By John Pierre Saliba - April 2026 - OverdraftMe
A startup business loan in Australia is available from just 6 months of trading through non-bank lenders. You don't need 2 years of history, tax returns, or property. If your business has consistent revenue of $6,000+/month, you have real options.
From 6 months trading. No tax returns. 2-minute check.
Check eligibility → Call 02 8046 3933Reviewed by John Pierre Saliba on 4 September 2026. Indicative only, subject to lender assessment.
The big four banks (CBA, NAB, ANZ, Westpac) typically require 2+ years of trading, lodged tax returns, financial statements, and often property security. If you're under 2 years, you simply don't have the paperwork they want - regardless of how well the business is performing.
This locks out hundreds of thousands of Australian startups and new businesses from traditional finance. Your business might be turning over $50K/month with growing revenue, but the bank won't look at you because you haven't filed a second tax return yet.
| Requirement | Banks | Non-bank (via OverdraftMe) |
|---|---|---|
| Trading history | 2+ years | From 6 months |
| Tax returns | 2 years required | Not required |
| Financial statements | Required | Not required |
| Property security | Often required | Not required under $150K |
| What they assess | Historical financials | 6 months bank statements |
| Decision speed | 4-6 weeks | 1-24 hours |
As a newer business, your initial facility will typically be 0.75-1x your average monthly revenue. As you build a track record with the lender, limit increases are common after 6-12 months.
| Monthly revenue | Typical startup facility |
|---|---|
| $6,000 - $10,000 | $5,000 - $10,000 |
| $10,000 - $20,000 | $10,000 - $20,000 |
| $20,000 - $50,000 | $20,000 - $50,000 |
| $50,000+ | $50,000 - $100,000 |
No tax returns. No BAS. No financial statements. No business plan. No property.
The lender doesn't care about projections or business plans. They want to see 6 months of real bank statement data showing consistent deposits. Your actual cash flow is the evidence.
Government grants and loans exist but are limited, competitive, and slow. Most have strict eligibility criteria and take months to process. They're worth exploring alongside commercial finance, but don't rely on them as your only option.
Commercial startup loans through non-bank lenders are faster (24 hours vs months), more accessible (bank statements vs business plans), and available to a wider range of businesses.
50+ lenders. No tax returns. Free broker service.
Check eligibility → Call 02 8046 3933From 6 months trading. Up to $500K. Free broker service.
Apply now →Not from mainstream business lenders before you trade - Australian non-bank lenders need at least 6 months of trading and $6,000+ in monthly revenue, because assessment runs on your business bank statements. Before that point the honest options are personal lending in your own name, business credit cards, or equity. The most effective move is to build 6 months of clean trading and apply the week you qualify.
No legitimate lender offers business loans with no trading history at all - revenue through a business account is the assessment. From 6 months of trading with consistent revenue you have genuine options: see business loans with 6 months trading.
As a newer business, your initial facility will typically be 0.75-1x your average monthly revenue. As you build a track record with the lender, limit increases are common after 6-12 months.