Quick answer
Mining services businesses, from maintenance contractors to equipment hire and labour providers, use fast loans to fund mobilisation, equipment, wages and fuel while mining companies pay on long terms. Unsecured funding suits working capital and property-secured loans to $5m suit larger mobilisations. Approval within the hour is common.
Key points
- Mobilisation costs land before the first invoice
- Mining companies often pay on 30 to 60 day terms or longer
- Equipment and vehicles must meet site requirements
- Property security opens larger amounts quickly
Mining services is a big-ticket, long-terms business. Contracts can be lucrative, but mobilising crews, vehicles and equipment to a remote site costs a lot before the first invoice is even raised. Large mining companies often pay on 30, 45 or 60 day terms, sometimes longer after approvals. For smaller contractors, carrying those costs can stretch cash to the limit.
The usual pressure points
- Mobilisation: flights, accommodation, site inductions, vehicles and equipment.
- FIFO wages and allowances paid weekly or fortnightly.
- Site-compliant vehicles and gear that must meet strict requirements.
- Fuel, consumables and parts for remote work.
- Payment terms that run long after work is done.
How lenders read a mining services business
Assessors look at payments from mine operators and principal contractors, the length and stability of contracts and the concentration of revenue in one client. Contracts with tier-one operators can support a fast decision, especially when paired with property security for larger amounts. With statements online, approval within the hour is common.
Ready to move? Check your options in 60 seconds. Nothing is sent to a list of lenders.
Hour by hour, roughly
| When | What happens | Your job |
|---|---|---|
| Minute 0 | You send the 60-second enquiry | Answer accurately |
| Within minutes | A real person calls in business hours | Keep your phone close |
| Within the hour | Approval is common once statements or property details are in | Share them straight away |
| Same day | Documents arrive for electronic signing | Make sure every signatory is ready |
| Within 24 hours | Funds can land in your account | Confirm payment details early |
Matching the need to the loan
| Need | Usually fastest |
|---|---|
| Mobilisation for a new contract | Unsecured or property-secured, sized to the gap until first payment |
| Light vehicles, service trucks, equipment | Fast equipment finance |
| Long payment terms | Short-term funding or invoice finance |
| Large contract scale-up | Property-secured to $5m, interest prepaid or added |
Speed tips for mining services contractors
- Keep signed contracts and purchase orders together with payment terms highlighted.
- Know your mobilisation costs in detail before you enquire.
- For vehicles, include site fit-out costs in the quote.
- Directors who work on site should arrange signing access before they fly in.
A worked example (illustrative)
A Kalgoorlie-based maintenance contractor wins a 12-month shutdown support contract with payment on 45 days. Mobilisation, two service trucks and the first month of wages come to about $380,000. The directors offer their Perth home as security, are approved within the hour with interest added, and crews mobilise on schedule. The loan is repaid from the first three monthly payments.
Price in the carrying cost
Long payment terms are effectively a loan from you to the mining company. Make sure your rates cover the cost of carrying that money, whether you use funding or your own reserves. It is one of the most common reasons good contractors struggle despite full order books.
Your fast-funding checklist
Lenders usually ask for the following. Having them ready can save a full day:
- Signed contract or purchase order
- Payment terms and invoicing process
- Mobilisation cost estimate
- Business bank statements
- Property details if offering security
Speed bumps to avoid
These are the things that most often turn a same-day answer into a three-day one:
- Contracts not yet signed
- Revenue from one client with no written terms
- Directors on site without phone or internet access
- Vehicle quotes missing fit-out costs
Why accurate answers matter
Think of the enquiry form as the brief for your loan. The clearer the brief, the faster the work. Give the amount you actually need, the revenue your statements will show, an honest credit picture and whether property is available. That lets a real person match you to the right option on the first attempt instead of the third.
Before you go
- Mobilisation costs land before the first invoice
- Mining companies often pay on 30 to 60 day terms or longer
- Equipment and vehicles must meet site requirements
- Property security opens larger amounts quickly
Inside a fast approval
The clock starts when you submit the enquiry. In business hours a real person usually picks it up within minutes, checks the amount and purpose and asks for what is needed. For unsecured funding that is mostly bank statements. For property-secured funding it is the property details, with no valuation required. From there, approval can be given in as little as 15 minutes and is commonly given within the hour. E-signing and payment follow, and funds within 24 hours is a realistic target when everything is ready.
Check your options now
Nobody can promise approval, but we can promise a fast, honest look. There is no credit check when you enquire, we do not farm your details out, and a person rather than a bot reads what you send. Answer the questions accurately and you give yourself the best shot at a quick yes. Start here.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small mining contractor get a fast business loan?
Yes. Contractors with regular payments from mine operators in their bank statements can access unsecured funding, and property-secured loans for larger needs.
How do I fund mobilisation for a new contract?
Share the contract and payment terms. Unsecured or property-secured funding can cover mobilisation and early wages until the first payment.
Can I finance site-compliant vehicles quickly?
Yes, through equipment finance or unsecured funding. Allow for fit-out costs to meet site requirements.
What if payment terms are very long?
Short-term funding or invoice finance can carry the gap. Build the cost into your pricing.
Start the clock right here
The same 60-second enquiry, on this page. No credit check to enquire, and a real person picks it up fast.