REVIEW
Review incoming income
We look at upcoming invoices, contracts or service agreements rather than security over your home, ute or gear.
COMPARE
Match the product and lender
We compare specialist lenders and products against the size and timing of the gap.
PREPARE
Prepare the file
We pull together statements, BAS and your forecast so the lender can assess quickly.
FUND
Approval and release
Once the file is ready, some lenders can approve and release funds promptly.
REPAY
Clear it when you’re paid
A short-term boost that clears when your invoice does, not long-term debt.
Richard LukeFounder · Ausfirst Lending Group
WHAT MAKES AUSFIRST DIFFERENT
Your trade is personal.
Your broker should be, too.
You’re looked after by someone who treats your financial success as his own.
Richard brings more than 30 years of lending experience. He takes the time to understand your business, income cycle and goals before comparing cashflow lending options from our panel.
Whether it’s working capital, materials, wages, seasonal dips or a bigger contract, you get clear advice, regular updates and support from application to funding.
Self-employed specialistsSpecialist lender access2024 Sunshine Coast Business Awards finalist
Talk to a broker
More about RichardWHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Good people.
Great support.
ExcellentBased on 35 Google reviews
Google review
“I would describe Richard and Ausfirst Lending as friendly, insightful, prompt and diligent. A pleasure to deal with.”
Google review
“Thanks to Richard and Debbie and the team at Ausfirst Lending… They are the gurus of self employed loans. I highly recommend their services.”
Google review
“I received very prompt responses to all of my questions and the team ensured that my application was processed in a timely manner. The service was brilliant!”
Excerpts from client reviews displayed on Ausfirst’s website. These reflect individual experiences.
CASHFLOW LENDING FAQS
Cashflow lending.
Real questions.
The questions builders and tradies ask most about cashflow funding. Every business is different, so we’re happy to talk through the detail.
Ask about my businessCan you help if the bank has already knocked me back?
Often, yes. Banks struggle with the lumpy income of trade work. We work with specialist lenders that assess your upcoming jobs and contracts, not just past financials, so a business that looks uneven on paper may still have options.
I have some late invoices and tax debt. Am I still eligible?
Possibly. Many specialist lenders consider businesses with ATO debt, especially if it’s on a payment plan, and late invoices are common in trades. Lenders weigh the whole picture, so tell us upfront and we’ll find lenders whose policies fit.
How fast can funds come through?
Some specialist lenders can approve and fund within one to two business days once the file is complete. Having statements, BAS and invoices ready makes the biggest difference to speed.
Is cashflow lending risky for a trade business?
It can be if it’s used wrongly. Rates are higher and terms short, so it works best for a specific gap with a clear repayment source. Borrowing more than the job can repay, or funding a patchy pipeline, adds pressure.
Why use Ausfirst instead of going straight to one lender?
Each lender has different criteria, rates, fees and speed. We compare specialist lenders across our panel, match the product to the gap and present your business clearly, saving you applying to lenders one by one.
General information only. It doesn’t consider your objectives, financial situation or needs and isn’t financial, tax or legal advice. Lending is subject to lender criteria, terms, conditions and eligibility.
GET CASHFLOW FUNDING SORTED
Is cashflow lending
right for you?
You built the business with your own hands. A timing gap shouldn’t stop you taking the next job or paying the team. A yes to any of these is a good reason to look at your options.
Turning down work because of upfront costs?
Paid weeks or months after the job’s done?
Steady income overall, bumpy week to week?
Want to grow without risking your house or ute?
Visit us in Caloundra
Suite 3/74 Bulcock St, Caloundra QLD 4551
Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm
YOUR CASHFLOW CHAT
Tell us about the gap.
What you’re funding, when you need it and what the pipeline looks like.
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