When you’re buying an existing business, timing is often the deal. The seller wants certainty, the agent is pushing deadlines, and your due diligence is running in parallel with finance approvals. If you miss the settlement date, you can lose the opportunity, forfeit a deposit, or watch a competitor step in. Contact us today to discuss your scenario.
That’s where bridging loans for business acquisition come in. At Secured Lending, we’ve advised and assisted borrowers through time-sensitive business acquisition transactions, including situations where bank timelines simply don’t match the reality of the deal. We have also facilitated over 500 strategic commercial loans to bridge the gap. Secured Lending can help you move fast with a bridging loan for business acquisition. Assess your scenario today.
Why bridging finance matters when you’re acquiring an existing business
A business acquisition rarely lines up perfectly with the timing of your funds. You might be waiting on a sale of another asset, a refinance, a shareholder injection, or a longer-term bank facility that’s approved in principle but not yet unconditional. Meanwhile, the purchase contract doesn’t wait.
Bridging finance is designed for that timing mismatch. It’s a short-term, property-secured facility that can help you complete the acquisition now, then repay the bridge when your longer-term funding event lands.
Here’s where it becomes practical:
- You secure the business before someone else does. Good businesses don’t sit on the market. Bridging gives you the ability to act while others are still gathering paperwork.
- You meet hard deadlines. Settlement dates, deposit top-ups, and vendor demands can create an urgent settlement scenario. Bridging finance is built for urgent settlement.
- You keep momentum during the transition. Many acquisitions require immediate working capital for stock purchases, key staff retention, equipment replacement, or quick refurbishments to lift revenue fast.
- You reduce the “finance condition” risk. Even with strong income and assets, traditional approvals can be slow and sensitive to policy. A bridge can buy time without forcing you to compromise the deal.
In short: bridging finance isn’t about taking on unnecessary debt. It’s about controlling the timeline so the acquisition can happen on your terms.
The pressure points Secured Lending sees in real acquisitions
Most borrowers we help aren’t confused about the value of the business. They’re managing sequencing.
Common examples we see:
- You’ve agreed on a purchase price, but the seller wants fast settlement and won’t extend.
- Your bank is supportive, but the process is dragging due to valuation, updated financials, or credit sign-off.
- You’re buying a business that comes with a lease assignment, and the landlord is moving faster than your finance.
- You want to complete the acquisition and then do a clean refinance once the dust settles and financials reflect your ownership.
- You need to complete an emergency settlement because another buyer is waiting in the wings.
This is exactly when a bridging structure can make sense: short-term funding, clear repayment strategy, and a lender who understands time pressure.
How Secured Lending helps you move quickly and cleanly
Speed is not helpful unless it’s controlled. Our focus is to arrange secured business loans that match your acquisition timetable, your security position, and your exit plan, without creating unpleasant surprises later.
1. We start with the settlement date and work backwards
When timing is critical, we map the decision points that actually matter: contract dates, deposits, access to premises, and when funds need to clear. Then we structure the facility around those milestones so you’re not “approved” but still waiting to settle.
If the situation calls for funding within 24 hours, we’ll tell you early what’s needed to make that achievable.
2. We structure bridging finance around property security
For a business acquisition bridge, the facility is typically secured against residential or commercial property. That’s how you can unlock meaningful capital quickly, often without waiting for the acquired business to generate a full set of post-acquisition financials.
Depending on your scenario, you may be able to borrow up to $10million, with an interest rate starting at 9.2% p.a.
3. We coordinate the moving parts so settlement doesn’t stall
Acquisitions involve more than a loan approval. There are solicitors, brokers, accountants, agents, vendors, and sometimes multiple parties on title.
Our role is to keep the process tight:
- confirm documents early
- align valuation and security requirements
- coordinate with your solicitor to meet settlement mechanics
- reduce back-and-forth that costs you days
That’s how we support outcomes like same day settlement in the right circumstances.
4. We’re built for urgent transactions, not “eventually”
If you’re dealing with a private lender urgent scenario, you don’t have time for maybes. Secured Lending is used to handling urgent settlement requests, including when other avenues have stalled or the clock has run out.
We’ll be direct about what can be done quickly, what can’t, and what the cleanest path is from bridge to longer-term finance.
Private Lender bridging finance Australia wide
Secured Lending is a private lender in Australia and a non-bank lender. We operate Australia wide, including Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Canberra. That matters because local conditions, settlement practices, and market timing can vary, but urgency is universal. Our process is designed to help you act decisively wherever the acquisition opportunity appears.
What a strong Business acquisition bridging plan looks like
Bridging finance works best when the exit is clear. In most acquisition scenarios, repayment comes from one of these pathways:
- refinance into a longer-term commercial facility once the business transfer is complete
- sale of an asset already in progress
- release of funds tied up in another transaction
- restructuring of debt after you’ve stabilised operations
We’ll review your plan, stress-test the timing, and structure the loan so you’re not relying on hope to repay it.
FAQs
1. Can bridging finance be used to buy an existing business if the bank is taking too long?
Yes. A bridging loan can cover the acquisition while your longer-term bank or commercial facility progresses, provided there’s suitable property security and a clear exit strategy.
2. How fast can Secured Lending settle for a Business acquisition?
It depends on security, documents, and legal readiness, but we can support urgent settlement timeframes, including funding within 24 hours in suitable cases.
3. Can the bridging loan cover the deposit as well as settlement?
It can, depending on your contract structure, timing, and security position. The key is aligning funds release with the contract milestones and your solicitor’s requirements.
4. What are typical loan sizes for acquisition bridging finance?
Loan sizes vary by security and scenario. In some cases you can borrow up to $10million, with pricing starting from interest rate starting at 9.2% p.a, subject to assessment.
5. Will the acquired business financials determine approval?
They can be relevant, but for bridging finance the primary focus is usually the property security, the transaction timeline, and a credible exit plan.
6. What’s the biggest mistake borrowers make with bridging finance during an acquisition?
Underestimating timing. Delays in contracts, valuations, or legal documents can push settlement dates. The strongest outcomes come from planning early and structuring the bridge with enough breathing room.
How We Can Help
At Secured Lending, we help you take control of time-sensitive business acquisition opportunities with practical, property-secured bridging finance. We review your scenario, structure the loan around your settlement deadlines, coordinate the process with your advisers, and move fast when the opportunity demands it. Secured Lending is a short-term lending solution you can rely on. When you’re ready, our team is here to help you move quickly and confidently. Our team specialises in urgent short term loans solutions, including commercial bridging finance for business acquisition.
