WHO THIS IS FOR

Who Qualifies for Low-Doc Equipment Finance?

Plenty of successful Australian operators run a strong, active business but carry incomplete paperwork, returns left late after a flat-out year, or income that a bank's standard servicing model simply misreads. Low-doc equipment finance is built for them: established, GST-registered businesses with genuine trading history and sound credit, judged on what the business actually does rather than a stack of full financials. It is equipment finance across 80+ lenders, matched to your file in a single submission, from transport to construction equipment and agricultural machinery.

The bar is simple: a genuine, trading business, typically 2+ years on an ABN, with demonstrable income and clean-to-acceptable credit. Meet that and your deal is assessed on trading performance, then structured around how your cash actually flows, with no multi-lender credit hits.

  • Upgrading ageing equipment Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Winning a new business 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-sale purchases handled end to end. We settle direct to the seller and manage the paperwork.
  • Refinancing existing equipment loans Lower monthly repayments, restructure balloons before they're due, or consolidate multiple loans into one repayment.

What Equipment Can I Finance Without Full Financials?

Can I Get Low-Doc Finance With a New ABN?

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

What Documents Do I Need to Apply?

Just your ABN, recent BAS and bank statements to start, with honest advice from an Australian 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 equipment you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Low-Doc Finance Specialist

An Australia-based low-doc 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 Low-Doc Finance

Real low-doc settlements from across our 80+ lender panel, from sole traders to mid-size operators. Names changed for privacy. ACL 389328.

"The work was there and the BAS looked healthy, we were just behind on last year's return after a big season. Cody went straight to a lender that reads BAS and had us approved in a couple of days."

Mark, Director
Established business

"Eight years on the same ABN and the bank still wanted two years of financials I hadn't finished. Equifund looked at the ABN, the BAS and the asset instead. Sorted inside a day."

Pete, Sole Trader
Sole trader

"Nearly all our income comes off two head-contractor agreements, and the bank's system just couldn't read it. The broker put us with a lender that assessed the actual contracts. That was the difference."

Hayden, Owner
Contractor business

"We were going from one vehicle to three and the bank wanted the family home as security. John found a lender that took the BAS and the signed jobs, secured on the assets themselves."

Brad, Director
Trade business

"Refreshing several units at once and every bank wanted three years of financials per asset. Equifund packaged the consolidated BAS and the purchase orders into one submission and saved us weeks."

Lisa, Operations Manager
Fleet refresh

"The work was there and the BAS looked healthy, we were just behind on last year's return after a big season. Cody went straight to a lender that reads BAS and had us approved in a couple of days."

Mark, Director
Established business

"Eight years on the same ABN and the bank still wanted two years of financials I hadn't finished. Equifund looked at the ABN, the BAS and the asset instead. Sorted inside a day."

Pete, Sole Trader
Sole trader

"Nearly all our income comes off two head-contractor agreements, and the bank's system just couldn't read it. The broker put us with a lender that assessed the actual contracts. That was the difference."

Hayden, Owner
Contractor business

"We were going from one vehicle to three and the bank wanted the family home as security. John found a lender that took the BAS and the signed jobs, secured on the assets themselves."

Brad, Director
Trade business

"Refreshing several units at once and every bank wanted three years of financials per asset. Equifund packaged the consolidated BAS and the purchase orders into one submission and saved us weeks."

Lisa, Operations Manager
Fleet refresh

"Our income runs on day rates, not tidy monthly figures, so we never fitted the standard bank model. They structured the repayments around how the hire income actually lands. Finally someone got it."

Tracy, Yard Owner
Hire-out business

"Won a machine at auction with 24 hours to fund it or lose the deposit. Sent the BAS through that morning and Jake had it settled before the next run. Didn't think it was possible."

Hayden, Owner-Operator
Owner-operator

"A previous accountant left our returns half finished and every lender bounced us. Jason worked off the BAS, the bank statements and the contracts instead. No drama about the missing paperwork."

Carly, Owner
Service business

"We run plumbing, electrical and air-con across a few entities, which usually turns into a paperwork headache. They assessed it on the consolidated BAS and the job book, no runaround."

Mike, Operations Manager
Multi-trade fleet

"One write-down loss the year before had the banks spooked, even though current work was strong. Equifund found a lender that looked at the live contracts, not that one bad line."

Murray, Director
Established business

"Our income runs on day rates, not tidy monthly figures, so we never fitted the standard bank model. They structured the repayments around how the hire income actually lands. Finally someone got it."

