New gear? Let's fund it, no fuss

At a glance

• Fund equipment by using a business loan, with the cash paid to you
• Buy new or used, from a dealer, auction, private seller or overseas supplier
• Property-secured: $20k to $1M with no financials needed
• Unsecured: low doc, based mainly on business bank statements
• Enquiry takes 60 seconds and won't affect your credit score

How does equipment finance work in NZ?

Equipment finance in NZ often means a loan tied to one specific item bought from one approved seller. We do it a little differently: you use a business loan to buy the equipment, so the money is yours to spend on the right gear.

That simple switch opens up plenty of freedom. You're not locked into a dealer's finance offer. You can shop around, haggle like a cash buyer and pick the machine that suits the job, not the one that suits the paperwork.

There are two ways to fund it:

1. Borrow against property. If you own a home, rental, commercial premises or land with equity, you can borrow from $20,000 to $1 million. No tax returns or financial statements required.
2. Borrow unsecured. No property? A low-doc unsecured loan is assessed mostly on your business bank statements. The amount depends on your turnover and cash flow.

What equipment can a business loan pay for?

A business loan can pay for almost any gear that helps your business earn. Here's a taste of what Kiwi businesses buy.

Because you're funding with a business loan, you can bundle several items together. A Nelson cafe owner could replace the espresso machine, add a display chiller and redo the seating in one go.

Why use a business loan instead of dealer finance?

A business loan gives you choice and bargaining power that dealer finance often can't.

• Buy from anyone. Private sellers, auctions, clearing sales, liquidation stock and overseas suppliers are all on the table.
• Buy used with confidence. Some traditional equipment lenders get twitchy about older machines. With your own funds, a well-kept 15-year-old tractor is just a tractor.
• Negotiate as a cash buyer. Sellers often prefer a quick, clean payment.
• Cover the extras. Freight, installation, signwriting, fit-out work and training can all come out of the same funds.
• One loan, several assets. No separate application for each item.

Imagine an earthmoving contractor in Whangārei who spots a tidy used excavator at a clearing sale. A dealer finance deal won't help with that. Funds in the bank will.

Which pathway suits my equipment purchase?

The right pathway depends on whether you own property and how much paperwork you want to deal with.

Property-secured: the no-doc route

This suits bigger purchases, businesses with a thin paper trail or anyone whose credit file has a few dents. The property does the heavy lifting, so bad credit, defaults and even tax debt are considered case by case.

You'll need ID, property details, existing loan details, what the funds are for and how the loan will be repaid. Your existing home loan stays in place, with the new loan sitting behind it. Our second mortgage business loans page explains how that works.

Private lending like this is short-term and flexible, so you'll want a clear exit plan. That might be refinancing to a longer-term lender, selling another asset or a large contract payment coming in.

Unsecured: the low-doc route

This suits established businesses, usually with at least six months of trading, that want to keep property out of it. The lender looks at your bank statements, often shared through a secure read-only link, to check the repayments fit your cash flow.

It's a good match for moderate purchases like a replacement van, a new POS setup or a salon refresh. See our unsecured business loans guide for more.

How fast can I buy the gear?

Property-secured loans can fund in as little as 24 hours after approval, depending on documents, legal work and settlement. Unsecured loans are often funded within a day or two, sometimes on the same day.

Speed matters with equipment. Good second-hand machines don't hang around, and auction days wait for no one. Here's the usual flow:

1. Find the gear (or know roughly what you need)
2. Fill in the 60-second enquiry
3. Chat with a real person about the right pathway
4. Supply the few documents needed
5. Get approved, get funded, go buy it

What should I think about before buying?

A little planning makes the purchase pay off faster. Before you sign anything, run through these:

• Will it earn more than it costs? A new truck should open the door to work you can't take on now.
• New or used? Used gear can stretch your budget further, but check service history.
• Total cost, not sticker price. Include freight, installation, registration, insurance and training.
• How will you repay? Match the loan to your cash flow or a clear exit event.
• Is there a faster payback option? Sometimes hiring for a season before buying makes sense.

Ready to gear up?

Whether it's a second ute for the crew, a bigger oven for the kitchen or a machine that doubles your output, the right equipment can change what your business is capable of. A business loan lets you buy it your way, from whoever has the best deal.

Tell us what you're after in about a minute. A real person will come back quickly with your options.

Frequently asked questions