Quick answer
Bobcat and loader finance helps contractors buy compact loaders, backhoes or wheel loaders and repay from the work they speed up. Many tradies say bobcat for any small loader, so the first job is naming the right machine. Unsecured options typically run from $5k to $500k, property-secured from $20k to $5m, for business use only, with no credit check on first enquiry.
Key points
- Bobcat is the brand name people use for a whole class of machines
- Backhoes dig and load, wheel loaders shift bulk, compact loaders squeeze into tight sites
- Operating licences and site rules affect which machine suits your work
- Depreciation, hours and servicing shape the real cost
- No credit check when you first enquire
Ask a few tradies what they need and plenty will say they want a bobcat. What they mean covers a lot of ground: a tiny walk-behind loader, a ride-on compact, a backhoe that digs and loads, or a full wheel loader. Each has a different price, a different job list and a different way to be financed, so it pays to be exact before you speak to a lender.
Which type of loader do I actually need?
| Machine | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Mini or walk-behind loader | Tight backyards, side access, light cartage | Limited lift and reach |
| Compact loader (skid steer type) | Mixed site work with attachments | Covered more fully on our skid steer page |
| Backhoe loader | Digging plus loading in one machine | Bulky, slower to move between sites |
| Wheel loader | Bulk materials, loading trucks | Larger outlay, needs room to work |
If most of your work is digging, an excavator may be better than any of these. The excavator finance page has the comparison.
How do lenders treat backhoes and wheel loaders?
Like other earthmoving plant: as identifiable, resellable assets with a clear purpose. A backhoe or wheel loader tends to involve larger sums than a compact loader, so lenders look more closely at the business behind it. Expect questions about:
- the make, model, age and hours
- the service history and any independent inspection
- the seller, particularly for auction or private sales
- your contracts, regular clients or hire-out plans
- the pattern of money coming into the business account
For larger amounts, property security can open up loans between $20k and $5m. Without it, unsecured options typically run from $5k to $500k, based on turnover and bank statements.
What are the true running costs of a loader?
Repayments are only the start. Consider:
- Tyres or tracks. A wheel loader’s tyres can be a serious expense when they wear.
- Hydraulics. Hoses, rams and seals leak sooner or later.
- Fuel. Heavy machines drink, and idling on site adds up.
- Transport. Backhoes and wheel loaders may need a float or truck, and a licensed operator for the move.
- Insurance. Plant cover differs from vehicle cover, so ask what each includes.
The equipment payback calculator lets you put these running costs against the work the machine brings in.
Should I own it or hire it?
Utilisation is the swing factor. If the loader sits idle most of the month, hire usually wins. If it is on a job most days, or it lets you quote work you would otherwise refuse, owning makes sense. The buy vs lease vs loan guide looks at structure, and a longer lease can sometimes suit businesses that want to try a machine before committing to ownership.
Want to see how a loader purchase could be funded?
Know the machine you want? You can take a quick look at your options. It takes about a minute and does not involve a credit check at the first stage.
An illustrative example
This is a made-up scenario for explanation only.
A small civil contractor who does driveway preparation, stormwater connections and the occasional farm shed pad has been using a hired backhoe. Hire is billed by the day, and when the contractor needs the machine for a few mornings in a row, it adds up fast. The owner buys a used backhoe loader with hours documented by the dealer and finances it, planning to hire it to a neighbouring contractor on quiet weeks.
The sums rely on two things staying true: the contractor stays busy enough to use the backhoe, and the occasional hire-out fills gaps. If either slips, repayments still have to be met, so the owner keeps a cash buffer.
What about licences and site rules?
Some machines require a ticket to operate, and many larger sites ask for evidence of training and a pre-start check. Your own state regulator and the site operator set the rules, so check before buying a machine your crew cannot lawfully run on the jobs you want. This is as much a business question as a safety one, since a machine that cannot be used on site earns nothing. Sites also expect machines to be properly maintained and inspected, so keep service records and pre-start checklists up to date, because a missing log can slow down a purchase decision as much as a missing ticket can. A tipper or truck to haul spoil is a related purchase; see tipper truck finance.
How do I compare quotes from different dealers?
Line them up on the same basis: same machine type, similar hours, the same attachments and the same inclusions. One quote might include delivery and a handover while another leaves them out, and a cheaper headline price can hide extra costs. Ask each dealer what warranty applies, who services the machine locally and what the lead time for parts is. A machine with a nearby service agent is worth more to a working business than a slightly cheaper one that must be sent away for repairs. Keep the written quotes together, because lenders want the one you are buying from, and the others help you negotiate.
Ready to see if you qualify?
Most of the work is naming the machine properly, getting a full quote and showing how it will earn. Tell us what you intend to buy, how the business trades and what you can contribute. A first enquiry carries no credit check, your information is not sprayed across lenders, and a real person works through it with you. Complete the form honestly and in full so we can find the right fit on the first pass, then start your loader enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bobcat the same as a skid steer?
In everyday talk, often yes. Bobcat is a brand name that became shorthand for compact loaders in general. If you are asking a lender or dealer, name the machine type and specifications so everyone is quoting the same thing.
When would I choose a backhoe loader?
When one machine needs to both dig and load, such as for small excavation, trenching and shifting spoil. It is a flexible generalist, though heavier and bulkier than a compact loader.
What is a wheel loader suited to?
Moving bulk material such as sand, gravel and landscape supplies at speed, and loading trucks. It is usually a bigger commitment than a compact loader.
Do lenders treat loaders differently from other plant?
They look at the same things: brand, hours, condition, service history and the earning plan. A common machine with a strong resale market is easier to assess.
Can I buy a loader and hire it out?
Many owners do. Be honest about hire-out income in your plan, but do not count on it as the only way to cover repayments.
Short on time? Enquire right here
About 60 seconds. No credit check when you first enquire, and a real person calls you back.