Private lenders in Australia for business borrowers

Private lenders in Australia are non-bank lenders that fund loans from their own capital, from a pool of investors or from individual private funders, almost always secured by property. For business owners they fill the gap between a bank’s timetable and a deadline that won’t move: caveat loans, second mortgages, short first mortgages and bridging finance, decided on the security and the exit rather than on years of accounts. Below we list 18 of them from their own websites, explain how private money works and set out what to check before you sign anything.

We work in this market ourselves, lending to Australian businesses since 2004, and we explain where BizLoansFast fits after the list.

What does a private lender do?

A private lender advances short-term money against property for a business purpose and is repaid from a defined event, such as a sale or a refinance. The decision rests on three things: the value and title of the security, the debt already sitting against it, and how the loan ends.

Private business lenders, private money lenders, caveat lenders and second mortgage lenders are all labels for overlapping parts of the same market. What separates them is mostly the security position they take and how long they expect to hold the loan.

Where the money comes from varies too. Some lend straight from their own balance sheet. Some manage a fund that investors contribute to. Some match each loan with an individual funder. Innovate Funding, for instance, describes a mix of its own capital pool and private investors, while Equity Lenders says it acts as a lender’s broker presenting loans to private funders. Neither model is better by default; the structure simply changes who makes the final call and how fast.

Private lenders in Australia: the 2026 list

Everything in this table comes from the lender’s own website as at October 2026, put into our words. Where a lender doesn’t publish a range or a timeframe, we say so instead of guessing. We have not included pricing: private loans are priced to each deal, so ask every lender for its total cost in writing.

Other names turn up in the same searches, including Funder, Brampton Finance, Diverse Funding Solutions, Platinum Mortgages, Caveat Loans Australia, Twelve Grains Capital and Trilogy Funding. All of those except Funder describe themselves on their own websites as brokers or intermediaries rather than lenders, which leads straight to the first check below. For lenders that size loans on turnover instead of property, see our list of cash flow lenders in Australia.

How does private lending work?

Private lending works by securing a short loan against property, agreeing up front how the interest will be handled, and taking repayment in a single amount when the exit happens. A typical deal runs like this:

1. Enquiry. You give the property, the amount, what the money is for and how it gets repaid.
2. Indicative terms. The lender, or the broker presenting the deal, sets out the amount, term, security position and conditions.
3. Security check. A title search confirms ownership and the debt already registered. Some lenders then order a formal valuation; others, like us, assess the property themselves.
4. Documents. A loan agreement, the mortgage or caveat, and guarantees from directors or owners, usually handled by solicitors on both sides.
5. Settlement. Funds are released, often straight to the creditor, the ATO or the vendor.
6. Exit. The sale, refinance or payment arrives, the loan is repaid and the security comes off the title.

Interest is often prepaid from the advance or capitalised into the balance, which means nothing leaves your account each month while the deal plays out. Some lenders take monthly interest instead, so ask which applies.

What should you check before using a private lender?

Check five things before you commit: who you are actually dealing with, whose money it is, how the loan ends, what it costs in total, and whether a valuation sits in the way. Each one can change both the timeline and the final figure.

Are you dealing with the lender or a broker?

Ask the question directly and get a direct answer. Several businesses in this market describe themselves as brokers or as a lender’s broker, and some lenders, Aquamore for one, deal only through brokers. A broker can add real value on a complicated deal. Just know how many parties sit between you and the person who says yes.

Who actually funds the loan?

Ask whether the approval is final or subject to finding a funder. A lender using its own balance sheet can commit on the spot. A loan matched to an individual investor may need that investor’s sign-off after the terms look settled, which adds a step you should plan for. It also matters later: if you need an extension or a variation, you want to know whether the person you are talking to can agree it or has to go back to an investor first.

Is the exit written down and realistic?

The term should finish comfortably after your exit is expected, not on the same day. Ask what happens if the sale or refinance runs late, and get any extension terms in writing before you need them. Our business loan exit strategy guide shows how to present a strong one.

