Scaffolding is a stock business. Every job you win ties up frames, planks and fittings on site for weeks or months, and the only way to grow is to own more of it. Add trucks, a yard, licensed crews and builders who pay monthly, and it’s easy to see why scaffolders are often cash poor while being flat out.
Fast finance lets you buy the stock and trucks you need now and pay for them out of the hire income they generate.
Why scaffolders need fast finance
The money pressures in scaffolding are different from most trades:
- Stock is tied up. Once scaffold goes up on a double storey build or a small commercial job, it’s gone until the builder calls for a strip. More jobs means more stock.
- Hire is billed in arrears. You invoice monthly, then wait 30 to 60 days after month end. That’s a long time to carry wages and fuel.
- Trucks are expensive. A crane truck or tipper is essential and costly, and a breakdown stops everything.
- Lost and damaged stock. Fittings go missing and planks get damaged. Replacing them eats margin.
- Licensed crews. Good scaffolders with the right tickets are in demand, and you pay them every week regardless of when builders pay you.
What scaffolders use finance for
Buying more scaffold stock
If you’re turning down jobs because your yard is empty, more stock is the answer. A business loan can fund a bulk purchase of modular scaffold, edge protection or aluminium mobile towers. Compare equipment finance vs a business loan to see which suits.
A truck, forklift or yard setup
A fast loan can put a new or used crane truck on the road, buy a forklift for the yard or fund racking to keep stock organised. See equipment finance for tradies.
Wages while builders pay monthly
Covering a fortnightly payroll when your hire invoices are 60 days out is the classic scaffolding squeeze. Our progress payment gap finance is built for that.
Paying the ATO
Growth years often come with big PAYG and BAS bills. A lump sum loan can clear the ATO and let you keep investing in stock.
Secured or unsecured finance for scaffolding businesses
Secured loans are the go to if you own property with equity. A fast second mortgage behind your home loan, a fast first mortgage over an unencumbered property, or a bridging loan can all be used. They’re based on equity rather than financials, bad credit is considered, and they can fund in as little as 24 hours in some cases. Terms typically run 1 to 12 months. In Victoria, a caveat loan is an option too.
Unsecured cash flow loans suit scaffolding businesses with an ABN and six months or more of trading. You’ll provide recent business bank statements, and the loan is sized to your turnover. Some are approved and funded within hours.
Loans are for business purposes. Every loan is priced on your circumstances, and we find the sharpest rate available for your situation.
Example: a scaffolder who ran out of stock
Example only. A scaffolding company on the Gold Coast has all its stock out on eight jobs when a builder offers a run of four townhouse blocks. Buying enough extra modular scaffold and edge protection would cost around $150,000, and a second crane truck would be needed as well.
The owner has equity in an investment unit. A fast second mortgage over the unit funds the stock and a used truck. Hire income from the new jobs, plus a planned refinance once the new stock is earning, repays the loan within the term.
How fast can a scaffolder get funded?
Our online form takes about 60 seconds. A lending specialist calls you back to talk through the options. Some unsecured loans are funded within hours. Secured loans can fund in as little as 24 hours in some cases, typically a few days once valuation and documents are in.
What to have ready
- ABN and business name
- Recent business bank statements (unsecured)
- Property details and what’s owing (secured)
- Quote for the stock, truck or equipment
- A list of current hire jobs and outstanding invoices
Key facts
- Loan size: $20,000 to $5 million
- Security: property equity, or unsecured for businesses trading six months or more
- Speed: as little as 24 hours for some secured loans; hours for some unsecured
- Term: secured loans typically 1 to 12 months
- Suits: residential and small commercial scaffolding businesses
Grow the yard, not the stress
More stock means more jobs. Check your options in about a minute and we’ll tell you quickly if we can help.
