Hub 2 · The routes
Funding routes: how each alternative actually works
Invoice finance, equipment finance, mortgages, caveat loans, lines of credit, trade finance and more, compared on what they lend against and where they fall short.
Invoice finance vs business loan
Invoice finance grows with your sales; a business loan is a fixed lump sum. Compare how each works, who each suits and how to choose with a simple checklist.
Read more →Equipment finance vs a loan
Equipment finance is secured on the asset; a general business loan is secured on your business or property. Compare flexibility and tax points before choosing.
Read more →Property-secured loans
How first and second mortgage business loans work, from $20,000 to $5,000,000, who they suit, what they cost to set up and when to choose something else.
Read more →Caveat loans
How a business caveat loan works: security by caveat on the title, what lenders check, who it suits, the risks, and when a registered mortgage is better.
Read more →Unsecured cash-flow loans
How unsecured business loans from $5,000 to $500,000 work: sized on turnover and bank statements, with no property needed. Who qualifies and what to watch.
Read more →Line of credit
A business line of credit lets you draw, repay and redraw within a limit. See which businesses it suits, what funders assess and where it can go wrong.
Read more →Trade and purchase order finance
Trade finance and purchase order finance fund the cost of goods before your customer pays. See how they work, who they suit and where they can go wrong.
Read more →Sale and leaseback
Sell an asset you own to a funder and lease it straight back. See how sale and leaseback works for equipment and vehicles, the trade-offs and when it suits.
Read more →Supplier terms and trade credit
Trade credit lets suppliers fund your stock and materials for a few weeks. See how to open accounts, negotiate terms and know when you need a lender too.
Read more →How do these funding routes differ?
Each route page explains what the funder lends against, who it tends to suit, what it will ask for and where it falls short. The aim is to give you the trade-offs before a salesperson does.
If you know what you hold but not which route to choose, start with the Funding finder. If you have already been declined, read the bank-said-no hub first, because the reason you were given points to the routes that skip it.
Quick answers
Which route is cheapest?
It depends on the funder, the security and your circumstances, so we never publish figures. Compare real offers by total cost in dollars, as the cost guide explains.
Can I use more than one route?
Often yes, provided the security does not clash. The guide on combining routes explains how to plan the order.
See what your business could qualify for
One short enquiry, no credit check when you first enquire, and a real person who calls you back with options that fit.
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