Tree work is machinery heavy, weather driven and often urgent. A stump grinder, a chipper and a truck can easily be worth more than a tradie’s house deposit, and they break in the middle of jobs. Storms create sudden surges of work, and councils and insurers don’t pay on your timeline. Fast business loans for arborists and tree removal businesses keep your crew cutting.
What makes cash flow hard for tree businesses?
Big machinery, big repairs. Chippers, stump grinders, tracked EWPs, crane trucks and tippers are expensive to buy and costly to fix. A hydraulic failure or a blown engine can stop a crew for a week.
Insurance and compliance. Public liability and workers compensation premiums for tree work are significant and often due as a lump sum.
Storm season surges. After a big storm, your diary fills overnight. You need fuel, extra climbers, hire gear and longer days, and most of that work is paid after completion by insurers, strata or councils.
Slow payers. Council and utility contracts bring steady work, but payment runs can take 30 to 60 days. Builders clearing lots for new homes can be just as slow.
Tip and green waste costs. Dumping or processing green waste is a constant cost that has to be paid now.
What arborists use business loans for
- A stump grinder, chipper, tracked EWP or crane truck
- Urgent repairs to trucks and machinery
- Climbing gear, chainsaws and safety equipment
- Insurance premiums paid as a lump sum
- Crew wages during storm surges or slow payment periods
- Paying an ATO debt
- Clearing lots for builders or taking on a council contract
Secured loans for tree businesses with property
If you own property with equity, a fast second mortgage is usually the fastest route. It’s secured against your home or another property and doesn’t need tax returns or financials. A first mortgage suits unencumbered property, and a business bridging loan works when you’re waiting on a sale or refinance. Victorian businesses can also use a caveat loan.
Bad credit is considered, terms are typically 1 to 12 months, and some loans fund in as little as 24 hours.
Unsecured loans for arborists
If you don’t own property, an unsecured cash flow loan may suit. You’ll need an ABN, 6+ months of trading and business bank statements. When a machine is down and you need money today, same day business loans for tradies explains what’s possible.
Paying off the ATO or rolling up debts
Tree businesses often end up with a mix of machinery repayments, supplier accounts and a growing BAS balance. A fast loan can clear the ATO, or roll several debts into one. Our debt consolidation page covers how that works. Talk to your accountant about the tax side.
Buying a chipper, grinder or truck
Buying used machinery privately or at auction often means paying fast before someone else does. A fast business loan can have money ready in days, not weeks. See equipment finance for tradies for more on funding gear.
Taking on bigger jobs and contracts
Clearing an entire subdivision lot, a council maintenance contract or a large storm clean up can lift your business to the next level. It also means more crew, more fuel and possibly another truck before the first payment lands.
Example: an arborist after a storm
Hypothetical example. A tree removal business in the Blue Mountains is flooded with storm work after a severe weather event. The owner needs to hire a second EWP, bring on two extra climbers and cover a big fuel and tip bill. Most of the work is billed to insurers and strata, paid after completion. He owns his home. A $70,000 second mortgage over four months funds the surge, and he repays as the invoices are paid.
What to have ready
- Photo ID and ABN
- Property details and current loan if borrowing against it
- Business bank statements for unsecured loans
- Your purpose and repayment plan
Key facts: tree removal business loans
- Borrow: $20,000 to $5 million
- Security: property you or a guarantor own, or unsecured with 6+ months of trading
- Speed: as little as 24 hours for some property loans; some unsecured loans funded within hours
- Term: property secured loans typically 1 to 12 months
- Suits: arborists, tree loppers, stump grinding businesses and land clearing contractors
- Pricing: priced on your circumstances at the sharpest rate available for your situation
These loans are for business purposes. Check your options in about 60 seconds and a lending specialist will call you back.
