Frequently asked questions

Circlestone is a trading name of TIC Ventures Pty Ltd. We publish guides and calculators about business finance and refer businesses to our lending partner, LoanOptions.ai. We're not a lender or broker.

No. LoanOptions.ai is a separate company and our lending partner. Its application form appears on our site, but it runs the application under its own licence (Australian Credit Licence 543631).

Using Circlestone is free. We may be paid a referral fee by LoanOptions.ai if your finance settles. Any fees are set by LoanOptions.ai or the lender and shown to you before you sign.

Contact us at [email protected]. Complaints about your application or loan go to LoanOptions.ai or the lender, who must have a complaints process and belong to AFCA.

Yes. Everything on this site is for businesses with an active ABN, for business purposes.

No. Finance for personal, household or domestic purposes isn't offered through Circlestone.

You can apply, but many lenders look for a minimum trading history. Options usually widen once the business has been trading longer.

Applying for credit can involve a credit check, which may be recorded on your credit file. Ask LoanOptions.ai what checks are done and when before you go ahead.

Usually your ABN, ID, the amount and purpose, rough annual turnover and recent business bank statements. For equipment or vehicles, the details and a quote or invoice.

No. The application goes to LoanOptions.ai. LoanOptions.ai may tell us whether a referral settled so we can be paid.

No. They're estimates based on the rate you type in and don't include fees.

Yes. Send us an email at [email protected] with what you need, roughly how much, and a quick background. A real person will read it, look at your situation and point you to the right partner or option. We can't promise an outcome, because approval, rates and fees are always up to the lender, but we'll try to find a path. See Talk to us.

No. Circlestone isn't a lender and doesn't give credit advice. We refer you to partners such as LoanOptions.ai and FundTap, who assess your application under their own licences and terms. If we refer you and the finance goes ahead, we may receive a referral fee – see How we get paid.

We only deal with business-purpose finance. Finance for personal, household or domestic purposes isn't offered through Circlestone. If it's a mix, email us and we'll help you work out which part is business and point you to the right partner or option for that part.