The business' revenue is a key component in its ability to service the loan. Rather than taking security, we are backing the business' performance to deliver on the export transaction and service the loan. In order to be approved for this loan our credit team look for sufficient sales revenue which has been set at $250,000 in the last financial year.

The Small Business Export Loan does not currently support the verification and financial requirements for sole traders or partnerships. Eligible businesses must be structured as a company or a company acting as a trustee, and have an ACN, to apply for our export loan.

Rather than taking security, we are backing your company’s ability to deliver on the export transaction[s] and service the loan. That’s why we consider the business' management track record when assessing each application, and so are unable to help companies just starting out.

An export contract/purchase order from your overseas buyer must be provided. If your business is supplying tourism services to international visitors or an online business selling direct to customers outside Australia, you can instead provide supplier invoices or other third party documentation to prove the use of the funds requested.

The export purchase order(s)/contract(s) need to contain the following to be sufficient for your loan application:

• issued to the same legal entity applying for the loan
• clearly identifies the buyer and the destination of the goods
• is on the buyer’s letterhead or otherwise clearly identifiable as having originated from the overseas buyer
• is not an invoice
• is signed by the overseas buyer
• includes payment terms
• includes a clear description of and total value of goods
• includes shipping date
• includes delivery terms and port of departure.

A purchase order or contract is not required for online or tourism exporters.

Export Finance Australia financially supports Australian exports of goods and services and overseas infrastructure development in our region. We need to make sure there is benefit flowing to Australia in connection with our financial support. An important source of Australian benefit is the economic activity stimulated in Australia by the presence of Australian content associated with a project or transaction. Australian content constitutes all inputs to a project or transaction that do not originate overseas. We also take into account other benefits to Australia. These other benefits can include (but are not limited to):

• greater Australian participation in international supply chains
• access to new markets or export opportunities for Australian businesses
• more Australian jobs
• payment of dividends or other financial proceeds from overseas to Australia
• new research and development expenditure in Australia
• Australian access to new products, intellectual property or technology

You can contact us for more information.

Yes, we work with banks and other financial institutions to provide financing support to export businesses, and only provide finance when your bank is unable to do so. We simply need to check with your bank that this is the case as part of our approval process. This check has no connection with your credit rating.