Quick answer
Concreting contractors borrow for line pumps, trucks, bobcats and formwork, and to cover the cost of concrete, steel and labour on pour day before builders pay on terms. Lenders look at banked income, the mix of residential slabs, driveways and commercial work, debtor days, retention and supplier accounts. Most needs suit unsecured lending or equipment finance; property security helps for larger contracts or plant.
Key points
- Pour day costs land in a single day; payment arrives weeks later.
- Plant such as pumps, trucks and loaders is a big share of capital.
- Builder terms and retention stretch debtor days.
- Rain delays can push pours and payments back.
- Common uses
- Pumps, trucks, formwork, pour costs
- Lenders focus on
- Debtors, plant, supplier accounts
- Unsecured options
- Typically $5k – $500k
- Property-secured
- $20k – $5m
Concreting has one of the sharpest cash spikes of any trade. On pour day the business pays for concrete, reinforcing steel, pump hire or fuel, and a full crew, all in a matter of hours. The invoice for that slab might not be paid for another month or more. A concreter business loan usually does one of two jobs: it funds the plant that makes the business efficient, or it carries the cost of pours until builders pay.
What do concreters usually borrow for?
- Plant and machinery. Line pumps, bobcats, mini excavators, power trowels, laser levels and saws.
- Trucks. Tipper trucks and agitator-ready tray trucks to move materials and spoil.
- Formwork and steel. Reusable formwork systems and steel bought in bulk for upcoming jobs.
- Pour day costs. Concrete, steel and labour before the builder or homeowner pays.
- Catching up supplier accounts. Keeping a batching plant account current so pours aren’t held up.
- Growing into commercial work. Larger contracts need more crew, more plant and more working capital.
How do lenders look at a concreting business?
The kind of concreting. House slabs for volume builders, driveways and decorative work for homeowners, and commercial or civil work each have different payment patterns. Lenders want to see the split, because it tells them how long cash is tied up.
Debtors and retention. An aged debtors list shows how quickly builders pay. On commercial jobs, a slice of each claim may be held as retention for months. Lenders generally look past retention when assessing what the business can repay today.
Benchmarks. The ATO’s small business benchmarks for concreting services show typical cost-to-turnover ratios. A business well outside the range should be ready to explain why, such as owning its plant rather than hiring.
Contractor reporting. Paying subbies? The ATO generally wants a taxable payments annual report each year by 28 August. Clean records show the business is on top of its obligations.
Plant register. A list of machinery, its age, and any finance owing gives a lender the full picture of what the business owns and owes.
Pour booked and builder paying in 45 days? See if your concreting business qualifies — enquiring won’t affect your credit score.
Why rain hits concreters twice
Wet weather doesn’t just stop work. It also pushes back payment. If a slab can’t be poured, the stage can’t be claimed, and the builder can’t pay. Meanwhile the crew still expects wages, the pump still has a repayment, and the steel is already on site. A concreter who has a wet fortnight can find that the cash shortfall lasts for six weeks.
That’s why a flexible facility often matters more than a big lump sum. A credit line drawn per pour can be used through the delay and cleared as pours resume. Plant itself is usually better on equipment finance or a chattel mortgage, so cash-flow lines aren’t used up by machinery.
Which structure fits which concreting need?
| Need | Structure that often fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Line pump, bobcat, excavator | Equipment finance or chattel mortgage | Machine secures its own loan |
| Tipper or tray truck | Truck finance | Long-life asset |
| Pour day costs on terms | Line of credit | Drawn per pour, repaid per claim |
| Supplier account catch-up | Cash-flow loan | Restores supply quickly |
| Larger commercial contract | Property-secured loan | Bigger amount, steadier repayments |
Documents that help
- Business account statements for the past twelve months
- Aged debtors list with retention shown separately
- Plant register with any existing finance
- Schedule of booked pours or signed contracts
- Supplier statements from your concrete and steel suppliers
- Licence and insurance details for your state
- BAS history and your accountant’s latest figures
Where concreting applications come unstuck
- Retention making up a large share of the debtor book.
- A single builder supplying most of the work.
- Plant bought on short, expensive terms that squeeze monthly cash.
- Supplier accounts on hold, which can stall the whole schedule.
- A tax bill left over from a big year. It can be managed, but raise it up front.
Questions a lender is likely to ask a concreter
- Roughly how many pours do you do in a typical month, and of what size?
- Which builders do you work for, and on what payment terms?
- Do you own your pump and plant, or hire it job by job?
- How much retention is currently held across your jobs?
- What will the funds change in the business?
Common misconceptions about concreting finance
“Plenty of plant means plenty of security.” Machines help, but lenders still focus on whether income covers every repayment, including the ones already in place.
“Retention is as good as cash.” It is owed, but it may not arrive for months. Treat it as a bonus, not as a source of repayments.
“A big builder client makes the business safe.” Concentration cuts both ways. A spread of builders usually reads as lower risk than one large one.
Illustrative example
Illustrative example: a concreting business pouring house slabs for three builders wants to stop hiring a pump for every job. A good used line pump costs about $110k. Equipment finance over the pump covers it, with the machine as security. At the same time, the business is growing, and pour costs now run ahead of builder payments by about five weeks. A $60k line of credit sized on banked turnover carries those pours, drawn when the concrete is ordered and repaid as each stage claim is paid.
When should a concreting business apply?
The best time is before the cash is needed, not on the morning of a pour. If you’re about to sign with a new volume builder, step up to commercial slabs, or replace a pump that is costing more in repairs each month, start the conversation then. A facility arranged in a calm week gives you room to order concrete and steel with confidence, rather than ringing around while the crew waits on site. Owners who apply early also have time to gather debtor reports and plant details, which usually leads to a better-fitting structure.
Secured or unsecured for a concreter?
A typical concreter ends up with two lanes side by side: plant on equipment finance, and cash-flow money ($5k to $500k unsecured, based on banked turnover) for pours. Larger commercial contracts or a yard purchase may suit property-secured lending from $20k to $5m. See the builder guide for how head contractors are assessed, and the earthmoving guide for heavier plant.
Ready to fund the next pour without the scramble?
A good slab starts with good preparation, and so does a good loan. Our enquiry takes about 60 seconds, and there’s no credit check when you first reach out. We don’t spray your details across a list of lenders, so you won’t be chased by strangers. A real person who knows how concreting cash flow works will look at your business and call you. Fill the form in accurately — turnover, plant owned, purpose — and the first structure we suggest should fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can a concreter get equipment finance on a concrete pump?
Yes. Pumps, trucks, bobcats and excavators are commonly funded through equipment finance or a chattel mortgage, with the machine itself as security. Lenders look at its age, condition and resale market.
How do lenders treat retention money on commercial jobs?
Retention is money owed to you but held back until defects periods end. Lenders usually treat it cautiously, so don't rely on it to service a new loan. Show it separately on your debtors list.
Can I borrow to catch up my concrete supplier account?
Often, yes. A cash-flow loan can restore your account so pours aren't held up. Lenders will want to know why it fell behind and how the business will stay current.
Do lenders use the ATO concreting benchmarks?
Some do, and it pays to know them. The ATO publishes benchmarks for concreting services showing typical cost ratios, and a business far outside them may be asked to explain why.
Is a driveway and patio business assessed differently from a slab contractor?
Usually. Driveway and decorative work for homeowners is often paid quickly on completion, while slab work for builders is paid on terms. The faster the cash turns, the less working capital a lender expects you to need.