Quick answer
For an equipment or vehicle finance call, have the supplier's quote or invoice (make, model, year, price and GST), whether it's new, used, private or imported, any deposit or trade-in, and how the equipment earns or saves money. The specialist will ask who you're buying from, when they need paying and what else the business already finances. For used gear, check the PPSR before you commit.
Key points
- A proper quote or tax invoice is the centrepiece of an equipment call.
- Private and used sales need extra checks, including a PPSR search.
- Know your deposit, trade-in and when the seller needs paying.
- The $20,000 instant asset write-off is permanent from 1 July 2026 for eligible small businesses — ask your accountant how it applies.
- Instant asset write-off
- Under $20,000 per asset, turnover under $10m
- Status
- Permanent from 1 July 2026
- Check used equipment on
- The PPSR
Equipment calls are usually the most straightforward kind of finance conversation — as long as the specialist can see exactly what you’re buying. The difference between a fifteen-minute call that ends with a clear next step and a vague one that ends with “send me what you’ve got” is almost always the quote.
Here’s how to prepare, whether it’s a new ute, a second-hand excavator, a commercial oven or a CNC machine.
What will the specialist ask about the equipment?
Expect questions like these:
- What exactly are you buying? Make, model, year, and new or used.
- Who from? A dealer, a manufacturer, an auction house, a private seller or an overseas supplier.
- What’s the price, and is GST included?
- Is there a deposit or trade-in?
- When does the seller need paying? Auctions and private sales often move faster than dealers.
- What does the equipment do for the business? New capacity, a replacement for something broken, a contract that needs it.
- What does the business already finance? Other equipment loans, leases or vehicles.
The answer to “what does it do for the business” matters more than people expect. Equipment that replaces a broken machine the business can’t trade without is a different conversation from a nice-to-have upgrade.
What should I have ready?
| Have ready | Why |
|---|---|
| Quote or tax invoice with make, model, year, price and GST | It’s what the finance is actually for |
| Seller’s details, including ABN for businesses | Lenders confirm who’s being paid |
| Serial number or VIN | Needed for checks and any security registration |
| PPSR search result for used items | Shows whether someone else already has security over it |
| Deposit or trade-in details | Changes the amount and sometimes the options |
| Recent business bank statements | Shows how the business trades and services existing debt |
The call-prep tool turns this into a checklist for your amount and state, including anything extra that applies if you own property or you’re a newer business.
Why does a used or private sale need extra checks?
Because the risk that the item isn’t clear to sell is higher. The Personal Property Securities Register is the national register where security interests in personal property — vehicles, boats, machinery and more — are registered and searched. If a previous owner financed a machine and the lender’s security is still registered, that claim can follow the equipment.
Before you commit to used gear, especially from a private seller or an online listing, a PPSR search is cheap insurance. It also saves a stalled finance application later. business.gov.au’s advice on buying equipment adds a few more practical checks worth doing: measure your space, think about whether local repairs and spare parts are available, and don’t choose purely on lowest price.
With your quote and seller details together, request your equipment finance call-back.
Should I lease, finance or pay cash?
That’s a good question for the call — and for your accountant. business.gov.au sets out the broad trade-off: leasing spreads the cost and the provider may handle maintenance, though the total cost can be higher; buying costs more upfront but you own the asset, can modify it and can sell it when you’re done.
Tax treatment is part of it too. From 1 July 2026, the $20,000 instant asset write-off is permanent for small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million, covering eligible assets costing less than $20,000 each. That affects when you claim the deduction, not what the equipment costs, so ask your accountant how it applies to your purchase.
What will the finance look like?
It depends on the equipment and the business. Broadly:
- Finance secured on the equipment itself can suit vehicles and machinery that hold value and are easy to identify.
- Unsecured and cash-flow options for trading businesses typically run from $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements. These can suit items that are hard to take back, such as specialised fit-out components or software.
- Property-secured loans from $20,000 to $5,000,000 can suit larger or multiple purchases, or where the equipment alone doesn’t support the amount.
Ask the specialist which fits your purchase and why. Our page on personal guarantees and security lists the questions to ask about what you’re putting up.
What should I ask before signing?
- Is there a balloon or residual payment at the end? What are my options when it’s due?
- Is the equipment the only security, or is there a personal guarantee as well?
- What are all the fees, in dollars, from start to finish?
- Can I pay it out early if the business has a strong year?
- Is insurance on the equipment required, and does it need to name the lender?
These go well beyond “what’s the repayment”, and they’re where the real differences between offers show up. More in questions to ask any lender on the first call.
What if the equipment is for a brand-new business?
It’s still worth a call. Newer businesses face more questions, particularly about the owner’s experience and any contracts already lined up. Our newer business call prep explains what helps.
Ready to talk about the equipment?
Bring the quote, the seller’s details and a clear sense of what the equipment will do, and the first call can get specific quickly. You won’t face a credit check just for asking, your request stays with one team instead of being sent to every lender going, and a real specialist reads it before ringing.
Please enter the price, your state and any property you own accurately — that’s how we match you with the right option first time. Request your call-back and pick a window.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a formal quote before calling?
It helps a lot. A quote or tax invoice showing the make, model, year, price and GST lets the specialist talk specifics. If you're still shopping, bring the two or three options you're weighing up.
Can I finance used equipment or a private sale?
Often, yes, though lenders look more closely at used and private sales. Have the seller's details, the serial or VIN and a PPSR search result ready so the specialist can see the item is clear of existing security.
What is the PPSR?
The Personal Property Securities Register is the national register where security interests in personal property — including vehicles and machinery — are registered and searched. A search shows whether someone else already has a claim over the item.
Does the instant asset write-off mean the equipment is free?
No. It affects when you can claim a tax deduction, not what you pay. For eligible businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million, assets costing less than $20,000 each can be written off immediately. Your accountant can confirm how it applies.
Is the equipment itself always the security?
Not always. Some finance uses the equipment as security; other options use property or are unsecured and sized on turnover. Ask on the call which applies and why.