Civil work is the foundation of every subdivision and new estate. Roads, kerbs, drainage, stormwater, sewer, water and conduits all go in before a single house frame goes up. For small civil contractors doing 2 to 4 lot subdivisions, driveway crossovers, drainage upgrades and site works, it’s steady work. It’s also some of the most cash hungry work in construction.
Plant burns fuel every hour, materials are bought up front, and the people paying you often take 60 days or more. Fast finance fills the gap.
Why civil contractors need fast finance
The pressures in civil contracting are big and constant:
- Plant costs. Excavators, graders, rollers, water carts, tippers and floats cost a lot to buy, run and maintain.
- Fuel. A civil crew can burn through thousands in diesel a week.
- Long payment terms. Head contractors, developers and councils can take 30, 60 or even 90 days to pay, and retention is common.
- Materials. Pipe, pits, road base, conduits and concrete need to be bought or on account well before you’re paid.
- Compliance costs. Traffic control, surveys, testing and inspections all add costs before you can claim.
What civil contractors use fast finance for
Carrying long payment terms
When claims take 60 days or more, your costs don’t wait. Progress payment gap finance covers the time between doing the work and getting paid.
Buying or upgrading plant
A fast loan can put an excavator, roller or water cart on site quickly. See equipment finance for tradies.
Materials for subdivision works
Stormwater, sewer and road materials for a small subdivision can be funded up front. If you’re also developing the lots yourself, see small subdivision finance.
Clearing ATO debts
Heavy wage and fuel costs often come with big BAS and PAYG bills. A lump sum loan clears it in one go. See ATO debt loans for tradies.
Tendering for bigger jobs
Winning a bigger package, like the civil works for a small estate stage, needs working capital. Finance lets you take it on with confidence, and our working capital for construction companies page explains how to size it.
Secured vs unsecured civil finance
Secured loans suit civil contractors who own property: a home, investment property, depot, yard or land with equity. A fast second mortgage, fast first mortgage or bridging loan can fund in as little as 24 hours in some cases. No financials are needed, bad credit is considered, and terms typically run 1 to 12 months. In Victoria a caveat loan is also possible.
Unsecured loans suit civil businesses with an ABN, six months or more of trading and recent business bank statements. The amount is sized to turnover, and some are funded within hours.
All our loans are for business purposes. Every loan is priced on your circumstances, and we find the sharpest rate available for your situation.
Example: a small subdivision on long terms
Example only. A civil contractor in regional Victoria wins the works for a 4 lot subdivision: stormwater, sewer, water, a short access road and crossovers. Materials and fuel for the first month come to around $130,000, and the developer pays 60 days after each claim.
The owner has a depot with good equity. A caveat loan over the depot, which is available because the business is in Victoria, funds the materials and fuel. Claims repay the loan as the job progresses and it’s cleared when the final claim is paid.
How fast can a civil contractor get a loan?
Fill in our 60 second form. A lending specialist calls you back to go through your options. Some unsecured loans are funded within hours. Secured loans can fund in as little as 24 hours in some cases, and typically within a few days once valuation and documents are in.
What to have ready
- ABN and business details
- Recent business bank statements (unsecured)
- Property, depot or yard details and what’s owing (secured)
- Contracts, claim schedules and retention held
- Plant or material quotes
Key facts
- Loan size: $20,000 to $5 million
- Security: home, investment property, depot, yard or land, or unsecured
- Speed: as little as 24 hours for some secured loans; hours for some unsecured
- Term: secured loans typically 1 to 12 months
- Suits: small civil contractors doing subdivision works, drainage and site works
Keep the plant running
Don’t let long payment terms park your machines. Check your options and we’ll tell you quickly if we can help.
