Bi-directional arrow

Brokers are being urged to help SMEs avoid risks of property market upswing

by OnDeck Australia,   Feb 11, 2020

 

Brokers can help SMEs keep their business and personal finances separate, with funding solutions that don’t rely on home equity.

 

  • The 4.2% increase in property values (state capitals) over the past quarter may encourage SME owners to rely on home equity to secure business finance
  • Already, three-quarters of SME lending is collateralised, typically with the family home acting as security, which concentrates risk for SME owners
  • Brokers have an opportunity to help SME clients source bespoke commercial funding options that keep personal and businesses finances separate
  • Many FinTech lenders such as OnDeck do not rely on home equity as a source of collateral but instead use data analytics and technology to determine an SME’s eligibility for finance.

 

Sydney (11 February 2020): Leading online SME lender OnDeck Australia is urging brokers to have conversations with SME owners about the availability of commercial finance options that allow business owners to separate personal finances from business loans.

 

The three months ended 31 January 2020 have seen the residential property market record gains of 3.7% nationally and 4.2% across the state capitals[1]. The sustained rise in property values since mid-2019 could see more SME owners resort to home equity as a source of business finance – a strategy that concentrates risk for SME owners and their families.

 

According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, “lenders have indicated that at least three-quarters of their small business lending is collateralised[2]”, often with the family home acting as the key source of security.

 

Mr Cameron Poolman, CEO of OnDeck Australia, says, “We know that around eight out of 10 SMEs have business finance secured against the owner’s home[3]. And this may rise following the uptick in property values.

 

The risk is that relying on home equity blurs the line between business and personal assets which can put an SME owner, and potentially their family, in financial jeopardy if the business fails.

 

“Lenders such as OnDeck use advanced lending technology and analytics to assess an SME’s eligibility for finance. This ensures SME owners and their families are able to keep their personal assets separate from business assets.”

 

Awareness of online SME lenders is rising

 

Research by OnDeck confirms that one in four of Australian SMEs have been rejected for bank finance in the past. This has underpinned growing awareness of alternative lending options, with one in five SMEs saying they would partner with an online specialist lender such as OnDeck.

 

Lack of access to capital is the single greatest impediment to small business growth in Australia. So it is good to know that alternative finance options including online lenders are on the radar of SMEs.

 

“We allow SMEs owners to quarantine their personal assets, in particular the family home, from their business, which can be an effective risk management strategy,” concluded Mr Poolman.

 

ENDS

 

About OnDeck

OnDeck (NYSE: ONDK) is the proven leader in transparent and responsible online lending to small business. Founded in 2006, the company pioneered the use of data analytics and digital technology to make real-time lending decisions and deliver capital rapidly to small businesses online.  Today, OnDeck offers a wide range of term loans and lines of credit customized for the needs of small business owners. OnDeck has provided over $12 billion in loans to customers in 700 different industries across the United States, Canada and Australia. In Australia, OnDeck is backed by leading accounting software provider MYOB and has a 5-star rating from Trust Pilot. For more information, visit www.ondeck.com.au.

 

About the research

AltFi research was conducted online in April 2019 by Honeycomb Strategy across 430 SME owners Australia-wide. The survey included SMEs with less than 50 employees, annual turnover of $50,000-$5 million, and in operation for at least 12 months.

 

###

 

 

Media Contacts:

Anthony O’Brien

Corpwrite Australia

+61 (0) 411 578 818

anthony@corpwrite.com.au

 

[1] CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index, January 2020 Results, Issued 3 February 2020

[2] https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2017/sp-ag-2017-12-13.html

[3] Small business bosses use home equity as ‘piggy banks’ to keep doors open, AFR, 26 Feb 2018 https://www.afr.com/wealth/small-business-bosses-use-home-equity-as-piggy-banks-to-keep-doors-open-20180222-h0wh4d

Get Started