Private business lenders

How private credit works for Australian businesses: what private lenders fund, what they look for, how fast they move and what it costs.

Fast decisions
Property-secured
No obligation

Quick answer

Private business lenders are non-bank lenders that fund loans from private investors and funds rather than customer deposits. In Australia, most private lenders require property as security. They usually lend for 1 to 24 months, and focus on the security and how you'll repay more than your financials. That means fast decisions, sometimes within 48 hours, and flexibility with credit issues, ATO debt or missing paperwork. They usually cost more than banks and other non-bank lenders, so they suit time-critical needs with a clear way to repay.

We'll call you within 1–2 business hours · or call 0468 060 969

Private lenders, non-banks and banks compared

Funded by

Banks: Customer deposits
Non-bank lenders: Investors and wholesale funding
Private lenders: Private investors and credit funds

Main focus when assessing

Banks: Financials, credit and security
Non-bank lenders: Bank statements and credit
Private lenders: Property security and your exit plan

Security

Banks: Often property or assets
Non-bank lenders: Often unsecured for smaller loans
Private lenders: Property, by first or second mortgage or caveat

Speed

Banks: Days to weeks
Non-bank lenders: Hours to days
Private lenders: Days, sometimes within 48 hours

Term

Banks: Up to 25 to 30 years
Non-bank lenders: Usually up to 5 years
Private lenders: Usually 1 to 24 months

Loan size

Banks: Largest
Non-bank lenders: Usually up to a few hundred thousand dollars unsecured
Private lenders: Hundreds of thousands to $15 million or more

Cost

Banks: Lowest
Non-bank lenders: Higher
Private lenders: Usually highest

Comparison of banks, non-bank lenders and private lenders
	Banks	Non-bank lenders	Private lenders
Funded by	Customer deposits	Investors and wholesale funding	Private investors and credit funds
Main focus when assessing	Financials, credit and security	Bank statements and credit	Property security and your exit plan
Security	Often property or assets	Often unsecured for smaller loans	Property, by first or second mortgage or caveat
Speed	Days to weeks	Hours to days	Days, sometimes within 48 hours
Term	Up to 25 to 30 years	Usually up to 5 years	Usually 1 to 24 months
Loan size	Largest	Usually up to a few hundred thousand dollars unsecured	Hundreds of thousands to $15 million or more
Cost	Lowest	Higher	Usually highest

These are general patterns. Our guide to bank vs non-bank business loans covers the first two in more detail.

How private business loans work

Private lenders raise money from investors, often through private credit or mortgage funds, and lend it to businesses and property owners. Most private lenders in Australia require property as security, so the lender's main questions are what the property is worth, how much is already owed on it, and how you'll repay.

Most private loans are interest-only, with the full amount repaid at the end of the term from a sale, a refinance or another known source of funds. That repayment plan is called your exit strategy, and a clear one matters more to a private lender than your last two years of tax returns.

What private business loans are used for

Business expansion

Funding a new site, fit-out, hire or growth opportunity against property, when a bank would take too long or wants financials you don't have yet.

Bridging finance

Covering the gap until a property sale, a refinance or a known payment such as an R&D refund comes through.

Paying ATO debt

Clearing a tax debt quickly, including when the ATO has started recovery action or issued a Director Penalty Notice.

Buying a business or property

Settling an acquisition or commercial property purchase on time when other finance isn't ready.

Refinancing other lenders

Paying out existing lenders, or a lender that wants out, while you arrange longer-term finance.

Development and construction

Funding land, construction, incomplete projects and unsold completed stock (residual stock).

Using private lending for ATO debt? Our ATO debt business loans guide compares it with staying on a payment plan.

First mortgage, second mortgage or caveat

First mortgage

The private lender is the only, or first-ranking, lender on the property. It usually allows the largest loan and the lowest private lending cost.

Second mortgage

The private lender ranks behind your existing first mortgage, lending against the remaining equity. Your first mortgage lender may need to consent.

Caveat

A caveat on the property's title secures the loan without a registered mortgage. It's quick to arrange, so it's often used for urgent, smaller loans.

What private lenders publish

Private lenders' amounts, LVRs and terms vary widely. These examples are from lender profiles in our business lender directory, checked 23 October 2026.

