As a mortgage broker, I specialise in helping Australians with their home loans, whether that's purchasing a property, refinancing an existing mortgage or developing a long-term lending strategy.
One area I deliberately don't specialise in is asset finance — things like business vehicles, trucks, trailers and machinery.
Although both involve lending, asset finance and residential mortgages are very different areas, with different lenders, assessment criteria and structures.
My philosophy has always been that clients are better served by someone who genuinely specialises in what they do, rather than someone trying to be everything to everyone.
That's why, when my clients need asset finance, I prefer to connect them with a broker who works in that space every day.
One of the businesses I refer clients to is Stacked Finance. I've put together this article to explain what to look for in an asset finance broker and highlight seven businesses worth considering.
What should you look for in an asset finance broker?
Look for:
1) Accreditation
2) A real lender panel
3) Demonstrated experience with your asset type, and;
4) A broker who will tell you what they are paid.
Those four things separate a genuine broker from a lead reseller.
The 7 best asset finance brokers in Australia
1. Stacked Finance
These are my go-to asset finance brokers. They’re Sydney-based, but service businesses nationally, with access to 60+ lenders. They focus on trucks, trailers, utes, excavators, equipment, and agricultural machinery.
This is where I send most of my referrals, so take that for what it is worth. The reason is straightforward. My clients get a person, not a portal, and they get a direct answer about whether a deal works before anyone runs a credit enquiry. They’ve also got extensive lender relationships, and their directors previously worked for a few of the asset finance lenders.
They run no doc, low doc and full doc applications, which matters for business owners whose paperwork is not up to date. Funding can be as fast as 8 hours in the right circumstances, with a 24 hour turnaround on a clean application. Those are best case timeframes, not a promise, and they will tell you the same. They are rated 5 stars on Google, and they run a 20 minute discovery call before anything else happens.
Best for: transport operators, owner drivers, civil contractors and tradies. If you are buying a truck, a trailer or heavy machinery, this is the first call I would make.
2. QPF Finance
Queensland based and operating nationally, QPF is one of the larger equipment finance brokerages in the country by volume.
They write finance across agriculture, transport, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, marine and aviation, which means they have seen unusual assets before. For farmers in particular, they structure repayments around seasonal cash flow rather than assuming an even twelve months of income.
Scale has a trade-off. A larger operation can mean less of a single named contact than you would get with a smaller brokerage.
Best for: agricultural operators, larger fleets, and businesses financing assets that fall outside the standard categories.
3. Jade Finance
Jade has been arranging equipment finance nationally for a long time, and they lean into the harder end of the market.
Their stated specialty is complex structuring, large value loans, and equipment bought interstate or from overseas. Importing a machine introduces problems most brokers rarely touch, including deposits paid before the asset lands and lenders who will not settle on something still on a ship. Jade do this regularly.
You are assigned a consultant who handles the deal end to end.
Best for: larger purchases, imported equipment, and deals that have already been knocked back somewhere else for being too complicated.
4. Allfreight Finance
A Melbourne brokerage focused on transport, earthmoving and heavy equipment, and one of the longer standing operations in that space locally.
I have included them partly because they are local to where I work. Several of their client relationships go back decades, which in this industry tells you something. They are accredited across the major lenders in the transport and equipment sector.
They are narrow by design. If you are buying office equipment or a fitout, this is not the brokerage for you.
Best for: Victorian transport operators, earthmoving contractors, and anyone buying heavy gear who wants a broker they can sit across a table from.
5. Finlease
A long established national brokerage covering vehicles, equipment and machinery for small and medium businesses.
Finlease do not position themselves as specialists in one industry. They are capable generalists, and for a standard asset with reasonable financials behind it, that is usually all you need. Applications are handled professionally and the process is predictable.
If your deal is genuinely unusual, a specialist may serve you better.
Best for: established businesses financing common asset types without complications.
6. Yakka Finance
Built around tradies and small operators, and it shows in how they communicate.
Utes, vans, trailers, tools and trade specific equipment are their bread and butter. You will not spend the first ten minutes explaining what a service body is. For sole traders and small teams who want a quick, plain conversation rather than a formal process, they suit well.
They are not the obvious choice for a large fleet or a complex corporate structure.
Best for: tradies, sole traders and small business owners buying work vehicles and equipment.
7. The Asset Finance Shop
A Sydney brokerage covering a wide range of asset types, from vehicles through to industrial and specialist machinery.
They run an in house credit team that assesses applications before they go to a lender, which is a sensible way to avoid burning enquiries on a lender who was never going to say yes. They also carry a large volume of Google reviews, which gives you more to go on than most.
Their breadth means they are generalists rather than specialists in any single asset class.
Best for: businesses buying across several asset categories who want one broker relationship rather than four.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Description text goes hereMost are paid a commission by the lender when your loan settles, so you do not pay them directly. Some charge a fee on complex or low value deals. Ask about fees at the first conversation, before an application is submitted.
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Submitting a formal application creates a credit enquiry, and multiple enquiries in a short period can affect your file. A good broker assesses your situation and picks a lender before applying, rather than shopping your application around.
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Often yes. Some lenders will consider newer ABNs, particularly with a deposit, additional security, or a demonstrated history in the same industry. Terms are generally tighter than for an established business with two years of financials. This is why it’s best to chat with an asset finance broker so they can guide you through your options.
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If both are happening within twelve months, speak to your mortgage broker before committing to either. An asset loan reduces borrowing capacity, and the structure and timing can usually be arranged so it does less damage.
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A chattel mortgage is a business finance structure where you own the asset and the lender holds security over it. Business use is what makes it available, and the business use percentage affects tax treatment. Talk to your accountant about your specific situation.
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Where to from here?
If you are buying an asset, call one of the brokers above such as Stacked Finance. If you are buying an asset and a property, call me first, then call them.
The two decisions are more connected than most people expect, and the order you make them in is usually worth more than a small difference in rate.
General information only. This article provides general information and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not tax, legal or financial advice. Consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and seek advice from your accountant or financial adviser before acting. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances.
