WHO THIS IS FOR

Warehouse Finance Built for Australian Operators

Warehouse and DC operators across Australia running distribution, e-commerce 3PL, cold-chain storage, manufacturer logistics and materials handling work are knocked back by banks, stalled in single-lender queues, and locked into single products by dealer finance. Whether you're a national 3PL operator on a long-term contract, a cold-chain storage business on grocery distribution, an e-commerce fulfilment specialist on platform contracts, a manufacturer running materials handling on the production floor, a regional DC operator on aged-care and healthcare contracts, or a hire-out forklift fleet operator, we finance forklifts, reach trucks, electric counterbalance machines, telehandlers and full materials-handling packages.

Your application goes to specialist warehouse and 3PL lenders who assess DC contracts, e-commerce pipeline and trading history directly, in one structured submission with no multi-lender credit hits.

  • Upgrading ageing forklifts or racking Replace before maintenance costs outpace what a newer asset would be worth. Trade-in and replacement structured in one application.
  • Securing a new 3PL contract Quote the work confident your pre-approval is locked in and the forklift will be on the DC floor 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 forklift loans Free up monthly income cycle, restructure balloons before they're due, or consolidate multiple loans into one repayment.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

How Warehouse 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 warehouse business and the forklifts or materials handling equipment you are financing through our secure online form.

02
Group (4)

Speak With a Warehouse Finance Specialist

An Australia-based warehouse 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 3PL contract 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.

EQUIPMENT WE HELP FINANCE

Warehouse Plant Brands and Classes We Help Finance

Forklifts and warehouse plant for DC, manufacturing and logistics operators. New, used, dealer and private-sale across every major brand.

Brands We Help Finance

  • Toyota
  • Hyster
  • Crown
  • Linde
  • Yale
  • Komatsu
  • Mitsubishi
  • Heli
  • Combilift
  • Raymond

Warehouse Plant Classes We Help Finance

  • Counterbalance Forklifts

    Electric, LPG and diesel counterbalance forklifts from 1.5 to 16 tonne.

  • Reach Trucks + Order Pickers

    Electric reach trucks and high-bay order pickers for narrow-aisle DC work.

  • Pallet Jacks + Walk-Behinds

    Electric and manual pallet jacks, walk-behind stackers and tow tractors.

  • Telehandlers

    Variable-reach telehandlers for outdoor materials handling and stockpiling.

  • Racking Systems

    Selective, drive-in and cantilever racking for pallet and long-load storage.

  • Conveyors + Sortation

    Roller, belt and powered conveyor systems for DC pick and pack lines.

RECENT SETTLEMENTS

Real Results for Australian Warehouse Operators

Warehouse finance settled across 80+ Australian lenders, from regional DC operators to tier-one 3PL contractors. ACL 389328.

"DC operator added a third shift on a new pick-and-pack contract. Needed two more forklifts on the floor by Sunday night. Cody settled both deals Friday afternoon."

Carly, DC Manager
Distribution centre

"Cold-storage warehouse fitout for a national retailer underwrote a fleet of reach trucks. Terry put it on one chattel mortgage with one credit decision."

Brett, Operations Manager
Cold storage

"3PL contract for an e-commerce platform required a forklift refresh across the DC. They matched us with a lender that scored on the 3PL contract and the active job book."

Lisa, GM
Third-party logistics

"Demo of an electric counterbalance forklift on the warehouse floor for two weeks. Noise and emissions wins. Tom had us approved by Wednesday and the unit stayed."

Wes, Yard Manager
Warehouse

"Ex-fleet forklifts at a major DC sell-down, low hours, clean service books. Equifund pre-approved us across the catalogue so we bid on multiple lots."

Wayne, Owner-Operator
Warehouse contractor

"DC operator added a third shift on a new pick-and-pack contract. Needed two more forklifts on the floor by Sunday night. Cody settled both deals Friday afternoon."

Carly, DC Manager
Distribution centre

"Cold-storage warehouse fitout for a national retailer underwrote a fleet of reach trucks. Terry put it on one chattel mortgage with one credit decision."

Brett, Operations Manager
Cold storage

"3PL contract for an e-commerce platform required a forklift refresh across the DC. They matched us with a lender that scored on the 3PL contract and the active job book."

Lisa, GM
Third-party logistics

"Demo of an electric counterbalance forklift on the warehouse floor for two weeks. Noise and emissions wins. Tom had us approved by Wednesday and the unit stayed."

