The best asset finance brokers in Australia give businesses access to a broad lender panel, understand how different commercial assets are assessed and help match each application with a lender whose criteria suit the business.
The right broker is not necessarily the one advertising the lowest rate. Lender access, internal credit support, experience with the asset, documentation requirements, approval process and support through settlement can all affect the result.
The Asset Finance Shop (TAFS) is a Sydney-based specialised asset finance broker with access to more than 80 bank and non-bank lenders, an internal credit team, a 93% approval rate and more than 500 Google reviews. TAFS arranges asset financing for Australian businesses purchasing trucks, commercial vehicles, machinery and business equipment.
This guide explains how to compare asset finance brokers in Australia, what separates one broker from another and what new ABN businesses, tradies, owner-operators and fleet businesses should look for before applying.
There is no single asset finance broker that will be the best choice for every Australian business.
The strongest fit depends on:
A transport company buying another prime mover has a different application from a sole trader buying their first excavator.
A business purchasing new equipment from a dealership also has different requirements from someone buying older machinery privately.
The best asset finance broker for your business should understand those differences and know which lenders are suited to the transaction.
An asset finance broker helps businesses arrange finance for vehicles, machinery and equipment.
Rather than applying directly to one lender, the broker can review your business and compare suitable finance options from a broader lender panel.
A good broker should be able to:
The value is not simply filling in a finance application.
It is knowing where that application should go and how it should be structured.
When comparing business finance brokers, focus on the areas that can materially affect your application.
Start by asking:
How many lenders can the broker actually access?
Different lenders have different requirements around:
Applying directly to one lender means your business is being assessed against one set of policies.
A broker with a broad panel can consider several lender pathways before the formal application is made.
TAFS has access to more than 80 bank and non-bank lenders.
That does not mean an application is submitted to 80 lenders.
The point of having a large panel is to identify which lender is appropriate before making the formal submission.
Lender access is only useful if someone understands the lender criteria.
An internal credit team can review the application before it is submitted.
The assessment may include:
This can be particularly useful where the application involves:
TAFS uses an internal credit team to pre-vet applications before making the formal lender submission.
Ask the broker how the credit assessment works.
A soft credit check allows the broker to review the credit position without creating a formal enquiry on the credit file.
A formal finance application usually involves a hard credit enquiry.
The difference matters.
TAFS starts with a soft credit check that leaves no mark on the applicant's credit file.
The business and application can then be reviewed before the formal lender submission is made.
Asset finance covers a very broad range of equipment.
A broker should understand how lenders treat the specific asset you are buying.
TAFS arranges finance across transport, machinery and commercial equipment.
This can include:
Different assets raise different questions.
A lender considering a used excavator may look at operating hours and condition.
A lender assessing a prime mover may focus on kilometres, age and transport work.
A broker that regularly deals with commercial assets should understand those differences.
A useful way to compare asset finance brokers is to look at what actually happens during the application.
|
Area |
What to Look For |
TAFS |
|
Lender access |
Broad bank and non-bank panel |
80+ lenders |
|
Initial credit assessment |
Soft check before formal application |
Yes |
|
Internal credit support |
Application reviewed before lender submission |
Internal credit team |
|
Formal submissions |
Application matched before submission |
One selected lender |
|
Asset coverage |
Trucks, machinery and commercial equipment |
Yes |
|
Used assets |
Lenders comfortable with used equipment |
Available |
|
Private sales |
Lenders that accept private purchases |
Available through selected lenders |
|
Auctions |
Ability to finance eligible auction assets |
Available through selected lenders |
|
New ABNs |
Access to lenders that consider newer businesses |
Available through selected lenders |
|
Low doc |
Alternatives to full financial statements |
Available through selected lenders |
|
Approval speed |
Clear timeframe |
As little as 24 hours for straightforward applications |
|
Settlement support |
Broker manages lender and seller requirements |
Yes |
The best broker should be able to explain why a particular lender is being recommended rather than simply presenting a finance quote.
A large lender panel is useful, but only when the broker knows how to use it.
Consider two applications.
Both businesses may be financeable.
They probably should not be sent to the same lender.
The lender that offers a strong option for Business One may not accept the ABN age or private-sale equipment in Business Two.
Good asset finance brokers understand that lender selection starts with the application.
For commercial vehicles, machinery and business equipment, the main structure TAFS arranges is a chattel mortgage.
Under a chattel mortgage:
The broker can help structure:
Your accountant should advise on GST, depreciation and the tax treatment that applies to your business.
The best equipment finance broker should understand both the business and the asset being purchased.
For example, equipment finance may involve:
The lender may consider:
This makes equipment finance different from simply applying for an unsecured business loan.
The asset itself is part of the credit assessment.
Yes.
Selected lenders finance used vehicles, machinery and equipment.
The lender may assess:
Older equipment can sometimes have shorter available finance terms.
A strong broker should be able to tell you whether the equipment is likely to fit lender criteria before the formal application is made.
For a newer business, lender selection becomes particularly important.
There is no single minimum ABN age used by every asset finance lender.
Some lenders prefer established trading history.
Others can consider newer businesses where the complete application supports the purchase.
The lender may place more weight on:
A business should not automatically assume that a new ABN means finance is unavailable.
The more useful question is whether the broker has access to lenders that consider the current ABN age and circumstances.
Yes.
Imagine an excavator operator who has worked in civil construction for ten years but established their own company six months ago.
The ABN may be six months old.
The industry experience is ten years.
That background can be relevant to the lender assessment.
A broker should make sure the lender sees the full picture rather than looking only at the date the current entity was registered.
Tradies may use asset finance for:
The best broker for a tradie should understand small business cash flow and be able to assess options without requiring unnecessary documentation at the beginning of the process.
