Equipment finance, fleet funding, business loans, invoice finance, and sale & leaseback — Novara structures the full suite of commercial finance products across a 60+ lender panel. From $50K to $120M+.
Each finance product serves a different purpose — asset acquisition, cashflow release, balance-sheet management, or working capital. We match the instrument to the outcome you need.
Commercial finance covers every type of business funding that isn't a home loan. It's the money that keeps operations running, assets moving, and growth funded.
At Novara, we structure five core products — equipment finance, fleet funding, business loans, invoice finance, and sale & leaseback — across a panel of 60+ lenders. The panel includes the major banks, regional banks, specialist asset funders, non-bank lenders, and private credit providers. Each lender has different appetites, different policies, and different strengths. Our job is matching your deal to the right one.
We work with businesses of every size, from sole traders buying their first excavator to ASX-listed companies rolling out multi-million dollar fleet programs. The deal sizes we've structured range from $50,000 single assets to our largest single transaction of $120 million.
Our headquarters are at Level 36, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, and we operate Australia-wide.
Each product exists for a different purpose. Choosing the wrong one doesn't just cost you money — it can create tax problems, cash flow mismatches, and balance sheet issues that compound over years.
The asset is the security. You're financing a specific piece of plant, machinery, vehicle, or equipment, and the lender holds a charge over that asset until the loan is repaid.
Structures available:
Chattel mortgage — you own the asset from day one. The lender holds a mortgage over it. You can claim GST upfront, depreciate the asset, and deduct interest. Most popular structure for GST-registered businesses. Current rates: approximately 5.5% to 9% for established businesses with clean credit. Rates current as of June 2026. Individual circumstances vary.
Hire purchase — the lender buys the asset and hires it to you. You take ownership at the end of the term after a final payment. Interest is deductible, and the asset is depreciated in your name. Current rates: approximately 6% to 10%.
Finance lease — the lender owns the asset throughout the term. You make lease payments (fully deductible as an operating expense) and have the option to purchase at the end for a pre-agreed residual. Useful for keeping assets off your balance sheet.
Rent-to-own — similar to a lease, but designed specifically for newer businesses or operators without extensive financials. Higher cost, but accessible for businesses that don't yet qualify for traditional structures.
What we finance: excavators, loaders, graders, cranes, compactors, trucks, trailers, prime movers, agricultural machinery, medical equipment, manufacturing plant, CNC machines, IT infrastructure, commercial fitouts, solar systems, and virtually any tangible business asset.
Deal sizes: $50,000 to $20 million+ for single assets or packages.
Fleet finance is for businesses acquiring multiple vehicles or assets simultaneously — or rolling out acquisitions across a scheduled timeline.
This isn't just "get a car loan for each vehicle." Fleet finance involves master lease agreements, staged drawdowns, fleet management arrangements, and structured rollout programs that align acquisition timing with operational need.
What we structure:
Why fleet finance is different from individual asset finance: When you're acquiring 5, 10, or 50 assets, the finance structure needs to account for fleet management, replacement cycles, residual value strategies, and the tax treatment across the entire portfolio — not just each individual unit. A well-structured fleet deal can reduce your effective cost of ownership by 10–15% compared to financing each asset individually.
Deal sizes: $250,000 to $120 million+.
Working capital, expansion funding, cash flow support, and growth finance — business loans cover everything that isn't tied to a specific asset.
Secured business loans — backed by property, equipment, or other assets. Rates currently range from approximately 6.5% to 10% depending on the security type, your trading history, and loan size. Subject to lender criteria and approval.
Unsecured business loans — no specific asset as collateral, but typically require a director's personal guarantee. Faster to arrange (often 24–48 hours for approval), but higher rates — typically 9.5% to 18%. Best suited for short-term working capital needs where speed matters more than rate.
What businesses use these for:
Invoice finance converts your unpaid invoices into immediate cash. Instead of waiting 30, 60, or 90 days for customers to pay, a funder advances you up to 80–90% of the invoice value upfront. When the customer pays, the funder releases the remaining balance minus their fee.
Two main structures:
Invoice factoring — the funder manages your debtor ledger and collects payment directly from your customers. Your customers know a third party is involved. Lower cost, but less control.
Invoice discounting — you maintain control of your debtor relationships and collections. The funder provides a revolving facility against your receivables. Your customers don't know about the arrangement. Higher cost, but you keep the relationship.
Best for: businesses with strong receivables but long payment cycles — construction, transport, manufacturing, professional services. If your customers are reliable but slow, invoice finance unlocks the cash your business has already earned.
Typical costs: 1–3% per invoice (factoring) or an annual facility fee plus a per-drawdown rate (discounting). The effective cost depends on how quickly your customers pay.
Sale and leaseback converts existing asset equity into deployable capital. You sell owned equipment to a funder and lease it back — freeing cash without losing the use of the asset.
