Tradie Toolbox · Drawer 6
Loan readiness checklist
Tick off what you have, answer five quick questions, and get a plain readiness note, so your first conversation with a lender starts a few steps ahead.
Your readiness note
Documents ticked
0 of 14
- ReadinessJust starting
- Likely starting pointUnsecured
A prompt run in your browser. Not a credit check, approval or offer.
Start my 60-second enquiry →Don't wait for a perfect folder
Most tradies are readier than they think. Start the 60-second enquiry and a real person will tell you exactly what's missing. No credit check when you first enquire.
What lenders are really looking for
Behind every checklist are three questions. Is the business real and trading? Can it afford the repayment? And if things go sideways, what's behind the loan? Documents are just how a lender answers them. Statements and invoices show trading and affordability; asset lists, property details and supplier quotes address the security. The more of these you can hand over quickly, the faster a lender can say yes or no.
The documents, in order of importance
- Business bank statements. Often the most important item. Aim for the last three to six months, from every account that takes customer money.
- Your tax position. Lodged BAS, an ATO balance and any payment plan. Surprises here hurt more than a modest debt does.
- Work in progress. Unpaid invoices, contracts and quotes show where the next payments come from.
- Security details. Equipment lists, vehicle details, and property particulars if you own a home or investment property. Lending against property doesn't need a valuation from you at this stage.
Using your readiness note
The note is a simple prompt, not a verdict. Missing documents are a to-do list. A rough statement history or a recent credit issue isn't the end of the road; past credit issues are considered case by case, and our bad credit hub explains how lenders read them. If a tax balance is the problem, the tax debt hub covers each type. If you need to see how big a funding gap is first, use the Cash Flow Gap Planner.
When you're ready, the 60-second enquiry is the next step. There's no credit check when you first enquire, a real person reads it, and your details stay with us rather than going to a pile of lenders. Answer accurately, especially the amount, your state and whether you own property, and we'll point you the right way first time.
Questions about this tool
Do I need every document before I enquire?
No. Start the 60-second enquiry first. A real person tells you which of these matter for your situation. The checklist is for getting ahead, not for delaying.
Why do lenders want bank statements?
Statements show how money actually moves through the business: customer payments, wages, suppliers, tax. Lenders use them to judge turnover, conduct and how a repayment would fit.
What if my BAS is behind?
Say so. Lodging, even late, and showing a plan for the balance generally reads far better than silence. Our tax debt section explains the options.
Does owning property help?
It can widen the options. Property-secured loans run from $20,000 to $5,000,000 and can suit bigger or time-critical needs. You don't need property to start: unsecured options are sized on turnover and bank statements.
Is the readiness note a credit assessment?
No. It's a simple prompt based on your ticks and answers, run in your browser. It isn't a credit check, an approval or an offer.
Our promises
No credit check to enquire
Ask what's possible without leaving a mark on your credit file. A credit check only comes up once you've decided to go ahead.
No spray and pray
Your details don't get blasted around a pile of lenders. One real person looks at your situation and matches it properly.
A real person on your job
Someone who reads enquiries for a living calls you back. Fill the form in accurately and we'll point you the right way first time.
More tools in the box
Cash Flow Gap Planner
Weekly money in and out with your invoice terms. See the gap, the lowest point and how many weeks of runway you have.
Open the tool →Job Quote Margin Calculator
Labour, materials, markup versus margin, contingency and GST. Know what a quote really earns before you send it.
Open the tool →GST and BAS Set-Aside Planner
What to park from each invoice so the quarterly BAS and PAYG never ambush you.
Open the tool →Equipment Payback Calculator
Kit cost against extra jobs and hours saved. How many months until it pays for itself?
Open the tool →Ute Running Cost Calculator
Fuel, rego, insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation into a cost per week and per kilometre.
Open the tool →Done the sums? Let's talk about the money.
One short enquiry. No credit check when you first enquire, a real person reading it, and your details staying with us rather than going out to a pile of lenders.
No credit check to enquire
No spray and pray
A real person on your job