Wes, Yard Manager
Warehouse

"Ex-fleet forklifts at a major DC sell-down, low hours, clean service books. Equifund pre-approved us across the catalogue so we bid on multiple lots."

Wayne, Owner-Operator
Warehouse contractor

"First time on a long-term 3PL contract for a manufacturer. John structured a chattel mortgage with a term that matched the contract's run."

Hannah, Director
3PL contract

"Hire-out forklift fleet to industrial and warehouse contractors. Day-rate hire revenue didn't fit standard finance templates. Alex put us with a lender that structured the loan to the hire cycle."

Tracy, Yard Owner
Hire-out fleet

"Expansion from warehouse-only forklifts into rough-terrain machines for site work. Jake matched us with a lender that scored on the active warehouse contracts and the site contract pipeline together."

Brad, Operations Manager
Warehouse and site

"Owner-operator stepping up from labour-hire warehouse work to running our own forklifts on a DC contract. Equifund structured a chattel mortgage with the right balloon to align with the income cycle."

Sam, Owner-Operator
DC contractor

"Regional manufacturer needing a forklift fleet for the production floor. They found a lender that scored on the active production contracts and approved the deal on the contract case."

Murray, Production Manager
Regional manufacturer

"First time on a long-term 3PL contract for a manufacturer. John structured a chattel mortgage with a term that matched the contract's run."

Hannah, Director
3PL contract

"Hire-out forklift fleet to industrial and warehouse contractors. Day-rate hire revenue didn't fit standard finance templates. Alex put us with a lender that structured the loan to the hire cycle."

Tracy, Yard Owner
Hire-out fleet

"Expansion from warehouse-only forklifts into rough-terrain machines for site work. Jake matched us with a lender that scored on the active warehouse contracts and the site contract pipeline together."

Brad, Operations Manager
Warehouse and site

"Owner-operator stepping up from labour-hire warehouse work to running our own forklifts on a DC contract. Equifund structured a chattel mortgage with the right balloon to align with the income cycle."

Sam, Owner-Operator
DC contractor

"Regional manufacturer needing a forklift fleet for the production floor. They found a lender that scored on the active production contracts and approved the deal on the contract case."

Murray, Production Manager
Regional manufacturer
SPECIALIST VS BANK

Specialist vs Major Bank Warehouse Finance

Side-by-side on the criteria that decide whether an Australian warehouse 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 Warehouse Finance Questions

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

What types of warehouse equipment can I finance in Australia?

We finance new, used, demonstrator, dealer and private-sale warehouse equipment across all major makes including Toyota, Hyster, Crown, Linde, Yale, Komatsu, Mitsubishi and Heli. Your specialist matches the finance to your work and the lender to your file.

How long does warehouse 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 warehouse 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 warehouse, private sale, or auction purchase?

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

Can I refinance an existing warehouse 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 warehouse 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 warehouse operators in one application?

Yes. We regularly settle multi-warehouse 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 warehouse operators?

Yes. Warehouses, attachments, trailers and related equipment are all on the panel. Equipment security can be structured independently of warehouse 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 warehouse while the lender holds it as security. You claim GST upfront and depreciate the forklift for tax. It is the most common structure for established Australian owner-operators. A finance lease keeps the warehouse 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 income cycle against vehicle turnover. Your Australia-based warehouse 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 warehouse finance?

Low-doc warehouse 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 warehouse finance?

Pre-approval is a conditional finance approval issued before you commit to a warehouse. 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 a forklift fleet refresh on a 3PL contract?

Yes. Specialist warehouse lenders on our panel score 3PL and e-commerce platform contracts as the income base and approve forklift fleet refreshes (counterbalance, reach truck, electric, rough-terrain) on one chattel mortgage with one credit decision.

Will the lender finance cold-chain and DC operators?

Yes. Specialist lenders on our panel routinely score cold-storage and DC finance on the recurring grocery or pharma distribution contract, plus the asset value, without asking for property security on top.

Does the loan structure suit irregular day-rate hire revenue?

Yes. Specialist warehouse lenders structure repayments around hire-out and day-rate contract revenue cycles rather than forcing calendar-month repayments, which suits forklift hire yards and equipment-rental businesses.

Equifund finance specialist on call
warehouse finance specialists

Apply for Your Warehouse Finance

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

Pre-approval in 24 hours
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