Written by Nick Lim
Small businesses are being urged to judge purchases on cash flow and need, as the instant asset write-off no longer forces June rush buys.
Small firms risk a cash squeeze as tax, wages and super all fall due before Christmas, while customer payments slow into January.
One in ten new merchants saw fraud within 90 days, underscoring why lenders say faster approvals also widen the gap for fabricated applications.
Small firms are piling up short-dated debt, with daily repayments and hidden liabilities leaving many closer to a funding cliff than they realise.
Late October applications often fail because lenders see a cash trough, not a healthy seasonal retailer gearing up for November peak sales.
Small retailers face thinner margins unless card fees fall through to merchant plans, with borrowing power also likely to weaken later.
Real-time checks on deposits, overdrafts and even buy now, pay later debts can mean quicker approvals or a loan rejection for owners.
Small firms can face annual borrowing costs of about 73 per cent on a $50,000 loan when a factor rate is misunderstood.