Tracy, Yard Owner
Hire-out business

"Won a machine at auction with 24 hours to fund it or lose the deposit. Sent the BAS through that morning and Jake had it settled before the next run. Didn't think it was possible."

Hayden, Owner-Operator
Owner-operator

"A previous accountant left our returns half finished and every lender bounced us. Jason worked off the BAS, the bank statements and the contracts instead. No drama about the missing paperwork."

Carly, Owner
Service business

"We run plumbing, electrical and air-con across a few entities, which usually turns into a paperwork headache. They assessed it on the consolidated BAS and the job book, no runaround."

Mike, Operations Manager
Multi-trade fleet

"One write-down loss the year before had the banks spooked, even though current work was strong. Equifund found a lender that looked at the live contracts, not that one bad line."

Murray, Director
Established business
SPECIALIST VS BANK VS DEALER

How Does Low-Doc Finance Compare to a Bank or Dealer?

Banks are not your only option, and they are rarely the right one for a low-doc deal. Here is how a specialist broker, a major bank and dealer finance stack up on what actually matters to an established operator.

Criterion Equifund Specialist Major Bank Dealer Finance
Who they lend to Established ABN holders, sole traders to fleets, assessed on the business Prefers strong financials or PAYG strength, often property-backed Whoever is buying that brand at the desk, on a take-it-or-leave-it offer
Documentation Low-doc for established ABNs: BAS and bank statements, not full tax returns Full financials and tax returns usually required Limited, tied to the sale, not your wider business
Lender choice 80+ Australian lenders matched to your deal One bank, one credit template One or two aligned financiers only
Rate & structure Market-tested across the panel, with balloon and term shaped to your cash flow Standard products with limited flexibility Rate loaded with dealer margin, high balloons that flatter the monthly
Used, private & auction New, used, ex-fleet, private-sale and auction all financed Restrictive on used, private and auction buys Usually the dealer's own stock only
Deposit & security $0 deposit for prime applications, secured on the asset, not your home Deposit and often property security required Varies, frequently bundled with add-ons
Pre-approval speed Typically inside 24 to 48 hours 5 to 10 business days on average Fast at the desk, but the offer is fixed
FAQ

Common Low-Doc Finance Questions

Straight answers to the questions established Australian operators ask most.

Who qualifies for low-doc equipment finance?

Low-doc equipment finance suits established Australian businesses, typically trading 2+ years on an ABN and GST-registered, with demonstrable income through BAS, bank statements or active contracts and a clean-to-acceptable credit history. You skip the full-financials paperwork, not the credit assessment. If your business is genuinely trading and the numbers are there, a specialist lender can usually assess it.

What types of equipment can I finance in Australia?

We finance new, used, demonstrator, dealer and private-sale equipment across all major makes and models, including transport, earthmoving, construction and agricultural machinery. Your specialist matches the finance to your work and the lender to your file.

How long does low-doc 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 low-doc 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 used, private-sale or auction equipment?

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

Can I refinance an existing equipment 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 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 business equipment. Your specialist matches your file to the right lender for the deal.

Can I finance multiple assets in one application?

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

Can I get low-doc equipment finance without full financials?

Yes. In place of two years of full tax returns or audited financials, a specialist lender typically works from your recent BAS, bank statements and a signed Director declaration. It is faster to assess and built for time-poor operators, though your credit is still checked and the lender still needs to see a genuine, trading business.

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

A chattel mortgage gives you immediate ownership of the equipment while the lender holds it as security. You claim GST upfront and depreciate the asset for tax. It is the most common structure for established Australian owner-operators. A finance lease keeps the equipment 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 asset turnover. Your Australia-based 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 are frequently assessed favourably on deals that mainstream banks decline.

What is low-doc equipment finance?

Low-doc equipment 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 low-doc finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional finance approval issued before you commit to an equipment purchase. 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.

Equifund finance specialist on call
low-doc finance specialists

Apply for Your Low-Doc Finance

Three quick steps. A low-doc finance specialist gets back to you the same business day.

Pre-approval in 24 hours
80+ lender panel
Equifund
Business Details
Equifund
Contact Information
Equifund
Asset Information

Important information: Low-doc equipment finance is available to eligible established businesses only. $0 deposit, rates, fees, terms and approval are subject to lender criteria, credit assessment and your circumstances, and may vary. This is not an offer of finance. The information on this page is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.
Equifund Financial Group, Australian Credit Licence 389328.