Property-secured loan
Borrow against a home or commercial property for the bulk of the price. Larger amounts and quicker settlement are possible because the security does the heavy lifting.
Buying a business
Business Acquisition Loans to Help You Buy a Business
Found the right business and the vendor wants a firm settlement date? Here is how acquisition funding works and how to move before someone else does.
Deal on the table
Can you borrow to buy an existing business?
Yes. Buying a business that already trades is one of the most common reasons people look for business finance. You are paying for goodwill, stock, plant and equipment, and sometimes a lease or a customer book, all at once. Most buyers do not have that sitting in a bank account, and even those who do often prefer to keep cash aside for the first few months of ownership.
The pressure point is usually time. A vendor accepts your offer, the broker sends a contract, and suddenly there is a deposit due and a settlement date circled on the calendar. The big banks can take weeks to assess a business purchase, and if the finance clause runs out first, the deal can fall over or go to the next buyer in line.
That is where a well-matched lender makes the difference. Loanster looks at what you are buying, what you can offer as security and how quickly you need to settle, then points you at a lender whose process fits the timeline. Where documents are ready, being cashed up as soon as tomorrow is possible for eligible applicants.
A business acquisition loan is finance used to buy an existing business, covering goodwill, stock and equipment. In Australia, property-secured acquisition loans range from $20,000 to $5,000,000 using a first mortgage, second mortgage or caveat, and funding of up to $5m is possible within 24–48 hours when the deal and documents are ready.
Ways to fund it
Three common ways buyers structure the purchase
Most acquisitions use one of these, or a mix of two.
Cash-flow or unsecured top-up
If you already run a trading business, an unsecured facility sized on turnover can cover stock, working capital or a gap between deposit and settlement.
Equipment finance for the gear
Separate the plant and vehicles from the goodwill and finance them as assets, leaving more of your property equity for the purchase itself.
How fast can I get a loan to buy a business?
It depends mostly on security and paperwork. Property-secured lending is the quickest route for larger purchases: $20k to $250k is possible same day, and amounts up to $5m are possible within 24–48 hours for straightforward deals. The lender is mainly checking the property, your identity and the purpose, rather than picking apart three years of someone else's financials.
Where things slow down is missing information. If the contract of sale is still being drafted, the property title has an unexpected issue or nobody can find the rates notice, the clock stops. Our next-day business loan document list is worth reading the moment your offer is accepted.
What do lenders want to see when you buy a business?
Expect questions about the deal itself as well as about you. A lender wants to understand what you are paying for and whether the purchase price makes sense against the security on offer. You do not need a glossy business plan, but you do need the basics organised.
If the business has been trading well, the vendor's figures help. If the figures are messy or you are taking over a business that is struggling, property security can carry the application where a bank would say no.
- Signed contract of sale or heads of agreement, with the price and settlement date
- Photo ID for every borrower and director
- Details of the property offered as security, including any existing mortgage
- Recent bank statements for you or your existing business
- The vendor's recent profit and loss and BAS, if available
- An ABN or ACN for the buying entity, or a plan to set one up
Using property equity to beat a settlement deadline
Picture a buyer who has agreed to take over a regional bakery. The vendor has another offer waiting, so the contract gives ten days to settle. The buyer owns a home with decent equity but no spare cash. A second mortgage business loan sits behind the existing home loan, leaves that loan untouched, and funds the purchase inside the window.
Another option is a caveat loan, which can be put in place very quickly for a short term while longer finance is arranged. Some buyers use a caveat to settle on time and then refinance into something longer once the business is in their name and trading under their management. If timing is tight, our bridging loans for business page explains how that handover works.
Apply today… cashed up tomorrow!
Need the funds this week?
Start the 60-second enquiry now. When your documents are ready and the deal is straightforward, being cashed up as soon as tomorrow is possible for eligible applicants.
Should the equipment be financed separately?
Often, yes. Many businesses for sale come with vans, ovens, forklifts or machinery that make up a big slice of the price. Financing those items as assets can make sense because the equipment itself becomes the security. That keeps your property equity free for goodwill and stock, where asset finance cannot help.
Our guides to asset finance in Australia and used equipment finance cover how lenders treat second-hand gear in a business sale. If the vendor owns the equipment outright, an equipment refinance after settlement can release cash tied up in it. Talk to your accountant about the tax treatment of how the price is split between goodwill and assets.
Can I buy a business with bad credit or an ATO debt?
It is considered case by case. A past default or an existing ATO debt does not automatically rule you out, particularly when the loan is secured by property. Lenders want to understand what happened and see that the new business will be able to service the debt.
Be upfront. The quickest way to stall an acquisition is for a credit issue to surface halfway through assessment. Tell us on the enquiry form and we will match you to a lender who looks at your situation as a whole. Our page on bad credit business loans has more detail.
Ready to lock in the purchase?
If you have a signed offer and a date to hit, start the 60-second enquiry now. There is no credit check when you first enquire, and your details are not sent out to a long list of lenders. A real person reads your situation and calls you to talk through the options.
Please fill in the form accurately, especially the purchase price, settlement date and security details. The better the information up front, the more likely we match you first time, and the closer you get to settling on schedule. All loans are subject to lender approval.
Trust and process
Clear, secure finance enquiries
Loanster keeps the enquiry process straightforward: no credit check to enquire, a real person looks at your situation, and your details are not sprayed out to a pile of lenders.
Secure online enquiry
Personal details are submitted through a secure form and are not sent through URL query strings.
Australian business context
Enquiries can include ABN, BAS, ATO, bank statement and asset details where relevant.
Lender criteria apply
Approval, pricing, loan amounts and funding times depend on lender assessment.
Clear next steps
Loanster helps identify what information may be needed before a lender can make a decision.
Common questions
Business Acquisition Loans to Help You Buy a Business FAQs
How much can I borrow to buy a business?
Property-secured business loans range from $20,000 to $5,000,000, depending on the equity available and the deal. Unsecured options for existing trading businesses typically run from $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements.
Do I need a deposit to buy a business?
Not always in cash. Many buyers use equity in a home or commercial property as security instead of a cash deposit. The lender looks at the total security against the amount you need.
Can a loan cover goodwill?
Yes, a property-secured business loan can be used for goodwill because the lender relies on the property rather than the business assets. Asset finance, by contrast, only covers physical equipment and vehicles.
How quickly can acquisition finance settle?
Funding of up to $5m is possible within 24–48 hours for property-secured loans when documents are ready. Smaller amounts between $20k and $250k are possible same day.
Will the lender look at the vendor's financials?
Usually they will ask to see them if available, as they help show the business can carry the debt. With strong property security, the vendor's figures carry less weight than they would at a bank.
Can I use the loan for stock and working capital too?
Yes, as long as it is for business purposes. Many buyers borrow enough to cover the purchase price plus a buffer for stock and the first few weeks of wages.
Related finance options
Explore connected Loanster pages
Bridging Loans for Business: Money Now, Repaid When Yours Arrives
When the money is coming but the deadline comes first, a business bridging loan carries you across the gap so the deal doesn't fall over.
Second Mortgage Business Loans: Use Your Equity, Keep Your Home Loan
Release equity for your business while your existing home loan stays exactly where it is, on the same rate and the same terms.
Business Expansion Loans for Growing Australian Businesses
A bigger contract, a second site or a new crew. Growth rarely waits for your bank account to catch up, so here is how to fund it quickly.
Equipment Refinance: Unlock Cash From Gear You Already Own
Your yard is full of machines and vehicles that are paid off. Turn some of that value into working capital, fast, without selling a thing.
All business loan options
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Last reviewed: 24 October 2026
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