Commercial Finance Broker Brisbane
Strategic business and commercial finance backed by more than 20 years of banking experience
JLH Finance Advisory is based in Brisbane and assists clients across Queensland and Australia.
Commercial finance is about more than finding a lender.
The strength of an application often depends on how the requirement is structured, how the financial information is interpreted and how clearly the business story is presented to the lender’s credit team.
JLH Finance Advisory helps business owners, professional firms, property investors and family groups structure and negotiate commercial finance across banks, non-bank lenders and specialist funders.
Led by Director and Finance Adviser Josh Houlahan, JLH provides experienced, personal advice from the initial strategy and financial analysis through to lender engagement, approval and settlement.
Josh has worked in banking and finance since 2006, with experience across NAB, Commonwealth Bank and ANZ in agribusiness, business banking, corporate finance and commercial lending.
Having worked inside the banks, Josh understands how relationship managers and credit teams assess a transaction, what information they need and what can prevent an otherwise sound application from progressing.
Commercial finance solutions
JLH Finance can assist with:
Business overdrafts and lines of credit
Working-capital finance
Commercial term loans
Business acquisition finance
Commercial property finance
Business refinancing and debt restructuring
Trade and import finance
Debtor and invoice finance
Asset and equipment finance
Cash-flow lending
Practice and professional-service finance
Rent-roll and real estate agency finance
Partner and shareholder buy-ins or buy-outs
Succession and ownership restructures
Growth and expansion finance
Private and non-bank lending
Finance for businesses preparing for sale
Ongoing debt advisory and lender management
The appropriate finance structure will depend on the purpose, repayment source, business cash flow, available security and the client’s future plans.
JLH considers these factors together rather than treating each loan as an isolated transaction.
More than arranging a business loan
A commercial finance application may involve several operating entities, trusts, holding companies, property-owning entities, and different forms of business and personal debt.
Before approaching a lender, JLH can help:
Understand the business and its funding requirement
Review historical financial statements
Analyse current management accounts
Assess cash flow and debt-servicing capacity
Review gearing and existing commitments
Examine working-capital movements
Understand the ownership and group structure
Identify the proposed source of repayment
Consider the value and location of available security
Compare different facility structures
Identify lender-policy or industry risks
Prepare financial models and sensitivity analysis
Build a detailed lender-ready credit submission
Negotiate pricing, security, terms and conditions
Coordinate with accountants, lawyers and other advisers
This preparation helps lenders understand not only what finance is being requested, but why it is required, how it will support the business and how it will be repaid.
Working-capital finance
Business growth frequently places pressure on cash flow before it improves profitability.
A business may need to purchase more inventory, employ additional staff, fund longer customer payment terms or pay suppliers before receiving income from customers.
Working-capital finance can include:
Business overdrafts
Revolving lines of credit
Trade-finance facilities
Import finance
Debtor and invoice finance
Short-term cash-flow lending
Structured term debt
Seasonal funding limits
JLH reviews the underlying cash-conversion cycle to determine whether the requirement is genuinely short term or whether part of the debt should be repaid over a longer period.
For example, an overdraft may be suitable for funding recurring fluctuations in receivables and inventory. However, debt used for a permanent increase in working capital, a historical loss or a shareholder advance may require a different structure.
Business refinancing and debt restructuring
A business’s finance structure can become less suitable as the business grows.
JLH reviews the complete debt position and considers whether the facilities should be separated, consolidated, refinanced or repaid over different terms.
The objective is not necessarily to move every facility. It is to develop a structure that is understandable, manageable and aligned with the business.
Commercial property finance
JLH assists with commercial property finance for:
Owner-occupied business premises
Investment properties
Medical and professional suites
Industrial property and warehouses
Retail and hospitality premises
Rural and agribusiness property
Property held through companies or trusts
Refinancing existing commercial property debt
Upgrading to larger business premises
Transitional funding while an existing property is sold
Commercial property lending requires more than confirming the property value.
Lenders may assess lease terms, tenant strength, property type, location, valuation methodology, interest cover, business cash flow, loan-to-value ratio and the proposed repayment term..
Business acquisition and succession finance
Buying a business, acquiring a partner’s interest or funding succession requires a clear understanding of both historical performance and the business after the transaction.
JLH can assist with:
Business acquisitions
Practice acquisitions
Partner and shareholder buy-ins
Partner and shareholder exits
Management buyouts
Family succession
Vendor-finance structures
Acquisition working capital
Refinance of existing acquisition debt
Finance preparation before a future business sale
Depending on the transaction, the assessment may include sustainable earnings, purchase-price allocation, goodwill, customer concentration, management experience, proposed equity contribution and the level of debt the business can reasonably support.
