Anything legitimate: inventory, payroll, marketing campaigns, equipment deposits, GST/BAS payment, expansion costs, hiring, premises fit-out, bridging an invoice gap. Lenders don't typically restrict use, though some specialise in specific purposes (inventory finance, invoice finance, merchant cash advance).

Working capital is more expensive than property-secured business lending because it's faster and often unsecured. Effective rates are typically 12%-25% p.a. APR depending on term, security, and your trading profile. The trade-off is speed and accessibility — for a 6-12 month bridge, the cost is usually well covered by the opportunity.

Most lenders cap at 1-2 months of your average monthly turnover. So $50k/month turnover = $50k-$100k available. Strong businesses with 2+ years of trading and clean conduct can stretch further. Loans above $500k typically need property security.

For under $250k: many lenders can issue conditional approval the same day and fund within 48-72 hours. For larger amounts or full-documentation deals: 3-7 business days. The fastest path is 6 months of clean business bank statements + driver licence + ABN — that's enough for a quote.

Almost always for an unsecured loan, yes. Director's guarantee is standard. This means if the business defaults the lender can pursue you personally. The amount is typically capped at the loan facility (not unlimited). Property security can replace or reduce the personal guarantee requirement.