Written and reviewed by Corey Marino Founder & Finance Broker, FBAA member M-354085 · Diploma-qualified finance broker
Last reviewed 24 August 2026 · About Corey →
Answer first
The short answer
How a business line of credit works: draw and repay as needed, pay interest only on what you use, plus how it compares to term loans and invoice finance.
- Draw and repay as your cash flow moves
- Interest charged only on what you actually use
- Line of credit compared with term loans and invoice finance
On this guide
A business line of credit is an approved borrowing limit you can draw on whenever you need it, repay, and draw again, and you only pay interest on the amount actually drawn, not the full limit. If a term loan is a lump sum with a fixed repayment schedule, a line of credit is a tap: turn it on when cash is needed, turn it off when it isn't.
That flexibility is the whole product. For businesses with lumpy or seasonal cashflow, money out in March, money in come June, a line of credit smooths the gap without paying interest on idle funds. This guide explains how the facility works day to day, how limits and reviews are set, the secured and unsecured versions, how it stacks up against a term loan and invoice finance, and the classic mistake of using a line for something a term loan should fund.
Revolving facility vs term loan
A term loan hands you the full amount on day one and amortises it down over an agreed term. Interest runs on the whole balance from the start, and once you repay, that money is gone, borrowing again means a new application.
A line of credit is revolving. The lender approves a limit, say $100,000, and the balance moves with your usage:
- Draw $30,000 to buy stock: you pay interest on $30,000, not $100,000.
- Repay $20,000 when invoices land: interest now runs on $10,000, and $90,000 is available again.
- Draw again next month without asking anyone.
Repayment structures vary by lender. Many lines are interest only on the drawn balance with flexible principal repayments; some require small minimum repayments or periodic "cleanses" where the balance returns to zero to prove the facility is funding working capital rather than propping up losses.
How limits and reviews work
The limit is typically sized on your turnover and cashflow for unsecured lines, or on asset value for secured ones. Two features distinguish a line of credit from a term loan here:
- Ongoing fees. Many lenders charge a line fee or facility fee on the limit (drawn or not), so an oversized limit isn't free even when unused. Others charge only on drawn funds. It varies by lender, and it materially changes which facility is cheapest for your usage pattern.
- Periodic reviews. Lines are typically reviewed annually. The lender rechecks trading performance and can renew, resize or, in rough patches, reduce the limit. A term loan, once drawn, can't be called back on review; a line can shrink. That's the structural tradeoff for flexibility, and it's worth knowing before you build the limit into your planning.
Secured vs unsecured lines
Both exist, and the tradeoff mirrors business lending generally:
- Secured lines, against property or business assets, typically carry lower rates and higher limits, and suit businesses that want a large standing facility at the sharpest price. Setup takes longer because security has to be valued and registered.
- Unsecured lines, assessed on trading strength, usually supported by a director's personal guarantee, are faster to establish and keep property out of it, at a higher rate and a smaller limit, typically tied to monthly turnover.
For a fuller treatment of that tradeoff, see our secured vs unsecured guide, the same logic applies to lines as to loans.
Line of credit vs term loan vs invoice finance
| Factor | Line of credit | Term loan | Invoice finance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Revolving limit, draw and repay | Lump sum, fixed schedule | Advance against unpaid invoices |
| Interest | Only on drawn funds | On the full balance | On funds advanced |
| Best for | Recurring, unpredictable gaps | One off, defined purchases | Slow paying B2B customers |
| Repeat access | Built in | New application each time | Grows with your invoicing |
| Ongoing obligations | Possible line fees; periodic reviews | Set repayments until paid out | Tied to invoice collection |
| Discipline required | High, the tap is always on | Low, the schedule forces payoff | Moderate |
Rough rule of thumb: if the need is a defined amount for a defined purpose, a term loan usually prices better and pays itself off. If the need is recurring and variable, a line wins. If the gap is caused specifically by customers paying on 30–60 day terms, invoice finance attacks the cause directly and scales with sales.
A worked example
A landscaping supplies business turns over most of its revenue between September and March. Each July it needs roughly $80,000 to build stock ahead of spring.
- With a $100,000 line of credit: draw $80,000 in July, repay it down through spring as sales land, back to zero by December. Interest is only paid across those five drawn months, and the facility sits ready for next year without reapplying.
- With a term loan: borrow $80,000 over 3 years and pay interest on the full balance year round, including the six months when the business is flush and doesn't need the money. And next July means another application.
For that cashflow shape, the line is clearly the better tool, even at a similar headline rate, because interest only runs while the money is working.
When a line suits, and when it doesn't
A line of credit suits:
- Seasonal businesses building stock ahead of peak trading
- Project based businesses covering wages and materials between progress payments
- Businesses with lumpy debtor cycles that don't want a new loan for every gap
- Operators who want a standing buffer for tax, BAS or surprise expenses
A term loan (or equipment finance) is better when:
- You're buying a specific asset, a vehicle, machine or fitout
- The amount and purpose are fixed and one off
- You want the discipline of a schedule that pays the debt off
- You'd rather not carry the temptation of a permanently available limit
Common mistakes
- Using the line for long term asset purchases. This is the big one. Fund a $60,000 machine on a revolving line and there's no schedule paying it off, the balance sits there accruing interest indefinitely, and the limit isn't free for the working capital job it was meant to do. Assets belong on equipment finance or a term loan with a matching term.
- Treating the limit as income. A permanently maxed line that never cleanses is a warning sign to lenders at review time, and often a sign the business needs a structural fix, not more credit.
- Ignoring fees on the undrawn limit. Depending on the lender, a limit you rarely use can cost more than an occasional short term loan would. Size the limit to realistic usage.
- Forgetting the review. Limits can be reduced at review if trading dips. Don't build survival plans on a limit that assumes it will always be there.
- Not comparing against invoice finance. If slow paying customers are the root cause, funding the invoices directly often scales better than a fixed limit.
Tax treatment of interest and fees is one for your accountant, we'll handle the facility side.
How X Lend helps
Line of credit products vary more between lenders than almost any other business facility: limits, line fees, review terms, cleanse requirements and security rules all differ. X Lend is a finance broker, so we compare suitable options across our panel of 80+ lenders and match the structure to how your cashflow behaves. We explain the available rate, fees and conditions before you decide whether a line, term loan or invoice finance is the right tool.