Retail business loans

Finance for shops, multi-store retailers and ecommerce brands, from stock and suppliers to fit-outs and growth, through a panel of 100+ bank, non-bank and private lenders.

  • Stock for peak seasons
  • Shops and ecommerce
  • No obligation

In a nutshell

Retailers and ecommerce brands mostly borrow to buy stock ahead of busy seasons, fit out stores and fund marketing and growth. Non-bank lenders assess you mainly on the sales in your bank statements, often from about 6 months of trading and without property security, and some revenue-based lenders specialise in ecommerce brands. Trade accounts and trade finance help you pay suppliers before the stock sells. Depending on the lender, decisions can be as quick as a few hours.

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At a glance

Stock and inventory
Trade finance, lines of credit or loans
Ecommerce growth
Revenue-based and unsecured lending
Fit-outs
Equipment finance or a business loan
Minimum trading
From about 4 to 6 months with some lenders
Decision time
Hours to days
Interest rates
Vary by lender and business

How retailers use finance

Retail runs on stock. You buy it weeks or months before you sell it, often in big orders ahead of Christmas, end of financial year sales or a new season. Rent, wages and marketing don't stop in quiet months. Finance lets you buy the right stock at the right time and smooth the gap between paying suppliers and making the sales.

Stock and suppliers

Trade finance and trade accounts pay your suppliers, here or overseas, and give you time to repay after the stock sells. For regular stock purchases, a line of credit lets you draw what you need and repay as sales come in. A short-term business loan suits a one-off seasonal build-up.

Ecommerce and online brands

Online brands spend heavily on stock and advertising before the sales arrive, and grow faster than a bank will usually lend. Non-bank and revenue-based lenders assess ecommerce businesses on their online sales, often by connecting to your sales platform, payment provider and ad accounts, and lend without property security. Funding is usually sized on your monthly revenue and repaid over a short term.

Fit-outs and store equipment

Shop fit-outs, refits and new stores can be funded with a business loan, while point-of-sale systems, refrigeration and display equipment can often be financed with equipment finance. If you're opening a franchised store, see our guide to franchise finance.

What lenders look at

  • regular sales in your bank statements or sales platforms
  • your margins and how quickly stock sells
  • seasonality, and whether you can repay from peak sales
  • your lease, for physical stores
  • any ATO debt and how it's being managed

Eligibility and documents

What lenders usually look for

  • An active ABN, and often GST registration
  • Trading history, from about 4 to 6 months with some non-bank lenders to 2 years or more with banks
  • Regular sales in your business bank statements, or in your ecommerce and payment platforms
  • A credit history the lender is comfortable with
  • For stores, a lease with enough time left to cover the loan term

Documents you may need

  • Identification for each director or owner
  • Business bank statements, usually 6 to 12 months
  • For ecommerce, access to your sales platform, payment provider and ad accounts with some lenders
  • Supplier quotes or purchase orders, for stock finance
  • For larger loans, financial statements, tax returns and BAS

Requirements vary by lender. All lending is subject to each lender's credit criteria and assessment.

What lenders publish for retailers

Here's a selection of what lenders publish about products retailers and ecommerce brands use. It isn't a full list of lenders or a ranking.

  • Tractor Ventures lends $100,000 to $3 million to eCommerce brands, software companies and other SMEs with $50,000 or more in predictable monthly revenue, unsecured and with no director's guarantee under $300,000. Profile →
  • Lumi's business loans and lines of credit go up to $1 million, mostly unsecured up to $300,000, for businesses trading 6 months or more with $50,000 or more in annual revenue. Profile →
  • Prospa's Small Business Loan goes up to $500,000, with no upfront security up to $150,000, for businesses trading 6 months or more with $6,000 or more in monthly turnover. Profile →
  • Bizcap's fast business loans need 4 months of trading and $12,000 or more in monthly revenue, and Bizcap says approval can come in as little as 3 hours. Profile →
  • Shift's Trade Account adds trade terms of up to $500,000 to almost any supplier invoice, which you repay on a date you choose or weekly over up to 20 weeks. Profile →

A sample of lenders, as published by each lender, checked 23 October 2026.

Which finance fits which retail cost?

Stock before Christmas or a peak season

Usual finance option
Line of credit, trade finance or a short-term loan
Why it fits
Repaid from the season's sales

Paying suppliers or importing

Usual finance option
Trade finance or a trade account
Why it fits
Pays the supplier now; you repay after the stock sells

Ecommerce ad spend and growth

Usual finance option
Revenue-based or unsecured lending
Why it fits
Sized on your online sales, with no property needed

A store fit-out or refit

Usual finance option
Business loan or equipment finance
Why it fits
Spreads the cost over the life of the fit-out

Buying a store or another brand

Usual finance option
Business loan
Why it fits
Assessed on the business's trading history

Related guides

Talk to us about retail business loans

Tell us what you need and a little about your business. Your broker works out your cash flow and serviceability from your bank statements, then matches the product, amount, terms and lender to your business.

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FAQs

Questions about retail business loans

Many use a line of credit, trade finance or a short-term business loan to buy stock ahead of the season, and repay it from the season's sales. Arrange it well before you need to order, as suppliers often want payment months ahead.

Yes. Non-bank lenders assess ecommerce businesses on their online sales, and some specialise in them. Tractor Ventures, for example, lends to eCommerce brands with $50,000 or more in predictable monthly revenue.

Revenue-based finance is funding sized on your recurring sales rather than your assets, often repaid over a short term or as a share of sales. It suits fast-growing ecommerce and software businesses without property.

Often not. Many non-bank lenders offer unsecured loans up to a few hundred thousand dollars, assessed on your sales, usually with a personal guarantee. Larger amounts may need security.

It's harder before you've started trading, because most lenders assess your sales. Some non-bank lenders lend from about 4 to 6 months of trading, and fit-out equipment can be financed separately.

Depending on the lender, decisions can be as quick as a few hours for unsecured loans. Trade finance facilities and bank loans usually take longer.

No. There's no cost to you for our service. We're paid by the lender when your finance settles, and there's no obligation to proceed.

This page is general information only and isn't credit, tax or financial 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.