For Australian SMEs, the question is no longer simply whether finance is available. It is whether funding can be accessed quickly enough, structured flexibly enough, and scaled appropriately to meet rapidly changing business conditions.
Global trade uncertainty continues to affect freight, fuel, imported materials, and other critical inputs. Recent Australian Industry Group research found that 47 per cent of industrial businesses were experiencing supply-chain disruptions, with rising costs, weaker demand, and policy uncertainty constraining investment and productivity.
Working capital is often the first casualty of these pressures. Suppliers may demand earlier payment, inventory may need to be secured in larger quantities, and customers may take longer to pay. Even profitable businesses can face a serious mismatch between when expenses fall due and when revenue arrives.
In this environment, it is no surprise that ScotPac’s latest SME Growth Index found access to credit had become the number-one obstacle to business performance in 2026, cited by 39 per cent of SMEs. It also follows that SMEs are increasingly partnering with non-bank lenders such as ScotPac to meet their funding needs.
The proportion of Australian SMEs intending to use non-bank finance for new investment has climbed to 57 per cent – triple the figure recorded in 2019. By comparison, just 28 per cent plan to rely on traditional bank finance.
The attraction is easy to understand. Business owners report that when compared with banks, non-bank lenders consistently offer streamlined onboarding, faster access to funds, and less reliance on the family home. And the trend looks set to continue.
Cash flow management has become more relevant for more businesses recently with the introduction of Payday Super on 1 July 2026. The reform requires employers to make superannuation guarantee contributions in line with each pay cycle rather than quarterly, creating a more frequent and immediate call on business cash reserves.
This is where a specialist working capital provider like ScotPac can help. Rather than relying solely on fixed-term facilities or conventional property-backed loans, ScotPac can structure funding against business assets including outstanding invoices, inventory, equipment, and property.
Flexible facilities can grow alongside sales and provide more predictable access to capital when businesses need to purchase stock, pay suppliers, meet payroll and superannuation obligations, or act on unexpected growth opportunities.
For financial professionals, discussions about non-bank lending are no longer reserved for clients unable to secure traditional bank finance. In today’s uncertain environment, non-bank lenders have become an essential part of any conversation about building a diversified, responsive, and resilient funding strategy.
With almost 40 years’ experience as a leading non- bank business lender, ScotPac is well placed to help financial professionals and their clients navigate that challenge.
