Warehouse & Logistics Equipment Finance
For 3PLs, distribution centres, wholesalers and any business moving and storing stock. Tell us what you're adding to the floor and we'll pass your enquiry to a licensed finance broker who works with a range of lenders. It takes about 60 seconds and there's no credit check to enquire.
- No credit check to enquire
- Free to enquire, with no obligation to go ahead
- A licensed broker calls you, usually within one business day
Check my eligibility
About 60 seconds. No credit check to enquire.
Who we help
- Third-party logistics providers: adding capacity for a new client or contract
- Wholesalers and importers: fitting out a new or larger warehouse
- Manufacturers: with dispatch, storage and material-handling needs
- Cold chain operators: cool rooms, freezers and refrigerated storage
- Growing e-commerce businesses: moving out of a garage or small unit into a proper warehouse
- Operators replacing a forklift fleet: including switching from LPG or diesel to electric
What gets financed, and how lenders see it
Not all warehouse equipment looks the same to a lender. The key question is whether it could be recovered and resold if things went wrong.
| Asset | How lenders tend to view it |
|---|---|
| Forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, scissor lifts | Mobile, widely traded and easy to value. Generally the simplest to finance, new or used. |
| Pallet racking and longspan shelving | Has a second-hand market, but installation and removal cost money. Usually financeable, sometimes with a deposit. |
| Mezzanine floors | Engineered and fixed to the building. Treated more like a fit-out, so lenders look harder at your financials. |
| Conveyors, sortation and pallet wrappers | Often custom-configured. Standard units are easier than bespoke systems. |
| Cool rooms, freezers and chillers | Refrigeration plant has some resale value; insulated panels and installation much less. |
If you lease your premises, lenders may ask about the lease term for anything bolted to the building. A warehouse lease that ends before the loan does can raise questions, so have the details ready.
Choosing a structure
- Chattel mortgage: your business owns the equipment from the start. It can generally claim interest and depreciation, and a GST-registered business may claim the GST credit upfront. A balloon can lower repayments, but you'll pay it at the end.
- Finance lease: the lessor owns it and the lease payments are generally deductible. A residual is set at the start.
- Hire purchase: you pay it off and ownership transfers with the final payment.
- Rental: common for forklifts, where the agreement may bundle servicing and let you swap units as volumes change.
Small businesses with turnover under $10 million can use the instant asset write-off for eligible assets costing less than $20,000 each, which can cover pallet jacks, shelving and smaller items. Low doc options may suit established ABN holders whose latest financials aren't ready, while larger fit-outs usually need full financials.
How it works
- Tell us about the equipment and your business in the short form below.
- A licensed broker calls you, usually within one business day, to talk through your options.
- If it suits you, they handle the application with a lender that fits your circumstances.
What you'll usually need
- Photo ID, ABN and how long the business has traded
- Supplier quotes covering equipment, delivery and installation separately where possible
- Full doc: two years of financials and tax returns. Low doc: recent BAS, business bank statements or an accountant's letter
- Details of your premises lease if equipment will be fixed to the building
- Customer contracts that the new capacity supports, if relevant
- Existing finance commitments, including other forklifts or vehicles
Every lender has its own criteria, so your broker will tell you exactly what's needed for your situation.
Warehouse equipment finance guides
- Equipment finance: all equipment types
- What is a chattel mortgage and how does it work?
- Fleet financing options for Australian businesses
- Using an accountant's letter for low doc equipment loans
- How BAS statements affect business finance approval
- How low doc loans work for seasonal businesses
Common questions
Can I finance racking and installation together?
Often, yes, especially when the racking is a large share of the cost. Installation on its own is harder to finance, so lenders may want a deposit or stronger financials when labour makes up much of the quote.
Is a mezzanine floor treated like equipment?
Not always. Because it is engineered and fixed to the building, many lenders treat a mezzanine more like a fit-out. Some will still finance it, but expect closer questions about your financials and premises lease.
Should I buy or rent forklifts?
It depends on how long you'll keep them and how steady your volumes are. Buying through a chattel mortgage suits long-term use, while rental can suit businesses that want servicing included or expect to change units.
Can I finance a used forklift?
Many lenders will finance used forklifts from dealers, and some will consider private sales. Age, hours and condition matter, and your broker can tell you which lenders fit.
Does enquiring affect my credit score?
No. Filling in our enquiry form isn't a credit application. A credit check only happens if you choose to go ahead with an application through the broker.