Trade and import finance
Businesses importing inventory or equipment may need funding before the goods arrive in Australia and before they can generate revenue.
Possible structures include:
Trade-finance limits
Import loans
Letters of credit
Standby letters of credit
Supplier payments
Foreign-exchange arrangements
Asset finance after equipment has landed
Reimbursement of eligible equipment costs
JLH can help determine whether the requirement is best treated as trade finance, working capital, asset finance or a combination of facilities.
Debtor finance compared with a commercial overdraft
Debtor finance can provide valuable funding for businesses with significant accounts receivable, particularly during periods of rapid growth.
However, it may also involve advance-rate limits, management fees, reporting obligations and restrictions relating to eligible invoices.
JLH can compare debtor finance with alternatives such as:
A bank overdraft
A revolving line of credit
Trade finance
A term loan
A combination of working-capital facilities
The comparison should consider the expected utilisation, interest margin, management charges, security requirements, reporting obligations and the flexibility each facility provides.
Recent commercial finance scenarios
The following examples have been generalised to protect client confidentiality. Names, lenders, locations, addresses and identifying financial information have been removed.
Restructuring personal property debt used to fund a growing business
A growing healthcare-related business had funded a significant portion of its expansion through redraw from the owners’ residential lending.
While this provided fast access to funds, the debt structure did not clearly distinguish between the owners’ personal lending, permanent business debt and ongoing working-capital requirement.
JLH reviewed the group structure, historical use of funds, business performance and expected growth. A proposed structure was developed that separated the recurring working-capital requirement from the longer-term shareholder funding.
The lender submission explained how the debt arose, how the business would service it and why the revised structure better matched the purpose of the borrowings.
Working-capital finance for a growing importer and wholesaler
A product-based business was experiencing increased working-capital pressure as it expanded its customer base.
The business needed to purchase inventory well before receiving payment from customers. Some customers also had extended payment terms, increasing the period between paying suppliers and collecting sales revenue.
JLH analysed sales growth, customer terms, inventory requirements, receivables and the cash-conversion cycle. Different structures were considered, including an overdraft, debtor finance and trade finance.
The finance requirement was presented as a consequence of growth and timing—not simply as a request for additional cash.
Imported manufacturing equipment
An established manufacturing business planned to import specialised equipment from an overseas supplier.
The transaction involved foreign-currency pricing, deposits, production and shipping timeframes, equipment arrival, installation and lender inspection requirements.
JLH compared trade-finance and asset-finance options and considered how the business could fund supplier payments before the equipment became eligible for standard equipment finance.
Separate funding strategies were developed for equipment arriving at different times, with the lender information addressing the asset’s purpose, value, payment evidence, inspection and insurance requirements.
Refinancing business and property
A professional-services business required a coordinated refinance involving commercial debt, and residential lending.
The transaction could not be assessed by looking at one facility in isolation. The lender needed to understand the relationship between the operating business, property security and future repayment capacity.
JLH prepared a consolidated finance strategy, explained the source and purpose of each debt component and compared bank and specialist-lender alternatives.
The submission focused on creating a clearer long-term structure while allowing the business to retain sufficient liquidity.
Funding an upgrade to larger business premises
A business owner was considering purchasing a larger owner-occupied commercial property while retaining the existing premises for a transitional period.
The proposed strategy needed to account for the temporary increase in debt, interest-only requirements during the crossover, the expected sale of the existing property and the position after sale proceeds were applied.
JLH modelled the temporary and ongoing debt positions, considered alternative purchase prices and sale outcomes, and separated the transitional funding from the business’s longer-term commercial facilities.
This allowed the client and prospective lenders to understand both the peak debt requirement and the intended end position.
Comparing debtor finance with a commercial overdraft
An established business with a substantial debtor-finance facility wanted to understand whether a commercial overdraft would provide a more suitable and cost-effective structure.
JLH reviewed the facility limit, expected utilisation, advance rate, management charges, interest margin and other costs.
The analysis also considered an equipment-finance limit and optional funding associated with relocating business premises.
Rather than comparing headline rates alone, the review examined the total annual cost, operational requirements, available security and flexibility of each option.
Restructuring finance for an established family group
An established family-owned business group required finance across operating entities, property holdings and other associated investments.
The group’s historical performance was sound, but the application involved multiple entities, intercompany transactions and different sources of repayment.
