A Sydney e-commerce business turning over about $100,000 a month wanted capital to grow, mainly for inventory and marketing. Their bank wanted too much paperwork, and other lenders offered only $25,000, not enough to move the needle. OverdraftMe secured a $150,000 unsecured business overdraft at 24.95% p.a. through a specialist non-bank lender, with no property as security and funding within 24 hours of submission. That is six times what the other lenders had put on the table.
At a glance
| Industry | E-commerce / online retail |
|---|---|
| Location | Sydney, NSW |
| Turnover | About $100,000 per month |
| Purpose | Growth capital: inventory and marketing |
| Facility type | Unsecured business overdraft |
| Approved limit | $150,000 |
| Other lenders offered | $25,000 |
| Rate | 24.95% p.a. |
| Security required | None |
| Lender | Specialist non-bank lender |
| Time to funding | 24 hours |
The challenge: growth needs capital before the revenue arrives
E-commerce growth runs on capital you spend before the sales come in. To scale, you buy inventory and you spend on marketing, and both go out the door ahead of the revenue they generate. This business was already doing about $100,000 a month and wanted to push harder on both fronts, but it needed funding to do it.
The bank was an option, but it wanted full financials and a level of paperwork that slowed everything down. Other lenders looked at the business and offered just $25,000. For a business of this size with real growth in front of it, $25,000 was not enough to do anything meaningful. The owner needed a facility that matched the size of the opportunity.
How we solved it
We looked at the real picture: a healthy, growing e-commerce business with consistent monthly revenue. The reason the other offers came in low was not the business, it was how those lenders assessed it. We matched the business to a specialist non-bank lender that could see the full picture and was comfortable funding a facility that fit the turnover.
The result was a $150,000 unsecured overdraft at 24.95% p.a. Unsecured mattered: the owner did not have to put up property to access the funds. As an overdraft, the business only pays interest on what it actually draws, so the cost tracks usage rather than the full limit. You can model that on the overdraft repayment calculator.
The result
The lender funded the $150,000 facility within 24 hours of submission. The business used it to fund inventory and marketing, drawing as it needed and repaying as sales came in. It went from a $25,000 offer that would not move the needle to a facility six times the size that actually let it grow.
What business owners can take from this
- The first or lowest offer is not the only offer. Different lenders assess the same business very differently, and the gap can be large.
- A broker who knows the market can often secure a materially bigger facility than a business gets approaching lenders on its own.
- E-commerce growth capital does not require property security. A $150,000 unsecured facility is achievable for the right business.
- Speed holds at larger sizes. This $150,000 facility was funded in 24 hours, not weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can an e-commerce business get an unsecured business overdraft in Australia?
Yes. E-commerce businesses use unsecured overdrafts to fund inventory and marketing ahead of sales. In this case, a Sydney e-commerce business turning over about $100,000 a month was approved for a $150,000 unsecured facility at 24.95% p.a., funded within 24 hours.
Why did one lender offer more than another for the same business?
Lenders assess the same business very differently. Some other lenders offered this business only $25,000, while a broker who knew the market matched it to a lender that funded $150,000. The first or lowest offer is rarely the only offer available.
How much can an e-commerce business borrow on an overdraft?
Limits depend on turnover and cash flow. A business turning over about $100,000 a month was approved for a $150,000 unsecured overdraft. Facilities range widely based on the individual business.
How fast can a large business overdraft be funded?
Even at larger facility sizes, funding can be fast. This $150,000 facility was funded within 24 hours of submission through a non-bank lender.
What can a business overdraft be used for?
A business overdraft can fund inventory, marketing, supplier payments, payroll and general growth. You draw what you need and pay interest only on the amount used.
Been offered less than you need, or want to know your real number? Tell us about your business and we will come back with the facilities that fit. Start here.
This is a real OverdraftMe client outcome, anonymised for privacy. Every business is different, and approval, limits, rates and timeframes depend on individual circumstances.