Whether you are buying a new excavator, upgrading your manufacturing line, or expanding your fleet of trucks, plant and equipment finance lets your business acquire the assets it needs without tying up working capital.
At Providence Finance Hub, we specialise in plant and equipment finance for Australian businesses across every industry. With 20+ years of experience and access to 50+ lenders on our standard panel – plus 120+ private and international lenders for larger or more complex facilities – we find the right structure and lender for every asset type and business profile.
Plant and equipment finance is available for new and used assets across all industries including construction, transport, manufacturing, agriculture, medical, technology, food and hospitality, and printing. If the asset has a serial number, a useful life of more than 12 months, and an identifiable resale value, it can generally be financed.
For GST-registered businesses, no-doc plant and equipment finance is available up to $500,000 without requiring financial statements or tax returns – with approvals typically issued within 3 to 24 business hours.
Purchase Financing
Lease Agreements
Hire Purchase Arrangements
Equipment Rental
What Is Plant and Equipment Finance?
Plant and equipment finance is a category of asset-backed lending that allows businesses to purchase, lease, or otherwise access physical assets used in the production of goods or delivery of services. Rather than paying for assets outright or drawing down on overdraft facilities, businesses use the asset itself as security – keeping working capital free for operations, wages, and growth.
The term “plant and equipment” covers an enormous range of assets, from heavy earthmoving machinery and manufacturing equipment to commercial vehicles, medical devices, and technology infrastructure. Almost anything with a serial number, useful life of more than 12 months, and identifiable resale value can be financed.
What Assets Can Be Financed?
Construction and earthmoving
Excavators, bulldozers, graders, loaders, scrapers, compactors, concrete mixers, crane trucks, and telehandlers.
Transport and logistics
Prime movers, semi-trailers, rigid trucks, refrigerated vehicles, tippers, tankers, forklifts, and pallet movers. We finance individual vehicles and entire fleets.
Manufacturing and engineering
CNC machines, lathes, milling machines, presses, welding equipment, laser cutters, injection moulding machines, and production line equipment.
Agricultural equipment
Tractors, harvesters, headers, balers, spray equipment, irrigation systems, seeders, and storage infrastructure.
Medical and dental equipment
Imaging equipment (CT, MRI, X-ray), dental chairs, surgical instruments, pathology equipment, and diagnostic devices.
Technology and IT infrastructure
Servers, data centre equipment, telecommunications infrastructure, AV systems, and specialist software platforms.
Printing and signage
Large-format printers, offset printing machines, digital presses, CNC routers, and laser engravers.
Finance Structures for Plant and Equipment
Chattel Mortgage – The most common structure. Your business takes ownership of the asset from day one. Interest and depreciation are tax-deductible, and you can claim the full GST upfront on your next BAS. Fixed repayments with a balloon option.
Finance Lease – The lender owns the asset and leases it to your business. Lease payments are fully tax-deductible. Preferred by businesses that regularly upgrade equipment.
Operating Lease – Structured so the lender retains residual risk. Payments are treated as off-balance-sheet expenses, improving your financial ratios.
Hire Purchase – Your business hires the asset and takes full ownership on final payment. Similar tax benefits to chattel mortgage.
Sale and Leaseback – Sell an asset you already own to a lender and lease it back – releasing equity as working capital while continuing to use the equipment.
No-Doc and Low-Doc Options
For GST-registered businesses, many plant and equipment finance applications can be assessed on a no-doc or low-doc basis – no financial statements, tax returns, or profit and loss accounts required. No-doc approval is available up to $500,000 for eligible applicants with a clean credit file. Approval timeframes are typically 3-24 business hours.
The Finance Process
- Tell us what you need – Asset type, value, new or used, and when you need it.
- We assess your options – We match your profile and asset to the lenders most likely to approve at the best rate.
- Application preparation – We prepare a complete, well-packaged application on your behalf.
- Submission and approval – No-doc applications under $500K are often approved within 3-24 business hours.
- Settlement – Funds are released directly to the vendor, dealer, or auction house.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between plant finance and equipment finance?
In practice the terms are used interchangeably. Plant historically referred to large, fixed industrial assets, while equipment referred to smaller or more mobile items. Today, most lenders use “plant and equipment” as a single category. The finance structures and approval processes are the same.
Can I finance used or second-hand equipment?
Yes, in most cases. Most lenders will consider used equipment finance, subject to the asset’s age, condition, and resale value. Some lenders have age restrictions (the asset must be under 10-15 years old at the end of the term). We identify which lenders will accept your specific asset.
Can I finance equipment purchased at auction?
Yes. Auction purchases are a common transaction type, particularly for earthmoving, agricultural, and transport assets. We manage the documentation required for auction purchases.
What is a balloon payment and should I use one?
A balloon payment is a lump sum deferred to the end of the loan term. Including one reduces your monthly repayments. At the end of the term you pay the balloon, refinance it, or sell the asset. We model both options so you can choose based on your cash flow and plans.
How long can the loan term be?
Terms typically range from 1 to 7 years, aligned to the useful life of the asset. We advise on the best term for your situation.
Can I finance multiple assets under one facility?
Yes. We can structure multi-asset facilities or a line of credit that lets you draw down on individual assets as needed without going through a full credit process each time.
Why Choose Providence Finance Hub?
- Specialists in asset and equipment finance – one of our core product areas for 20+ years
- 50+ lenders on our standard panel, including dedicated equipment finance lenders
- 120+ private and international lenders for large, complex, or unusual assets
- No-doc approvals up to $500K for eligible GST-registered businesses
- Fast settlement – 3-24 hour approvals for clean no-doc applications
- All industries and asset types – from earthmoving to medical, transport to technology
- Australia-wide service – we work with businesses in every state and territory