How it works:
Best for: businesses sitting on significant unencumbered asset value that could be deployed more productively as working capital. Common in mining, construction, transport, and agriculture where equipment holdings can represent millions in locked-up equity.
| Finance type | Typical rate range | Typical term |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment finance (chattel mortgage, established business) | 5.5% – 9.0% | 2 – 7 years |
| Equipment finance (hire purchase) | 6.0% – 10.0% | 2 – 7 years |
| Equipment finance (rent-to-own, newer business) | 8.0% – 15.0% | 1 – 5 years |
| Secured business loan | 6.5% – 10.0% | 1 – 5 years |
| Unsecured business loan | 9.5% – 18.0% | 3 months – 3 years |
| Invoice factoring | 1% – 3% per invoice | Revolving facility |
| Fleet finance (master lease) | 5.5% – 8.5% | 3 – 7 years |
Rates current as of June 2026. Individual circumstances vary. Subject to lender criteria and approval. Consult your accountant for tax advice specific to your situation.
Novara has structured commercial finance across nine industry sectors. Sector expertise matters because every industry has different asset types, different cash flow cycles, different risk profiles, and different lenders that understand them.
Mining — haul trucks, excavators, loaders, drill rigs, processing plant. We work with lenders who understand mining cycles and don't panic when commodity prices move.
Construction — cranes, excavators, concrete equipment, scaffolding, site vehicles. Project-based cash flow requires finance structures that align with contract milestones.
Transport — prime movers, rigids, trailers, refrigerated units, light commercial fleets. Transport has some of the most competitive rates in the market due to strong resale values.
Agriculture — tractors, harvesters, irrigation systems, storage, processing equipment. Seasonal cash flow requires flexible repayment structures that work with harvest cycles.
Aviation — aircraft acquisition, maintenance, and charter fleet funding. Specialist market with specialist lenders.
Manufacturing — CNC machines, production lines, packaging equipment, warehouse fitout. Capital-intensive with long asset life cycles.
Healthcare — medical imaging, dental equipment, physiotherapy and specialist equipment. Consistently competitive rates due to sector stability.
Energy & resources — solar installations, battery storage, generators, grid infrastructure. Growing sector with increasing lender appetite.
Professional services — fit-outs, IT infrastructure, vehicles, and working capital for consulting, legal, and accounting firms.
The same logic that applies to car loans applies to commercial finance — but the stakes are higher. On a $500,000 equipment deal over 5 years, a 1% rate difference equals $14,000+ in interest savings. On a $5 million fleet rollout, it's six figures.
Structure expertise. The difference between a chattel mortgage and a finance lease might save your business $50,000 in tax over five years — or it might cost you. We structure the deal to match your specific tax position, cash flow, and business objectives. Consult your accountant for tax advice specific to your situation.
We start with a 15–30 minute conversation about your business, the asset or funding need, your timeline, and any constraints. No cost, no obligation, no credit check at this stage.
Based on your situation, we identify the right product, the right structure, and the right lender from our panel of 60+. We present you with options and recommendations — including the trade-offs of each approach.
One application to the matched lender. We handle the documentation, the lender liaison, and any conditions. Most decisions within 24–48 hours for straightforward deals.
We coordinate between you, the lender, and the vendor/seller. You sign, the lender pays, and the asset is yours to deploy.
It depends on the product and lender. For standard equipment finance (chattel mortgage, hire purchase), most lenders want at least 12–24 months of trading history and a set of financials. For newer businesses, rent-to-own and specialist low-doc options are available with as little as 6 months trading — though rates will be higher. Unsecured business loans through fintech lenders may require as little as 6 months of trading and $5,000 monthly turnover.
Yes. Many lenders finance used equipment up to 15–20 years old, depending on the asset type and its remaining useful life. Trucks and earthmoving equipment with established resale markets are easier to finance at older ages than niche or specialist machinery. Rates may be slightly higher than for new equipment.
For a standard application: 2 years of financial statements (or tax returns), 3–6 months of business bank statements, details of the asset being financed (quote, invoice, or description), and identification for all directors. For low-doc applications: 6–12 months of bank statements and identification may be sufficient.
The Australian Government's instant asset write-off scheme allows eligible businesses to immediately deduct the full cost of eligible assets in the year they are first used or installed. The eligibility thresholds and rules change frequently — consult your accountant for the current rules and how they apply to your specific situation.
Yes. If your business situation has improved since you took out the original finance (better credit, longer trading history, stronger financials), you may qualify for a lower rate. We regularly refinance existing equipment loans, fleet facilities, and business loans where the numbers make sense. There may be early exit fees on the existing facility — we factor these into the analysis.
Under a chattel mortgage, you own the asset from day one and the lender holds a mortgage over it. Under a hire purchase, the lender technically owns the asset during the term, and ownership transfers to you at the end after a final payment. The tax treatment is slightly different — your accountant can advise which structure is better for your specific situation.
Stephen Harvey is the CEO and Head Broker at Novara Finance, with 45 years of experience in commercial and business lending. Stephen has structured finance deals across mining, construction, transport, agriculture, aviation, and manufacturing — from $50,000 single assets to $120 million multi-asset programs. He leads a team that has funded over $500 million in total finance for Australian businesses.
From a $50K equipment purchase to a $120M fleet — speak with our team about which instrument and which lender will give you the best outcome.
This article provides general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek independent advice where appropriate. Consult your accountant for tax advice specific to your situation. Novara Finance Pty Ltd | AFSL 517192 | ABN 99 687 789 144. Level 36, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney.