Can you finance equipment before your ABN is even registered?

Your client is ready to go out on their own. They’ve found the asset. They’ve got the skills. The only problem — no ABN yet.

Most lenders won’t look at a deal like this. No trading history, no registered business, no obvious box to tick. But this is exactly the kind of situation Yakka Finance was built for.

The situation
A civil contractor had been working under a TFN for wages, operating his employer’s grader. When the employer decided to sell, the contractor saw his chance — buy the machine and start his own business. The asset: a used 2021 Caterpillar 140 15A Motor Grader. The price: $285,000.

The challenge
No ABN registered. No trading history. No deposit available. On paper, every lender’s automatic decline criteria.

What Yakka did
Rather than sending this to a second-tier lender on unfavourable terms and calling it a day, Yakka structured a submission using two years of personal tax returns to demonstrate consistent income and industry experience. A work source letter from the employer confirmed ongoing subcontracting work. A full independent valuation was obtained on the asset.

This documentation package repositioned the deal — not as a risky start-up, but as an experienced operator with stable, verifiable income making a strategic first purchase.

The outcome
– $285,000 approved with no deposit required
– Rates comparable to established businesses
– Second tier lender who normally requires 2+ years ABN/GST — approved
– Business launched from day one with the right asset in place

Why this matters for your practice
When a client tells you they want to go out on their own, your first call is usually about structure — company vs sole trader, GST registration, BAS obligations. The equipment finance question often gets parked until the ABN is registered.

It doesn’t have to work that way. With the right documentation — income history, industry tenure, a confirmed source of work — Yakka can often get funding approved before the ABN is even live. That means your client starts trading with their own equipment immediately, not six months later.

Got a client in a similar position? Talk to Drew.
Drew Davis — Head of Partnerships
drew@yakkafinance.com.au | 0481 002 879