Every business owner knows the feeling. There’s a piece of equipment that would let you take on more work, win bigger contracts, or run your operation more efficiently — but the upfront cost is significant, and tying up that much cash would put real pressure on your cash flow.
This is exactly the problem equipment finance was designed to solve. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about financing business equipment in Australia.
What Is Equipment Finance?
Equipment finance is a category of business lending that allows you to purchase or lease machinery, tools, vehicles, and other assets while spreading the cost over time. Rather than paying the full purchase price upfront, you make regular repayments over an agreed term — typically 1 to 7 years — while using the equipment in your business from day one.
What Types of Equipment Can Be Financed?
Almost any business asset can be financed. At Nationwide Finance, we help businesses fund:
- Construction & Civil — Excavators, graders, dozers, loaders, concrete pumps, mobile cranes
- Transport & Logistics — Trucks, trailers, forklifts, buses
- Agriculture & Farming — Tractors, harvesters, slashers, sprayers
- Manufacturing & Engineering — CNC machines, lathes, press brakes, packaging and printing machinery
- Medical & Healthcare — Medical imaging, dental chairs, veterinary and salon fit-outs
- Commercial & Office — Commercial kitchen equipment, IT hardware, office fit-outs
- Energy & Solar — Commercial solar systems, battery storage, off-grid infrastructure
Your Equipment Finance Options Explained
The right structure depends on your tax position, cash flow, and whether you want to own the asset outright.
Chattel Mortgage
You own the equipment from day one, while the lender takes a mortgage over it as security. You can claim GST on the purchase in your next BAS, and may be eligible to claim interest and depreciation as tax deductions. Most popular for businesses registered for GST.
Commercial Hire Purchase
The lender owns the equipment while you pay it off, but you use it as if it were yours. At the end of the term, full ownership transfers to you. Fixed repayments make budgeting predictable.
Finance Lease
The lender owns the equipment and you lease it for a fixed term. At the end, you can purchase at residual value, return it, or upgrade. Because you don’t own the asset, it may not appear on your balance sheet.
Operating Lease
Essentially a rental arrangement. Ideal for equipment that becomes outdated quickly, or for project-based businesses that only need specific assets short-term.
Low-Doc / ABN-Only Loans
Designed for sole traders and small businesses without full financial statements. Lenders assess your application based on ABN tenure, bank statements, and BAS. We can arrange low-doc loans up to $250,000 for eligible borrowers.
How Much Can I Borrow?
- Low-doc / no-financials: Up to $250,000 with minimal documentation
- Standard equipment finance: $10,000 to $2,000,000+ depending on the asset and business strength
- Multiple assets: We can structure finance for several pieces of equipment simultaneously
How to Get Approved Quickly
Have Your Documents Ready
For loans under $100,000: ABN, driver’s licence, and 3–6 months of business bank statements. For larger loans, lenders may also want tax returns and BAS statements.
Know Your Asset Details
Have the make, model, year, and purchase price of the equipment ready. For used equipment, an age and condition assessment may be required.
Work With the Right Broker
Not all lenders are the same. Some specialise in specific asset types or industries. A broker like Nationwide Finance matches your application to the lender most likely to approve it quickly — saving you time and protecting your credit score.
Equipment Finance vs. Paying Cash
Even if you have the cash available, financing often makes more strategic sense:
- Preserves working capital — cash in the bank is flexibility
- Tax advantages — financing often allows you to claim GST, interest, and depreciation
- Leverage — use finance to acquire income-generating assets while preserving capital for operations
Ready to Finance Your Next Business Asset?
Whether you need a single piece of equipment or an entire fleet, Nationwide Finance can help you find the right structure and the most competitive rate — fast. We work with 30+ lenders across Australia and can have many applications approved within 24–48 hours.
Explore equipment finance options or speak with one of our brokers today — no obligation, no impact on your credit score.
Nationwide Finance is a Melbourne-based finance broker with over 25 years of experience helping Australian businesses access competitive equipment and asset finance. We work across 30+ lenders to find the right structure for your situation.