WHO THIS IS FOR

Crane Finance Built for Australian Operators

Cranes owner-operators, subcontractors and small-fleet operators across Australia are knocked back by banks, stalled in single-lender queues, and locked into single products by dealer finance. Whether you run tower crane setups on high-rise construction, mobile crane lifts on civil projects, all-terrain cranes for mining and resource sites, Franna pick-and-carry lifts on industrial sites, crawler crane work on tier-one infrastructure, hire-out cranes on day-rate contracts, or owner-operator crane work.

Your application goes to specialist heavy lift lenders who assess project contracts, asset value and trading history directly, in one structured submission with no multi-lender credit hits.

  • Upgrading ageing cranes or trailers Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Winning a new site or project contract Quote the work confident your pre-approval is locked in and the asset will be on site for day one.
  • Buying used, dealer or private sale Auction, dealer and private deals other lenders walk away from. We settle direct to the seller and handle the paperwork end to end.
  • Refinancing existing equipment loans Lower monthly repayments, restructure balloons before they're due, or consolidate multiple loans into one repayment.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

How Crane Finance Works in Australia

A simple, secure online application, with honest advice from a Australia specialist you can trust.
No pressure. No hit to your credit score.

01
Group (3)

Complete the Form in 60 Seconds

Tell us about your business and the crane you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Crane Finance Specialist

An Australia-based crane finance specialist reviews your situation and walks you through the documents needed for the lender match.

03
Frame (9)

Get Pre-Approved Over the Phone

You'll have a clear pre-approval often within 1 business day, with rate, term and repayment structure tailored to how your business income actually flows.

04
Group (5)

Settle the Loan
and Take Delivery

Your specialist sources the strongest matched offer and coordinates settlement with the dealer, private seller or auction house.

Get My Pre-Approval
60 second form. No impact on your credit score.
RECENT SETTLEMENTS

Real Results for Australian Crane Operators

Crane finance settled across 80+ Australian lenders, from owner-operators to mid-size fleets. ACL 389328.

"Major commercial build had a steel lift scheduled for the following week. Old crane was waiting on a part. Cody settled the finance on a replacement Thursday and the lift went off as scheduled."

Wayne, Lift Supervisor
Commercial crane

"Tier-one infrastructure project underwrote two new all-terrain cranes for sustained lift programmes. Equifund put it with a lender that scored on the head-contract income."

Carly, Project Manager
Infrastructure crane

"Wind-farm lift contracts across the season, plus civil oversized lifts in between. They matched us with a lender that scored on the active project pipeline and structured the loan around progress claims."

Marty, Director
Wind-farm lift

"Demo all-terrain crane on a commercial steel-erection job for ten days. Reach numbers stacked up. John had us approved by the end of the demo and the unit stayed."

Heath, Plant Manager
Commercial crane

"Major crane-company sell-down, low-hour all-terrain with full lift logs. Equifund pre-approved us before the auction so the bid held under pressure."

Hayden, Owner-Operator
Heavy lift

"Major commercial build had a steel lift scheduled for the following week. Old crane was waiting on a part. Cody settled the finance on a replacement Thursday and the lift went off as scheduled."

Wayne, Lift Supervisor
Commercial crane

"Tier-one infrastructure project underwrote two new all-terrain cranes for sustained lift programmes. Equifund put it with a lender that scored on the head-contract income."

Carly, Project Manager
Infrastructure crane

"Wind-farm lift contracts across the season, plus civil oversized lifts in between. They matched us with a lender that scored on the active project pipeline and structured the loan around progress claims."

Marty, Director
Wind-farm lift

"Demo all-terrain crane on a commercial steel-erection job for ten days. Reach numbers stacked up. John had us approved by the end of the demo and the unit stayed."

Heath, Plant Manager
Commercial crane

"Major crane-company sell-down, low-hour all-terrain with full lift logs. Equifund pre-approved us before the auction so the bid held under pressure."

Hayden, Owner-Operator
Heavy lift

"First time on a tier-two lift contract for a commercial build. Terry structured a chattel mortgage with a term that matched the build's two-year window."

Hannah, Director
Commercial lift

"Hire-out crane fleet to commercial builders. Day-rate hire revenue didn't fit standard finance templates. They put us with a lender that structured to the hire-revenue cycle."

Tracy, Yard Owner
Hire-out fleet

"Expansion into oversized civil lifts on a regional motorway upgrade. Jake matched us with a lender that scored on the project contract and approved a second crane on the contract case."

Brad, Operations Manager
Oversized lift

"Owner-operator stepping up from sub-contract lifts to head-lift contracts on civil projects. Jason structured a chattel mortgage to align with the project's progress payments."

Aaron, Owner-Operator
Civil lift

"Regional crane operator with steady industrial and civil lifts. Equifund found a lender that scored on the recurring contracts and approved the deal on the active job book."

Lee, Owner
Regional crane

"First time on a tier-two lift contract for a commercial build. Terry structured a chattel mortgage with a term that matched the build's two-year window."

Hannah, Director
Commercial lift

"Hire-out crane fleet to commercial builders. Day-rate hire revenue didn't fit standard finance templates. They put us with a lender that structured to the hire-revenue cycle."

Tracy, Yard Owner
Hire-out fleet

"Expansion into oversized civil lifts on a regional motorway upgrade. Jake matched us with a lender that scored on the project contract and approved a second crane on the contract case."

Brad, Operations Manager
Oversized lift

"Owner-operator stepping up from sub-contract lifts to head-lift contracts on civil projects. Jason structured a chattel mortgage to align with the project's progress payments."

Aaron, Owner-Operator
Civil lift

"Regional crane operator with steady industrial and civil lifts. Equifund found a lender that scored on the recurring contracts and approved the deal on the active job book."

Lee, Owner
Regional crane
SPECIALIST VS BANK

Specialist vs Major Bank Crane Finance

Side-by-side on the criteria that decide whether an Australian crane finance deal settles or stalls.

Criterion Equifund Specialist Major Bank
Income type Reads project payments, progress claims and BAS PAYG salary preferred, contract income often discounted
Lender access Panel of 80+ Australian lenders matched to your file One bank, one credit template
Pre-approval speed Typically inside 24 hours 5 to 10 business days on average
Documentation Low-doc options available for established operators Full financials usually required
Deposit $0 deposit available for prime applications Deposit typically required
Industry expertise Australia-based asset and equipment finance specialists Generic commercial credit team
FAQ

Common Crane Finance Questions

Straight answers to the questions Australian businesses and operators ask most.

What types of cranes can I finance in Australia?

We finance new, used, demonstrator, dealer and private-sale cranes across all major makes and models. Your specialist matches the finance to your work and the lender to your file.

How long does crane finance take to settle?

Pre-approval is typically inside 24 hours once you submit the form. Settlement timing then depends on the lender and asset details, with many Australian deals settling within a week of pre-approval.

Do I need to own property to qualify?

No. Many of our lenders score the deal on contract income and asset value rather than requiring property security. Non-property owners regularly settle crane finance through Equifund.

Do I need a deposit?

Not always. $0 deposit is available for prime applications, especially for established operators with active contracts and project work. Other deals may require a deposit depending on the asset, the lender and the loan term.

Can I finance a used crane, private sale, or auction purchase?

Yes. We finance dealer purchases, private sales, auctions and end-of-lease buyouts. The crane just needs to meet the lender's age and condition requirements.

Can I refinance an existing crane loan?

Yes. Many Australian operators refinance to access a better rate, restructure repayments around their income cycle, release equity from the asset, or consolidate multiple crane loans into one facility.

Which lenders does Equifund work with?

We have a panel of 80+ Australian lenders spanning major banks, specialist asset financiers and non-bank lenders that specifically understand contract income and transport assets. Your specialist matches your file to the right lender for the deal.

Can I finance multiple cranes in one application?

Yes. We regularly settle multi-crane deals for Australian fleets, often splitting the package across more than one lender to fit each asset's spec and your overall structure.

Do you finance trailers and equipment as well as cranes?

Yes. Cranes, attachments, trailers and related equipment are all on the panel. Equipment security can be structured independently of crane finance if that better suits the deal.

What's the difference between a chattel mortgage and a finance lease?

A chattel mortgage gives you immediate ownership of the crane while the lender holds it as security. You claim GST upfront and depreciate the crane for tax. It is the most common structure for established Australian owner-operators. A finance lease keeps the crane on the lender's books with set monthly payments and an optional residual paid at the end of the term. Useful for fleet operators managing repayments against vehicle turnover. Your Australia-based crane finance specialist will recommend the structure that suits your business and tax position. Read the full chattel mortgage vs finance lease comparison.

What is contract income recognition?

Contract income recognition is how a specialist lender reads income from project payments, progress claims and BAS rather than treating only PAYG salary as income. Bank credit templates often miss this. Specialist lenders read contract income accurately, which is why established Australian operators frequently get approved on deals that mainstream banks decline.

What is low-doc crane finance?

Low-doc crane finance is approval on a reduced documentation set, usually a Director declaration plus business activity statements or recent bank statements, rather than full financials. It is faster to process and common for established small-fleet operators in Australia who would rather not produce two years of full tax returns for a single asset purchase.

What is pre-approval in crane finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional finance approval issued before you commit to a crane. It sets the maximum loan amount, indicative rate, term and repayment structure so you can negotiate with dealers, private sellers or auction houses on solid ground. Equifund pre-approvals are typically issued within 24 hours of form submission.

What is an Australian Credit Licence (ACL)?

An Australian Credit Licence (ACL) is a licence issued by ASIC permitting a business to engage in credit activities under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act. Equifund holds Australian Credit Licence 389328. Working with an ACL holder is a baseline regulatory protection for the borrower and a baseline trust signal for any Australian finance provider.

Can you finance new and used mobile, all-terrain and crawler cranes?

Yes. New, demo and used mobile cranes, all-terrain cranes, crawler cranes, tower cranes, Franna cranes and pick-and-carry cranes from Liebherr, Tadano, Demag, Grove, Manitowoc, Kobelco and Terex are routinely financed through specialist lenders on our panel.

Can you finance cranes on contract income rather than property security?

Yes. Lenders on our panel score cranes on contract income, BAS and active construction and infrastructure contracts. The crane itself secures the loan.

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crane finance specialists

Apply for Your Crane Finance

Three quick steps. A crane finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.

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