JLH reviewed the consolidated position, separated recurring trading performance from one-off items and explained the role of each entity within the group.
This helped provide lenders with a clearer understanding of the group than would have been available from reviewing each set of financial statements independently.
The JLH commercial finance process
1. Understand the business and objective
We discuss the history of the business, the immediate requirement, existing facilities and what the owners want to achieve.
2. Review the financial position
We examine the available financial statements, management accounts, forecasts, assets, liabilities, group structure and existing security.
3. Develop the finance strategy
We assess alternative facility types, repayment structures, security positions and suitable lender options.
4. Prepare the lender submission
JLH prepares a clear business background, finance request, financial analysis, risks, mitigants and supporting information.
5. Approach and negotiate with lenders
We engage suitable banks and specialist lenders and negotiate the proposed structure, pricing, security and conditions.
6. Manage approval and settlement
JLH coordinates information requests, valuations, documentation, approval conditions and settlement.
7. Review the structure over time
As the business changes, we can review facility limits, pricing, loan expiry dates, working-capital needs and lender relationships.
A consistent finance adviser when banks change
Business owners regularly experience changes in relationship managers, lender appetite and credit policy.
When this happens, the client can be required to explain their history, structure and strategy again to someone who is unfamiliar with the business.
Several of Josh’s client relationships have continued for more than 10 years, with some extending to approximately 15 years.
JLH remains the consistent adviser who understands the client’s history, helps establish new banking relationships and ensures the business’s finance story is presented clearly.
Industries we understand
JLH Finance works across a range of industries where Josh has practical banking, finance or business experience, including:
Professional services
Medical and allied health
Manufacturing and wholesale
Mining and mining services
Agribusiness
Hospitality and licensed venues
Real estate agencies and rent rolls
Property investment and development
Transport and equipment-intensive businesses
Importing and distribution
Technology and service businesses
Large family-owned groups
Industry experience matters because different businesses can have very different cash-flow cycles, assets, customer risks and funding requirements.
A lender submission should explain those commercial realities rather than relying on financial ratios alone.
Josh’s commercial banking experience
Josh Houlahan began his banking career in 2006 through NAB’s Agribusiness Graduate Program.
His first regional postings involved agricultural, commercial and residential lending, giving him early experience across the complete financial position of business owners and farming families.
Josh subsequently worked in business and corporate banking in Sydney, including portfolios covering:
Accountants, lawyers and financial advisers
High-net-worth professionals
Property developers and investors
Manufacturing businesses
Hospitality operators
Large family-owned groups
International businesses with Australian banking requirements
Corporate and publicly listed businesses outside the ASX 200
His corporate-banking experience included complex lending structures, working capital, debtor finance, trade finance, foreign exchange and syndicated transactions.
Josh later spent five years in Mackay working across Commonwealth Bank, NAB and ANZ. His clients included cattle operations, intensive agriculture, mining contractors, equipment-intensive businesses, professional firms, medical professionals, hospitality businesses and diversified regional groups.
After moving to Brisbane, Josh led and rebuilt a business-banking portfolio and expanded his experience with growing companies, family groups and real estate agency and rent-roll finance.
He established JLH Finance to provide clients with continuity and access to more than one lender’s products, policies and appetite.
Today, Josh applies his banking and industry experience to help clients prepare stronger applications and manage their finance relationships over the long term.
Frequently asked questions
What does a commercial finance broker do?
A commercial finance broker assesses a business’s funding requirement, considers suitable finance structures and approaches appropriate banks or specialist lenders. For complex transactions, the broker may also analyse financial information, prepare a credit submission and negotiate pricing, security and approval conditions.
What information is required for commercial finance?
Requirements depend on the transaction, but lenders may request financial statements, tax returns, management accounts, bank statements, forecasts, aged receivables and payables, asset and liability details, company or trust documents, existing facility statements and information about the proposed finance purpose.
What is the difference between an overdraft and a business term loan?
An overdraft is generally designed for fluctuating short-term working-capital requirements. A term loan is repaid over an agreed period and may be more appropriate for permanent debt, acquisitions, property, equipment or expenditure that produces a longer-term benefit.
Can JLH arrange unsecured business finance?
Potentially. Availability will depend on the business’s trading history, cash flow, credit profile, finance purpose and lender criteria. Unsecured finance may have different pricing, terms and repayment requirements from secured commercial lending.
Does JLH provide ongoing commercial finance advice?
Yes. JLH can assist with ongoing debt reviews, lender management, annual reviews, facility renewals, limit increases and planning for future transactions.
