WHO THIS IS FOR

Harvester Finance Built for Australian Operators

Harvesters 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 broadacre wheat, barley, canola and pulse harvest operations, cotton harvest in NW NSW and CQ cotton belts, sugar cane harvest in Wide Bay, Burdekin and Mackay-Whitsundays, contract harvesting businesses moving across multiple properties, silage and fodder harvest for dairy operations, hire-out harvesters during harvest peak, or owner-operator contract harvesting.

Your application goes to specialist agricultural lenders who assess seasonal income cycle, asset value and trading history directly, in one structured submission with no multi-lender credit hits.

  • Upgrading ageing harvesters or trailers Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Securing the next season's 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 Harvester 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 harvester you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Harvester Finance Specialist

An Australia-based harvester 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 Harvester Operators

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

"Harvest two weeks out and the existing header had blown the chassis. Insurance was three weeks away. Cody had us settled on a replacement Friday and the new header was on a float Sunday."

Murray, Owner-Operator
Broadacre cropping

"Custom harvest run from Queensland to South Australia underwrote two new harvesters. Equifund put it with a lender that scored on the multi-state contract income rather than property security."

Cam, Director
Custom harvest

"Contract harvesting for five surrounding properties through harvest season. They matched us with a lender that scored on the active contracts and structured repayments to the season's invoicing."

Trevor, Contract Harvester
Contract harvest

"Demo harvester on the property mid-harvest for a fortnight. Improved throughput. John structured the swap before the demo had to go back to the dealer."

Owen, Operator
Broadacre cropping

"Country-town clearing sale, ex-lease harvester with full service history. Equifund pre-approved us that morning and the bid held against the finance buyers in the room."

Ben, Owner-Operator
Broadacre cropping

"Harvest two weeks out and the existing header had blown the chassis. Insurance was three weeks away. Cody had us settled on a replacement Friday and the new header was on a float Sunday."

Murray, Owner-Operator
Broadacre cropping

"Custom harvest run from Queensland to South Australia underwrote two new harvesters. Equifund put it with a lender that scored on the multi-state contract income rather than property security."

Cam, Director
Custom harvest

"Contract harvesting for five surrounding properties through harvest season. They matched us with a lender that scored on the active contracts and structured repayments to the season's invoicing."

Trevor, Contract Harvester
Contract harvest

"Demo harvester on the property mid-harvest for a fortnight. Improved throughput. John structured the swap before the demo had to go back to the dealer."

Owen, Operator
Broadacre cropping

"Country-town clearing sale, ex-lease harvester with full service history. Equifund pre-approved us that morning and the bid held against the finance buyers in the room."

Ben, Owner-Operator
Broadacre cropping

"Picked up a second property under a long-term lease, combined cropping area doubled. Jake structured a chattel mortgage taking the combined turnover as the income base."

Sam, Owner
Multi-property cropping

"Stepping up from contract harvest to owner-cropper on a new long-term land lease. Terry matched us with a lender that scored on the lease income and the asset value together."

Heath, Owner-Operator
Lease cropper

"Regional cropping operation, harvest cycle paid in two big drops. They put us with a lender that ran an irregular-repayment schedule keyed to delivery weeks rather than calendar months."

Jess, Owner-Operator
Regional cropping

"Dairy contractor adding silage and cereal harvest to the mix. Equifund structured a chattel mortgage that took the dairy and contract harvest income together."

Toby, Director
Mixed dairy and harvest

"Established contract harvester expanding into seed-grade processing. Jason matched us with a lender that scored on the contract pipeline and approved on the seed contract as the case."

Tara, Operations Manager
Contract harvest

"Picked up a second property under a long-term lease, combined cropping area doubled. Jake structured a chattel mortgage taking the combined turnover as the income base."

Sam, Owner
Multi-property cropping

"Stepping up from contract harvest to owner-cropper on a new long-term land lease. Terry matched us with a lender that scored on the lease income and the asset value together."

Heath, Owner-Operator
Lease cropper

"Regional cropping operation, harvest cycle paid in two big drops. They put us with a lender that ran an irregular-repayment schedule keyed to delivery weeks rather than calendar months."

Jess, Owner-Operator
Regional cropping

"Dairy contractor adding silage and cereal harvest to the mix. Equifund structured a chattel mortgage that took the dairy and contract harvest income together."

Toby, Director
Mixed dairy and harvest

"Established contract harvester expanding into seed-grade processing. Jason matched us with a lender that scored on the contract pipeline and approved on the seed contract as the case."

Tara, Operations Manager
Contract harvest
SPECIALIST VS BANK

Specialist vs Major Bank Harvester Finance

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

Criterion Equifund Specialist Major Bank
Income type Reads livestock, grain and contract income and BAS PAYG salary preferred, seasonal and 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 agricultural and equipment finance specialists Generic commercial credit team
FAQ

Common Harvester Finance Questions

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

What types of harvesters can I finance in Australia?

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

How long does harvester 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 seasonal and contract income and asset value rather than requiring property security. Non-property owners regularly settle harvester finance through Equifund.

Do I need a deposit?

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

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

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

Can I refinance an existing harvester 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 harvester 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 seasonal and contract income and transport assets. Your specialist matches your file to the right lender for the deal.

Can I finance multiple harvesters in one application?

Yes. We regularly settle multi-harvester 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 harvesters?

Yes. Harvesters, attachments, trailers and related equipment are all on the panel. Equipment security can be structured independently of harvester 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 harvester while the lender holds it as security. You claim GST upfront and depreciate the harvester for tax. It is the most common structure for established Australian owner-operators. A finance lease keeps the harvester 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 harvester finance specialist will recommend the structure that suits your business and tax position. Read the full chattel mortgage vs finance lease comparison.

What is seasonal and contract income recognition?

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

What is low-doc harvester finance?

Low-doc harvester 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 harvester finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional finance approval issued before you commit to a harvester. 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 combine harvesters, headers, cotton pickers and sugar cane harvesters?

Yes. New, demo and used harvesters from John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Claas and AGCO for grain, cotton, sugar and silage harvest are routinely financed through specialist lenders on our panel. Lenders understand harvest income cycle cycles.

Can you finance harvesters on farm income and contract harvesting income?

Yes. Lenders on our panel score harvesters on farm income, BAS and active contract harvesting income. The harvester itself secures the loan.

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harvester finance specialists

Apply for Your Harvester Finance

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

Pre-approval in 24 hours
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