What is the total cost, in writing?

Ask for one figure: everything you will repay, including interest, establishment, legal and discharge costs and any line fees. If interest is prepaid or capitalised, ask to see how that changes the amount advanced and the amount owed at the end. Comparing total dollars over the time you will hold the loan is the only fair comparison. For a walk-through on reading an offer line by line, see how business loan pricing and fees work.

Does the lender need a valuation?

Many lenders order a formal valuation before settlement, and the valuer’s diary then sets your timeline as well as the fee. Ask who orders it, who pays for it and how long it usually takes. We never order valuations: we assess the property ourselves, so there is no valuer to book, no valuation fee and no waiting.

Caveat lenders or second mortgage lenders: which do you need?

You need a caveat lender when speed matters most and you don’t want to wait on the first lender, and a second mortgage lender when you want a registered loan behind the existing one. Land Use Victoria’s registration glossary treats a caveat as a note on the title warning anyone who deals with the property that someone else may hold rights over it. A registered second mortgage often needs the first mortgagee’s involvement, which can take longer.

Several lenders in the table offer both, including Secured Lending, Equity Lenders, Innovate Funding and XCEDA Capital. With us, a caveat can later be converted into a registered second mortgage. Our second mortgage vs caveat loan guide compares them in detail, and the fast caveat loans and fast second mortgage pages cover each product.

When is a private lender the wrong choice?

A private lender is the wrong choice when the need is long term, when there is no property to secure, or when the exit depends on hope rather than a dated event. Short private money is built to be repaid; holding it for years defeats the purpose.

Match the tool to the job:

• You need the money for five years or more. A bank, or a non-bank that writes long-term mortgages, will usually suit better once your financials are current. Use a private loan only to bridge the time it takes to get there.
• There is no property in the business or the family. Lenders that read turnover and bank statements are built for that situation, and our cash flow list sets out who they are.
• The project is a ground-up development. Several names in the table run dedicated construction and development programmes with their own drawdown and reporting rules, which suit staged funding better than a single short advance.
• The exit is “trading should improve”. No sensible lender, private or otherwise, should lend against that alone. Tighten the plan first, then borrow.

Being honest about this early saves everyone time. If we are not the right fit, we will say so on the first call and tell you which kind of lender is.

Where does BizLoansFast fit among private lenders?

BizLoansFast sits at the fast, short-term end of private business lending: $20,000 to $5,000,000, secured by property, with same-day approval common and no valuation ever ordered. Some names in the table focus on large development and commercial real estate, and others on mortgages that run for years. We focus on business owners who need money in days and have a clear way to repay it.

Short-term private funding is dearer than bank money; it is worth paying for when timing or flexibility matters more than price. If your deal fits the table, send us the property and the deadline and a lender will read it today. Every product is on our products page, and the compare hub links each lender page, including Strive Financial alternatives.

Illustrative example: a Sydney importer needs $600,000 to pay freight and release stock for a large retail order. The bank wants six weeks. The director owns a commercial unit worth about $1,500,000 with $400,000 owing. We approve a second mortgage the same day with interest prepaid from the advance, assess the unit ourselves with no valuation, and settle within three business days. The retailer pays 90 days later, the loan is repaid in full and the mortgage is discharged.

Get a private lending answer today

If you have property equity and a deadline, the quickest step is to tell us the facts now. An enquiry doesn’t touch your credit file, your details stay with us rather than going around a panel of funders, and the person reading it makes urgent property-secured decisions every day. You will get a direct answer quickly, including a plain no if the deal doesn’t stack up.

Fill in the form with care: the right property address, the true amount owing and an honest exit. Accurate details mean the first answer holds all the way to settlement. Apply for a private business loan or call 1300 852 150.

Names are trademarks of their owners. BizLoansFast is not affiliated with any lender named on this page. Lender details are summarised from each lender's own website as at October 2026 and can change — check with the lender directly.

Written by the BizLoansFast lending team · Updated 2026-10-06