Can I borrow if I plan to sell the business soon?
Yes, though a planned sale changes which structure suits you, so the lender needs to know about it early. A long fixed term taken out months before a sale can leave you with break costs the buyer will not want to wear. Lenders also ask how a facility will be repaid. A sale is a perfectly good answer if the timing is realistic. Hiding the plan tends to cause problems at settlement instead.
Matching the loan to your exit
The term and the rate type matter more than usual when a sale is coming. Fixed rate facilities can carry break costs if they are paid out early. On a large balance that figure is not always small. A variable rate or a shorter term often suits better, even if the headline pricing looks less attractive. Equipment finance is worth checking too, because a buyer may take some contracts over while others have to be cleared at settlement. Your broker can ask each lender what an early payout would look like before you commit.
Why you should say so upfront
Loan contracts often include clauses about a change of control or a sale of the business, so the lender will find out anyway. Telling them at the start lets the deal be written around your timing rather than against it. It also protects you. A facility taken out on the basis of information you knew was about to change is a poor position to be in if the sale falls over. Buyers run their own due diligence on your finance, so the paperwork should match what you have told everyone.
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Last updated 15th July 2026. Reviewed by Authorised Credit Representative 554584 of Australian Credit Licence 414426.