01- CLIENT SCENARIO
A transport business approached us after securing two major contracts with leading transport companies. Before the work could begin, however, it needed $150K in trailer finance to purchase the required equipment.
The opportunity was strong, but the finance application came with several challenges. The business was operating under a brand-new ABN and had no property to offer as security. In addition, its existing vehicles and equipment were more than 15 years old.
These factors can make business equipment loans harder to secure.
Lenders often assess trading history, property ownership, asset age and expected resale value. As a result, a standard application could have taken longer or resulted in limited finance options.
Anyone who has secured work before arranging equipment finance will understand the pressure involved. Winning a major contract is exciting. However, that excitement can quickly turn into stress when the equipment is not yet in place and the start date is getting closer.
DEAL SNAPSHOT
| Loan Amount | $150,000 |
| Asset | Trailers (15+ years old) |
| Industry | Transport / Logistics |
| Business Stage | Fresh ABN |
| Key Challenge | No property, aged assets, urgent timeline |
| Solution | Credit waivers secured on both conditions via lender relationship |
| Approval Time | Fast-tracked |
| Settlement Time | Finalised in record time |
02-THE CHALLENGE
The business had a genuine opportunity, but several factors made a standard finance approval difficult:
- A brand-new ABN with no established trading history
- No property available as additional security
- Existing assets more than 15 years old and outside many lenders’ standard age limits
- Two signed transport contracts with fixed delivery deadlines
- Limited time to arrange the required equipment finance
From a lender’s perspective, these factors created a higher-risk application. The business was new, the available assets were older, and there was little room for delays.
In addition, many lenders would have focused heavily on the limited trading history and the age of the existing assets. As a result, they may not have given enough weight to the signed contracts or the income those contracts were expected to generate.
03-THE APPROACH
Trying to fit this application into a standard business loan structure was unlikely to work. The new ABN, limited trading history and older assets would have dominated the lender’s assessment from the start.
Instead, we focused on the commercial strengths of the deal:
- The trailers were usable and capable of generating income
- Two transport contracts were already signed
- The operator had an immediate need for the equipment
- The funding would directly support revenue-producing work
Older trailers can still hold strong working value when used by an experienced operator. Therefore, the key was finding a specialist asset finance lender willing to assess their condition, usability and earning potential rather than rejecting them based on age alone.
We also structured the equipment finance with a 20% deposit. This reduced the lender’s exposure and strengthened the application despite the new ABN.
The deal was then matched with a lender experienced in commercial equipment finance and transport assets. The lender considered the signed contracts, the practical value of the trailers and the wider business opportunity.
What Many Applicants Get Wrong
Many applicants lead with the new ABN and allow limited trading history to define the application.
We took a different approach. By leading with the assets, signed contracts and expected income, we gave the lender a clearer view of the deal’s commercial potential.
04-THE OUTCOME
The full $150,000 in commercial equipment finance was approved and settled against trailers that many mainstream lenders may have considered too old to fund.
A 20% deposit reduced the lender’s exposure and helped secure a competitive rate, despite the business operating under a new ABN.
Most importantly, settlement was completed in time for the client to begin both transport contracts without delay. The trailers could start generating revenue almost immediately.
This result shows how the right business equipment loan structure and specialist lender can create options when standard commercial truck finance policies do not suit the client’s circumstances.
What This Means for Businesses
In cases like this, the key question is often not whether equipment finance is possible, but whether the application has been structured around the deal’s real strengths.
These may include:
- The value and usability of the equipment
- Contracts already secured
- The income the asset is expected to generate
- The deposit available
- The lender selected for the application
For businesses seeking truck finance, trailer finance or other business equipment loans, the right structure can make the difference between a decline and a workable approval.
If signed work is ready to begin but your funding profile is complex, it is worth seeking advice before assuming the answer will be no.
A bank or lender saying no does not always mean the deal is over.
Sometimes, the application needs a better structure, a more suitable lender and an experienced business finance broker to bring both together.
Xpress Finance has settled more than $300M in commercial finance and works with 50+ lenders to find practical solutions for complex applications.
Speak with our team today for clear, honest guidance on what may be possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business with a new ABN qualify for equipment finance?
Yes. It is possible. While a fresh ABN can limit lender options, approval may still be possible when the application is supported by industry experts with signed contracts, a suitable deposit and a clear ability to repay the loan.
Can older trailers be financed?
Yes, although many lenders have strict asset-age limits. Specialist equipment finance lenders may consider older trailers based on their condition, usability, market value and income-generating purpose.
Is property security required for trailer finance?
Not always. In many commercial equipment finance transactions, the trailer being purchased is used as the primary security, although lender requirements will depend on the applicant’s overall profile.
What happens if mainstream lenders decline the application?
A decline does not always mean the deal is unfinanceable. It may mean the asset, business age or structure falls outside that lender’s policy, and a specialist commercial equipment finance lender may be more suitable.
Can equipment finance be approved without an established trading history?
It may be possible, particularly when the operator has relevant industry experience, confirmed work, a deposit and a strong explanation of how the equipment will support the business.