If you import goods, buy inventory offshore, or finance trade transactions, cash flow timing is usually the risk. You may need to pay a supplier before goods land, cover duties and freight, bridge the gap between shipment and settlement, or move fast on a purchase order. When a bank process is slow or restrictive, a private lender can be the difference between securing stock and missing the opportunity. Contact us today.
Import and Trade Finance (when timing and certainty matter)
At Secured Lending, we speak to clients every week who require finance and we are happy to provide guidance and requirements for Import and Trade Finance. The goal is simple: help you understand what is possible, what security is needed, what documents matter, and how quickly a decision can be made.
A non-bank private lender for Import and Trade Finance
Working with a non-bank private lender can suit business owners who need speed, flexibility, and clear credit logic. Import and trade transactions often involve tight supplier deadlines, shipping schedules, and settlement cycles that don’t match standard bank timeframes. Many borrowers exploring non-bank business loans do so because they need a decision process built around real-world timelines.
Here’s what business owners typically value in this space.
Faster decisions when supplier deadlines are fixed
Banks may require multiple approvals and long assessment queues. We use our own funds for fast decisions and have an internal property valuation team, which allows us to move fast within 24 hour, subject to receiving the required information. This matters when you need to secure inventory, release goods, or meet a payment milestone.
Practical assessment for short-term funding
Import and trade funding is often short dated by nature. That can include bridging between supplier payment and customer payment, or financing stock that will turn quickly.
We specialise in short term finance of 1 to 24 months, which aligns with trade cycles rather than long-term amortisation.
Secured lending focus for meaningful loan amounts
If you have property security, you may be able to access higher limits and move sooner. We offer loans from $250k to $10M, designed for business owners who need meaningful liquidity rather than small working capital limits.
A clear cost of capital when urgency matters
When the priority is certainty and speed, pricing needs to be transparent and decisioned quickly. Rates from 9.2% p.a. are available depending on risk, security, and structure. The right structure can reduce friction and help protect margin on your trade.
Guidance on requirements so you don’t lose time
The biggest delay in trade funding is usually incomplete information. We outline requirements upfront so you can move through credit efficiently and avoid unnecessary back and forth.
Common Import and Trade Finance use cases we see
Business owners typically contact us when they need funding around:
- Supplier payments and deposit funding
- Inventory purchases for resale
- Cash flow bridging between shipment and customer payment
- Duties, GST, freight, and logistics costs
- Time sensitive opportunities where speed is critical
- Short term funding tied to a specific trade transaction or stock turn
If your need is linked to a defined transaction, timeframe, and exit strategy, short term secured finance can be a strong fit.
How Secured Lending can support your transaction
We are specialist private lenders in secured business loans, private mortgages (including first mortgage and second mortgage structures) and bridging loans. This matters because many import and trade finance needs are solved through a secured structure that prioritises speed, certainty, and an identifiable exit, including scenarios suited to private bridging finance.
In many cases, the right structure is simply a well-aligned secured business loan built around the transaction timeline, clear security, and a realistic exit.
What you can expect
- Proven lending capacity
We have funded over $500 million loans, reflecting experience across a wide range of borrower scenarios and property types. - Speed through internal capability
We use our own funds for fast decisions and have an internal property valuation team which allows us to move fast within 24 hour, subject to receiving the required information. - Loan size and term aligned to trade cycles
We offer loans from $250k to $10M and we specialise in short term finance of 1 to 24 months, which is often a better match for import and trade timing. - Transparent starting rate
Rates from 9.2% p.a. depending on the deal.
What we typically need to assess Import and Trade Finance quickly
While every transaction differs, a fast assessment usually relies on clear information in a few key areas.
1) Your trade scenario and timing
What is being imported, supplier terms, payment deadlines, shipping and delivery dates, and when you expect cash in.
2) The security offered
Address details, ownership, existing lending, and your preferred structure. Secured lending is often the pathway to larger limits and faster approvals.
3) Your exit strategy
Common exits include sale of stock, customer payment, refinance, or another liquidity event within the loan term.
4) Core business documents
Depending on the structure, this may include financials, BAS, bank statements, invoices, purchase orders, and supplier documentation.
If you want, we’re happy to provide guidance and requirements for Import and Trade Finance so you can package the deal properly from the start.
Where we lend
We are a non bank private lender servicing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and surrounding metro and regional areas. If your security is located in these markets, we can generally progress quickly once the scenario and documents are clear.
Private lending
If you’re comparing options, working with a private lender in Australia can suit time-sensitive trade deals where the cost of delay is higher than the cost of funds and where property security supports a clear, short-term exit. This can also be structured as a private mortgage in the right scenario.
Why business owners choose Secured Lending for time-sensitive funding
Business owners typically come to a private lender when the cost of delay is higher than the cost of funds. If you are negotiating with suppliers, managing shipping windows, or trying to keep stock flowing, certainty matters.
Secured Lending is built for transactions where:
- Speed is a competitive advantage
- The funding need is short term and specific
- Property security is available
- You want a direct credit conversation and clear requirements
- You need a lender that can move quickly with internal capability
If you are exploring Import and Trade Finance and want a lender that can provide fast, practical guidance, Secured Lending can help you understand your options and the requirements to move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What’s the fastest way to help you say “yes” or “no” on a trade scenario?
Send the timeline and numbers in one message: supplier invoice (or proforma), how much is due and when, shipping/arrival dates, how and when you’ll be paid (or sell-through period), and the property security details (address, estimated value, existing debt). The clearer the timing and exit, the faster the decision.
2) Can the loan cover duties, GST, freight, and customs clearance costs as well as the supplier payment?
Often, yes—these costs are a common pinch point because they’re payable before revenue is realised. If the total funding request includes landed costs, we’ll want to see estimates/invoices for freight and customs, plus the full cash flow timing so the facility matches the real payment milestones.
3) How do you look at deals where my customer pays on terms (e.g. 30–60 days after delivery)?
That’s a classic trade timing gap. We’ll focus on whether the transaction is defined (what’s being shipped, to whom, and at what margin), the reliability of the collection event, and whether the loan term gives enough buffer for shipping delays or payment slippage—without relying on a “perfect” timeline.
4) What if my supplier changes the payment terms mid-deal or requires a larger deposit?
It happens. The key is flagging it early so the facility structure still fits the revised milestone. If you can provide the updated supplier request (revised proforma/invoice and deadlines), we can reassess quickly rather than letting the change derail settlement or shipment.
5) How do you assess property security if it’s not a standard metro residential property?
We lend across a range of property types. The practical question is marketability and valuation confidence. Because we have an internal property valuation team, we can often move faster on the valuation process, but we’ll still look closely at location, property type, and existing encumbrances to ensure the security supports the requested limit and timeframe.
6) What does a “good exit strategy” look like for an import inventory deal?
A strong exit is specific and time-bound: confirmed customer payments, predictable stock turn with evidence of sell-through history, or a refinance plan tied to a clear event. The more the exit relies on “we’ll figure it out later,” the harder it is to move quickly—especially for short-term facilities designed around a defined trade cycle.
