"Yes, but not like that"
The Reserve Bank's May 2026 Financial Stability Report found outright rejections are relatively rare, but more firms say finance was available only on terms that didn't work for them.
The Plan B guide · Aotearoa New Zealand
Plan B for when the bank says no, or says it too slowly.
An alternative business loan is funding from outside the big banks: non-bank and private lenders, property-secured loans, turnover-based loans and more. We explain every option honestly, then show where our property-secured loans from $20,000 to $1m, unsecured loans and lines of credit fit.
01 · The context
Why New Zealand owners end up looking past the bank
Banks still fund most New Zealand businesses, and when they'll lend on acceptable terms in time, they're usually the cheapest option. This site exists for the times they won't, can't or can't yet.
Thinner buffers, tighter deadlines
Smaller firms' deposits have shrunk relative to the economy over the past three years, the Reserve Bank notes. Less cushion means a slow credit process hurts sooner.
Inland Revenue isn't waiting
Business tax debt reached about $9.3 billion by mid-2025, and IRD has stepped up deduction notices and liquidation applications. Many banks won't lend to pay tax. Some alternatives will.
02 · The matrix
Every alternative, side by side
Filter by what matters to you. Rows highlighted in sunset are the three we arrange. The rest we explain anyway, because the right answer isn't always ours. Open the full matrix for paperwork and pitfalls.
Show me options that are:
| Option | Speed | Security | Ownership | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank business loanDebt | Weeks; longer if credit committee is involved | Usually property or a general security agreement, plus personal guarantees | You keep 100% | Established, profitable businesses that can wait |
| Bank overdraftDebt | Weeks to arrange; instant once in place | Often secured; reviewed regularly | You keep 100% | Smoothing everyday ups and downs |
| Business credit cardDebt | Days | Unsecured; personal guarantee common | You keep 100% | Small purchases cleared each month |
| Business BNPL and trade creditDebt | Minutes to days | Unsecured | You keep 100% | Stock and supplies from participating suppliers |
| Invoice financeDebt | Days to set up, then ongoing | Your unpaid invoices | You keep 100% | B2B firms waiting on customer payments |
| Asset and equipment financeDebt | Days | The asset itself, registered on the PPSR | You keep 100% | Vehicles, plant and machinery |
| Revenue-based financeDebt | Days | Future sales; usually unsecured | You keep 100% | Online and subscription sellers |
| Peer-to-peer lendingDebt | Days to weeks | Varies; often unsecured | You keep 100% | Clean credit, fixed repayments |
| Equity crowdfundingEquity | Months: campaign build and raise | None; you issue shares | Shared with many small investors | Consumer brands with a loyal following |
| Angel or venture investorsEquity | Months | None; equity | Shared, often with board seats | High-growth, scalable businesses |
| Family and friendsDebt | Fast, if they say yes | Whatever you agree | Kept, unless you give equity | Small sums from people who can afford the risk |
| Selling assetsSelf-funded | Weeks to months to sell well | Not applicable | You keep the business, lose the asset | Assets that are genuinely surplus |
| IRD instalment arrangementTax arrangement | Days to weeks to agree | None | You keep 100% | Tax debt you can clear from trading |
| Property-secured business loanDebt | Days; funding within 24 hours of approval in some cases | NZ property as a first or second mortgage | You keep 100% | Owners with property equity who need speed or were declined |
| Unsecured business loanDebt | Decisions sometimes same day | No property; sized on turnover | You keep 100% | Businesses trading 6+ months with steady turnover |
| Business line of creditDebt | Days | Usually no property; sized on turnover | You keep 100% | Recurring, uneven cash flow needs |
03 · The alternative finder
Four questions. An honest shortlist.
Your shortlist
Answer the four questions and we'll suggest where to start reading, including when an alternative lender is not the right answer.
Common starting points:
04 · Where we fit
Three things we arrange. Done properly.
Business purposes only. Sole traders, companies, partnerships and trusts can all apply. Every loan is priced on your own circumstances; we look for the sharpest option available for your situation.
Property-secured business loans
- $20,000 to $1m
- Home, rental, commercial property or land you (or a supporter) already own
- First or second mortgage, even if already mortgaged
- No financials or tax returns for the initial assessment
- Bad credit, defaults, arrears and IRD debt considered case by case
- Funding within 24 hours of approval in some cases
Unsecured business loans
- Usually for businesses trading 6+ months
- Amount based on turnover and bank statements
- Weaker credit considered
- Decisions sometimes the same day
Business lines of credit
- A limit to draw on, repay and draw again
- Sized on turnover, usually 6+ months trading
- Built for seasonal and uneven cash flow
A slow yes can cost more than a fast, dearer one. A fast, dearer one can cost more than waiting. The skill is knowing which week you're in.
The reading list
Read before you borrow
Know your lenders
Bank vs non-bank vs private lender: an honest comparison
Banks are usually cheapest but slowest and strictest. Non-bank lenders decide faster, rely more on turnover or security than historical accounts, and cost more. Private lenders lend against property with the most flexibility and speed, generally for short to medium terms. The best choice depends on your time, security, credit history and exit plan.
- How non-bank lenders assess risk (and what they forgive)Inside the credit decision
- The New Zealand non-bank lending landscape, mappedWho's who outside the banks
- Equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending in New Zealand: how they workFunding from the crowd
- Invoice finance explained: turning unpaid invoices into cashWorking capital, unlocked
- Asset finance explained, from utes to CNC machinesLet the asset pay its way
- Revenue-based finance: repaying from a slice of every saleFunding that flexes with sales
Who this is for
Written for the people who make things
Workshops in Christchurch, vineyards in Marlborough and Auckland's west, cafés on Cuba Street, makers in Nelson, contractors in Tauranga. Independent New Zealand businesses whose numbers rarely fit a bank's template neatly.
Three quick answers
What is an alternative business loan?
Any business funding that doesn't come from a registered bank's standard lending: non-bank and private lenders, property-secured loans, unsecured loans sized on turnover, lines of credit, invoice and asset finance, and platforms. We explain each one on this site and arrange three of them.
What do you actually arrange?
Property-secured business loans from $20,000 to $1m (first or second mortgage, even if the property already has a mortgage), plus unsecured business loans and lines of credit for businesses usually trading 6+ months. Business purposes only.
Does enquiring affect my credit score?
No. Enquiring is free, takes about 60 seconds, and doesn't affect your credit score. A lending specialist calls you back to talk through the options.