Commercial loans generally require a larger deposit than residential lending — typically 20–35% of the property or asset value, depending on the lender, the type of commercial property, and how it’s being used (owner-occupied vs investment). Specialised property types like childcare centres, service stations, or hotels can require even higher deposits due to how lenders assess their resale risk.

It depends heavily on your business’s trading history and documentation. Lenders typically want an active ABN, at least 6–12 months of trading history (some accept less for asset-backed or secured loans), and reasonable turnover relative to the loan size. Businesses with clean financials and consistent revenue generally find approval straightforward; newer businesses or those with irregular cash flow may need to look at secured or specialist non-bank options rather than mainstream bank products.

Commercial loan rates vary more widely than residential rates because pricing depends on the security type, loan-to-value ratio, borrower’s financials, and whether the loan is with a major bank or a specialist commercial lender. Rather than quote a single figure that goes stale quickly, we’d recommend getting a same-day indicative rate based on your actual scenario — it’s a much more useful number than a generic published range.

Not necessarily — it depends what you’re comparing. A commercial property loan secured against real estate is typically cheaper than unsecured business finance because the security reduces the lender’s risk. But for funding equipment, vehicles, or working capital rather than property, asset finance or a business loan may be more appropriate and cost-effective than trying to fund it through a commercial mortgage.

Typically: your ABN and business registration details, two years of business tax returns and financial statements (or BAS statements for newer businesses), recent bank statements, and details of any existing debts or security being offered. Low-doc options exist for businesses that can’t provide full financials, though these usually come with tighter conditions or higher rates.

Often, yes — particularly for commercial finance, where policy and appetite vary enormously between lenders depending on the property type, industry, and structure of your business. A broker with an active panel across major banks and specialist commercial lenders can shop your deal to the lenders most likely to say yes on good terms, rather than you finding out after the fact that your bank simply doesn’t like your industry or property type.