Cash flow finance is a short-term facility used to bridge a specific, defined gap — a tax bill, a slow-paying invoice, seasonal stock, or a short window of opportunity — rather than to fund a truck, machine or other long-lived asset. Terms typically run from a few months up to around two years, much shorter than standard asset or business term finance, and repayments are usually weekly to match how the facility is designed to be cleared quickly.
Because there's no specific asset securing the loan and the term is short, this calculator has no balloon payment option — you repay the full amount plus interest over the facility term, in full.
Cash flow finance suits a defined, short-term gap where you know roughly when the money will be repaid — a tax bill due next quarter, a big order that ties up working capital until the customer pays, or a seasonal stock buy ahead of your busiest months. If what you actually need is to buy a specific asset (a truck, a machine, a vehicle), our asset finance calculators will usually give a more accurate estimate and a lower cost of funds, since the asset itself secures the loan. If you need ongoing working capital rather than a short, defined facility, our business loan calculator may be the better fit.
Short-term cash flow gaps are a normal part of running an Australian SME — invoices don't always land when a bill is due, and seasonal businesses often need to fund stock or staffing well ahead of the revenue it generates. A broker who compares across the panel for this specific product matters here more than for most finance types, because pricing on short-term unsecured facilities varies significantly between lenders depending on how they assess risk.
It depends mostly on your recent trading. Because these loans are short and often unsecured, lenders typically look at:
Worked example (example only, not a quote): Using the calculator's starting figures — $40,000 over 12 months with no balloon — you repay the full $40,000 plus interest in weekly repayments over the year, and nothing is owing at the end. Use the calculator above for your figures.
Five steps, from first enquiry to funds in your account.
Budget Finance is a credit representative (Credit Representative 565565) of Connective Credit Services Pty Ltd, Australian Credit Licence 389328. All applications are subject to the lender's assessment and approval.
A business overdraft is a limit on your business bank account that lets you go below zero, up to an agreed amount. You pay interest only on what you use, and you can draw and repay as often as you like. It's usually ongoing rather than paid off over a set term, and it's normally arranged with the bank that holds your account. A cash flow loan is different: you get a lump sum and repay it over a fixed short term.
An overdraft suits ongoing, up-and-down gaps; a cash flow loan suits a single, defined gap you know how you'll repay. With an overdraft you draw and repay as needed. With a cash flow loan you get a lump sum and clear it with fixed repayments over a short term. Some businesses use both: an overdraft for day-to-day swings and a short loan for a one-off cost like a tax bill.
Applying usually does, because the lender runs a credit check and the enquiry shows on your credit file. After that, paying on time generally does no harm, while missed payments can be reported and hurt your file. Several applications in a short time can also look bad to the next lender, which is why it pays to apply only where the lender's rules fit. Your broker helps you pick that lender.
It can be, if your cash flow goes up and down and you need a buffer rather than a lump sum. The upside is flexibility: you only pay interest on what you use. The risks are drifting into using it all the time, paying fees on the facility even when it sits unused, and the bank reviewing or cutting the limit. If your need is one known cost, a short fixed loan can be easier to keep under control.
Send an enquiry with how much you need and what it's for, then have a short call with a broker. You'll usually need ID, your ABN details and recent business bank statements; larger amounts may also need financials. Your broker sends the application to a suitable lender from the panel. Once approved and the documents are signed, the funds go into your business account and you repay over the agreed term.
Cash flow finance is a short-term facility (typically a few months up to around two years) used to bridge a gap in a business's cash flow — a tax bill, a slow-paying customer, seasonal stock, or a short-term opportunity — rather than to fund a specific asset purchase. It's usually repaid in regular instalments over a much shorter term than asset or business term finance.
Facilities as short as a few months are common, and this calculator offers terms from 3 to 24 months. Shorter terms suit a specific, defined gap; if you need ongoing working capital over a longer horizon, our business loan calculator may give a more useful estimate.
Cash flow facilities are usually short-term and often unsecured, so lenders price in more risk and a shorter window to recover their margin compared with a 5-year loan secured against a truck or machine. The rate shown here is a general indicative placeholder only — actual pricing for this product varies more between lenders than for standard asset finance, so treat the figure as a rough guide and confirm real numbers with us before relying on it.
It can be either secured or unsecured depending on the lender and the size of the facility. Unsecured facilities are typically faster to arrange but may have lower borrowing limits; secured facilities can access larger amounts, usually with a better rate.
Many cash flow facilities allow early repayment, sometimes with a reduced overall cost if paid off ahead of schedule — but terms vary significantly by lender. Confirm the specific facility's early-repayment terms before signing.
This is one of the fastest products on our panel to arrange — straightforward applications from an established business are sometimes approved within a day, since the assessment focuses on recent trading and bank statements rather than a specific asset.