Latest Insights
Practical finance insights for Western Australian business owners, from the brokers at Southshore Finance. With 40 years in commercial lending behind us, we break down the things that actually affect your borrowing - business loans, equipment and property finance, working capital, and specialist pharmacy and healthcare funding. Browse the latest articles below, or get in touch to talk through your own situation.
Buying a Pharmacy: What It Costs to Run from Day One
In short: The purchase price gets you to settlement, it doesn’t run the pharmacy afterward. Working capital to cover the gap between paying for stock and being reimbursed, ongoing stock funding, wages, deferred maintenance on the fit-out, and the loan repayments...
What Does It Cost to Buy a Pharmacy? Goodwill, Stock and Equipment Explained
In short: A pharmacy’s purchase price is made up of three separately valued parts, not one number. Goodwill is valued as a multiple of the pharmacy’s earnings. Stock on hand is physically counted and priced at cost on settlement day. Plant, equipment and...
Novated Leases Explained: Pros, Cons and How They Work
Written by Michael Coombes, Director of Southshore Finance. Michael has 40 years’ finance industry experience including 33 years as a finance broker. Reviewed August 2026. A novated lease is a three-way agreement between an employee, their employer and a finance...
Business Loan Declined Due to Cash Flow? What Perth Lenders Look For
“Insufficient cash flow” is one of the most common reasons we see for a business loan application being rejected by lenders and it is a pattern we regularly see with Perth businesses applying for commercial finance. But behind that, is actually a specific,...
Business Loan Declined Due to Lack of Security? Here’s How to Fix It
If your business loan was declined due to lack of security, you’re not alone and it doesn’t mean your business isn’t viable. Security-related declines are among the most fixable issues in commercial lending. The key is understanding exactly what the...
Business Loan Declined Due to a Weak or Missing Business Plan? Here’s How to Fix It
One of the most common reasons a business loan is declined is due to an incomplete or unclear business plan and it is a pattern we see regularly with Perth business owners applying for their first commercial loan. When a business plan lacks detail, lenders are simply...
Business Loan Declined Due to High Existing Debt? Here’s How to Fix the Structure
What if your business is performing well and you’re ready to take the next step, including buying new equipment, expanding your premises, or a working capital boost to capitalise on a pipeline opportunity? You apply for a business loan, but the lender comes back...
Business Loan Declined Due to Credit History? How Perth Businesses Can Fix & Reapply
When it comes to business loans, one of the most common setbacks we observe with Perth SMEs relates to credit history. In most cases, loan declines due to credit history involve issues such as unsettled defaults, mismatched details on the credit file, or too many...