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Sydney-based FinanZor launched on Friday (29 May), led by chief executive officer Donelle Brooks.
The lender launched after acquiring the Australian loan portfolio of international business lender TP24, retaining Loan Market Group (LMG) as its aggregator.
FinanZor said it will focus on working capital, receivables finance, and tailored commercial lending solutions.
Products are aimed at businesses across a range of industries, including wholesale, manufacturing, transport, professional services, construction, and trades.
Brooks said the launch represents an opportunity to rethink how business funding should work for Australian SMEs.
“Too many businesses are spending valuable time navigating funding structures that are complex, inflexible or simply not designed around the realities of running a business,” Brooks said.
“FinanZor was created to provide a practical alternative. We believe funding should be transparent, responsive and built around helping businesses grow.”
The changing face of SME finance
Brooks said FinanZor is entering the market at a challenging time for many SMEs.
Indeed, financial pressures, such as rising costs, interest rates, and fuel shortages, have eroded many businesses' margins. Meanwhile, regulatory changes and pressures from the Australian Tax Office have heaped on further pressure.
According to Brooks, while many businesses have adapted to changing market conditions, funding solutions have not always evolved at the same pace.
“Every week, I speak with brokers, accountants and business owners who are frustrated by the growing disconnect between how modern businesses operate and how many funding solutions are still assessed,” she said.
“The reality is that too many good businesses are spending valuable time trying to fit into lending models that were designed for a different era.”
A recent survey found that 40 per cent of SMEs identified access to finance as the single largest obstacle to growth.
Brooks said business owners often require funding that reflects the realities of cash flow, seasonal fluctuations, debtor cycles, and growth opportunities. She added that some businesses face barriers because they do not have the exact documentation required by lenders.
“While business owners are moving faster than ever, many funding processes remain slow, rigid and heavily focused on historical performance rather than future potential,” she said.
“They need lenders who understand that a strong business is more than a set of historical financial statements.”
Brooks also highlighted cash flow as a key issue for many businesses.
“Many businesses are profitable on paper but continue to experience pressure because cash is tied up in receivables, inventory, equipment or growth initiatives,” Brooks said.
“At the same time, new compliance requirements, increasing operating costs and changing market conditions are placing further pressure on working capital.”
It was within this environment that FinanZor was established, Brooks said.
She added: “We have assembled a team that understands the challenges facing business owners because we’ve spent years working alongside them, their brokers and their advisers.
“Technology plays an important role, but great lending still comes down to understanding the story behind the numbers and having the confidence to support good businesses when they need it most.
“Some of the best outcomes occur when lenders, brokers, accountants and business owners work together with a shared goal. That’s the environment we want to create.”
[Related: SMEs under pressure as arrears hit 6-year high]
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