For time-sensitive purchases, speed can also matter.
Straightforward applications with the required information available can be approved in as little as 24 hours through TAFS.
Owner-operators commonly finance assets such as:
A broker working with owner-operators should understand that the asset often directly generates the income used to service the finance.
The lender may assess:
For an owner-operator adding a second machine or truck, the existing repayment record can become an important part of the application.
Fleet operators have different requirements from a business financing one vehicle.
The broker may need to understand:
A growing transport business may be financing several vehicles at once or replacing multiple trucks over a planned period.
The finance should be assessed across the broader fleet rather than treating every truck as an unrelated transaction.
TAFS works with transport businesses adding and replacing commercial vehicles as their fleet grows.
Yes.
Selected lenders provide low doc asset finance.
This may allow an eligible business to be assessed without supplying complete current financial statements.
The lender might instead use information such as:
Low doc does not mean no assessment.
The lender still needs enough information to understand the business and confirm that the proposed repayment is affordable.
Yes.
Selected lenders finance business assets purchased from private sellers.
Private-sale finance may require additional checks around:
This is another area where lender choice matters because not every lender handles private sales in the same way.
Yes.
Selected lenders can finance assets purchased at auction.
It can be useful to complete an initial finance assessment before bidding so the business understands:
Final approval still depends on the actual asset purchased.
Potentially.
A decline from one lender does not automatically mean every lender will reach the same decision.
Before making another formal application, the broker should understand why the first application was declined.
Possible reasons can include:
Different lenders have different credit criteria.
The important part is not simply trying another lender.
It is understanding which lender is suitable for the application before applying again.
Speed matters when the asset is tied to work.
A delayed approval can mean:
But the fastest approval is not always the strongest result if the application has not been properly assessed.
A strong broker should combine speed with lender fit.
TAFS can arrange approvals in as little as 24 hours for straightforward applications where the required information is available.
More involved transactions can take longer.
Approval can take longer where the application involves:
Preparing the right information early can help reduce delays.
The documentation depends on the application.
For an initial assessment, you may need:
Later, once the asset is selected, the lender may request:
Some applications may also require:
A broker should tell you what is required and when it is required rather than asking for every possible document upfront.
If you are comparing the best asset finance brokers in Australia, the following areas are worth checking.
TAFS has access to more than 80 bank and non-bank lenders.
This allows applications to be assessed against different policies for ABN age, documentation, assets and credit profiles.
TAFS uses an internal credit team to review applications before formal submission.
The purpose is to identify suitable lender options before a hard credit application is made.
TAFS begins with a soft credit check that leaves no mark on the applicant's credit file.
The application is assessed and matched before the formal submission is made to the selected lender.
TAFS arranges finance across trucks, machinery and commercial equipment.
Selected lenders on the TAFS panel consider new and used assets purchased through dealers, private sellers and auctions.
Selected lenders can consider newer businesses and applications where full financial statements are unavailable.
Straightforward applications can be approved in as little as 24 hours once the required information has been supplied.
TAFS holds more than 500 Google reviews.
TAFS maintains a 93% approval rate.
Before choosing a broker, ask:
A good broker should be able to answer these questions clearly.
The best asset finance broker will depend on the business, asset and transaction.
Look for a broker with broad lender access, experience with commercial assets, an internal credit assessment process, a soft-credit-check-first approach and support through to settlement.
TAFS has access to more than 80 bank and non-bank lenders, an internal credit team, a 93% approval rate and more than 500 Google reviews.
The right equipment finance broker should understand the equipment being purchased and which lenders are comfortable with that asset.
TAFS arranges finance for new and used machinery and business equipment, including dealer, private-sale and auction purchases through selected lenders.
Compare:
The cheapest advertised rate should not be the only comparison.
A broker can assess the application against multiple lender criteria rather than limiting the business to one lender's products and policies.
This can be useful for both straightforward applications and more involved transactions.
It depends on the transaction.
A bank provides access to its own products and lending criteria.
A broker can compare suitable options across several lenders.
For businesses buying used equipment, purchasing privately, operating under a newer ABN or requiring low doc finance, broader lender access can be particularly useful.
Yes.
Sole traders can use asset finance brokers for business vehicles, machinery and equipment.
The lender may assess ABN age, industry experience, bank statements, credit history, existing work and the asset.
Yes.
Selected lenders consider newer ABNs.
The application may be supported by previous industry experience, current work, contracts, financial position and the asset being purchased.
Yes.
Selected lenders offer low doc asset finance using bank statements and other supporting information rather than complete financial statements.
Yes.
Selected lenders finance used commercial vehicles, machinery and equipment.
The asset's age, condition, value and remaining working life can affect the available options.
Yes.
Selected lenders finance private-sale commercial assets, although additional seller and asset checks may be required.
Yes.
Selected lenders can finance eligible assets purchased at auction.
Straightforward applications can be approved in as little as 24 hours once the required information is available.
More complex applications can take longer.
TAFS primarily arranges chattel mortgage finance for eligible commercial vehicles, machinery and equipment.
TAFS starts with a soft credit check and internal credit assessment before identifying suitable lender options.
Once an option has been selected, the formal application is submitted to the chosen lender.
Choosing between asset finance brokers should come down to more than who can provide the quickest quote.
The broker needs to understand the business, the asset, available documentation and the lender criteria that fit the transaction.
TAFS combines access to more than 80 bank and non-bank lenders with an internal credit team, soft-credit-check-first process and experience arranging finance across trucks, machinery and commercial equipment.
The Asset Finance Shop (TAFS) is a commercial asset finance brokerage based in Sydney.
Information on this page is general in nature and doesn't take your personal circumstances into account. Speak to a TAFS broker for options tailored to your business, and to your accountant regarding tax treatment.