Maxiron Capital lends $250,000 to $15 million at up to 75% LVR over 1 to 24 months. Its Flash48 loans skip the valuation and fund in 48 hours, and it says credit defaults are considered. Profile →
HomeSec lends up to $5 million at up to 80% of residential and 70% of commercial property value, with open terms and no early repayment penalty. Profile →
Ventra Capital lends up to $2.5 million by second mortgage or caveat, at up to 80% LVR without a valuation, settling in 2 to 3 working days. Profile →
Millbrook Group lends up to $15 million, including bridging loans of 6 to 12 months at up to 70% LVR and construction loans at up to 65% of net realisable value. Profile →
Equity-One lends $50,000 to $10 million over 1 month to 3 years, interest-only, with no break costs for commercial borrowers who repay early. Profile →
FarmCap lends $200,000 to $10 million to farming businesses, secured by first or second mortgages over farmland. Profile →

Costs, risks and what to check

Private loans usually cost more than bank and other non-bank loans, and the short terms mean you need a reliable exit. If the exit is delayed, extension fees and default interest can add up quickly, and your property is on the line. Before you sign, check:

the total cost, including establishment, legal and valuation fees, not just the rate
the default interest rate and fees if a payment is late
what happens if your exit takes longer than the term, and what an extension costs
whether you can repay early, and at what cost
whether interest is paid monthly, prepaid or added to the loan

Short on paperwork rather than security? A low doc business loan from a non-bank lender may cost less.

Is a private lender right for you?

A private business loan usually makes sense when:

you have property, or equity in property, to offer as security, which most private lenders require
you need funds within days, or a bank or non-bank lender can't move fast enough
your financials, credit history or ATO position rule out cheaper lenders
you have a clear, realistic way to repay within the term

Talk to us about private lending

We work with a panel of 100+ bank, non-bank and private lenders, and match you with the ones best suited to your property, timing and exit. We'll also look at whether a cheaper option would work.

One conversation, no obligation
We seek multiple lender options for you
Business finance from $30,000

Prefer to talk now? Call 0468 060 969, Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm AEST/AEDT.

Get your private lending options

Tell us what you need and we'll call you back, usually within 1–2 hours during business hours. No obligation.

Call us now: 0468 060 969

Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm AEST/AEDT

FAQs

Private business lending questions

A private business lender is a non-bank lender that funds loans from private investors, family offices or credit funds rather than customer deposits. In Australia, most private lenders require property as security. They lend for short terms and assess the property and your exit plan more than your financials.

Private credit is lending by non-bank funds and investors instead of banks. In Australian business lending it mostly means property-secured loans funded through private credit and mortgage funds, which pass the interest borrowers pay on to their investors.

Often within days. Maxiron Capital's Flash48 loans fund in 48 hours without a valuation, and Ventra Capital says its loans settle in 2 to 3 working days. Timing depends on the property, the security position and how quickly documents are signed.

Yes, but credit issues matter less than with banks. Private lenders focus on the property and how you'll repay, and some, such as Maxiron Capital, say credit defaults are considered.

Often, yes. Many private lenders offer low doc or no doc loans assessed on the property and your exit rather than tax returns or BAS. See our guide to low doc business loans for how these work.

Usually up to 65% to 80% of the property's value, depending on the lender, the property type and whether it's a first or second mortgage. Commercial property, land and construction usually attract lower ratios than residential property.

It's how you'll repay the loan at the end of the term, such as selling a property, refinancing with a bank or non-bank lender, or receiving a known payment. Private lenders want a clear, realistic exit before they lend, because most of their loans are repaid in one amount.

Loans for business purposes aren't covered by the consumer credit laws that apply to personal and home loans. That makes it important to read the loan contract carefully, especially the fees, default interest and extension terms, and to have your accountant or lawyer review it.

It's unlikely. In Australia, most private lenders require property as security, either residential or commercial. If you don't have property, unsecured non-bank lenders, which assess your business on its bank statements, are usually the better option.

Yes. We work with a panel of 100+ bank, non-bank and private lenders and seek multiple lender options for you. We'll also look at whether a cheaper bank or non-bank loan would work.

This page is general information only and isn't credit or legal advice. Lender details are taken from each lender's published information, checked 23 October 2026, and can change. All lending is subject to each lender's credit criteria and assessment.