What does SME mean?

SME is simply an acronym for Small and Medium Enterprises.

This is an important categorisation, as it stands in contrast to Large Enterprises who are often subject to different regulations. In the area of finance, Large Companies usually also have access to different options than do SMEs, due to their sheer size and other considerations, like cash flow, collateral, and potential equity funding options. Large companies are often publicly traded as well, and this sets them further apart from Small and Medium Enterprises. SMEs are defined as companies with:

• no more than 20 employees – Small Businesses
• no more than 199 employees – Medium Businesses

However, for the purpose of other measures and statistics, this definition isn’t always the one used, which makes comparisons between data sources sometimes hard. One thing that is clear is that SMEs account for the vast majority of Australian companies. 

What types of SME loans are available?

The rise of alternative finance

Since the financial crisis, Australia’s government has avoided another too-big-to-fail scenario and has empowered new contenders to enter the finance sphere. Since then, we’ve seen a marked increase in the types and availability of alternative finance for the SME sector. SME business loans are now available from the classical banks, new internet-powered financiers, and various new, alternative finance providers that do not have or need a banking license.

Debt crowdfunding

While most people think about reaching out to a bank for a loan, one of the biggest growth sectors for SME lenders in Australia is happening totally outside of traditional banks’ scope. The P2P lending space, or debt crowdfunding as it is often called, has have sprung up to cover the whole lending market, both in secured and unsecured loans for everything from one-person outfits to large corporations. The new P2P lenders claim to have the advantage of new technologies and various data sources that can help them understand their customers better and offer both a speed and cost advantage to the lumbering old banking institutions.

Peer-to-Peer business funding is in some ways similar to equity crowdfunding. However, in many ways, it is more like a typical loan. The finance source is usually more distributed, and investors can earn a profit by lending to a wide variety of businesses with different profiles.

R&D finance

R&D finance or an R&D tax incentive loan is a new type of credit that companies registered in Australia that are eligible for the R&D tax incentive scheme can credit scheme can access. This means that qualifying companies can get access to their expected R&D tax credit early, in the form of a loan secured against the refund.

This type of finance is usually suited for companies that invest a significant amount into R & D – in salaries, contractors, or consumables used to conduct Research and Development. Many companies are still unaware if they qualify for R&D tax credits. If you’re curious if you could be qualifying and not know about it, our team is happy to advise and point you in the right direction.

The R&D loan is different from a typical SME business loan because it is accessible for companies that have yet to turn a profit and may have no tangible assets like equipment, receivables to factor, or land to use as collateral. Because the company has a significant investment in Research and Development and expects an R&D tax credit from the ATO, this acts as the asset and ensures the lender that the money will be repaid through the tax rebate.

Our best source on navigating the waters of R&D finance is our Complete Guide to R&D Finance. It’s the complete source on R&D tax incentive business loans, I would know, I wrote it!

And if you think you could be eligible or are just interested in how it works, let us know. Our team is here to see if R&D finance may be a good fit.

Invoice discounting

For companies with seasonalities or a longer business cycle, invoice discounting can be very useful for a simple cash advance, boost cash flow for investment, and fund further production. A staple of manufacturing and wholesale businesses, invoice discounting is a type of business loan raised against an invoice that the company has sent out but has yet to cash in. The lender offers the funds at a “discount”, so their expected return is the discount percentage. If you have a very small business or a startup, invoice finance may not be on the table until you are revenue-generating.

Though invoice finance is an ancient business model, newer, web-based entrants in the market have brought speed, ease of access through better technology, and much more user-friendliness to the business of invoice discounting.

The classic: bank loans

For a lot of early-stage companies, a typical bank SME loan is hard to access. The main constraint, as always, is the lack of collateral and the lack of revenue. But once your business has taken off a little, it is much easier to access these types of business finance, as the banks understand that the business model works, and has survived the highly risky “experimental phase”.

A lot of founders end up using personal credit cards to finance their startups at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey, or taking out a loan against their own assets. This is a very risky area, so it’s best to weigh your options before making the plunge. 

The wrap up

SME loans are one of the most vibrant sectors of Australian business finance and this increasing variety and availability is only good news for small businesses. Accessing essential cash flow in the form of a loan is now possible from the earliest days of the business’ journey, through innovative facilities like R&D finance or debt crowdfunding. If we’ve missed something important, please drop a note in the comments. We’re always looking to enrich our articles with useful information. If you’re interested in exploring the variety of available loans for your company, our team is happy to chat and point you in the right direction.