01
Initial Consultation
We meet you on-site at your farm, business, or home to understand your goals and your operation. If we think we’re a good fit, we move to Step 2. No obligation to take this first step.
How it works
How the finance broker process works.
By choosing a specialist finance and mortgage broker like Hardie Finance Group, you are choosing a professional service to complement your business, just like having a good accountant or solicitor.
3-Step Path
From initial consultation to settlement.
A clear path from a first conversation through to your new lender being fully operational.
01
02
Strategy & Market Scan
We gather the minimum information needed and scan your position across multiple lenders, identifying a structure to meet your objectives and giving you a clear picture of what’s achievable before you commit.
03
Approval & Settlement
When you choose to proceed, we manage the full process, negotiate terms, and present formal offers. You select your preferred deal, and we coordinate everything through to settlement.
Fees
How our services are funded.
In most lending scenarios, our services are funded by the lender via a commission upon successful settlement. For new agribusiness and commercial engagements where structural analysis is significant, we charge a small Engagement Mandate Fee. We believe in no surprises, with all costs fully disclosed, agreed and signed off upfront.
| Service | Client | Upfront fee | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Finance (cars & equipment) | All clients | $0 | No upfront costs; paid by lender on settlement |
| Home Loans, Standard & SMSF | PAYG & SMSF | $250 incl. GST | $250 gift card back after settlement |
| Home Loans, Business & Agri | Self-employed | $770 incl. GST | $250 gift card back after settlement |
| Agri & Commercial, new engagement | New customer, first transaction | $1,980 incl. GST* | Minimum fee; further by negotiation based on complexity |
| Agri & Commercial, ongoing | Existing customer | Mostly $0** | Possible commitment fee for complex or pre-approvals; advised upfront if applicable |
* Engagement fees reflect the specialised structural analysis required for complex lending. Gift cards are provided upon successful settlement of the loan.
Why the engagement fee?
It pays for itself.
Unlike transactional brokers, we don’t just fill out forms. For our business and agribusiness clients, that $1,980 minimum fee covers the deep-dive analysis required to engineer a deal for approval. We use our 24 years of banking experience to structure your application so it speaks the lender’s language. This saves you time, granting access to broker-only lenders, and delivering a deal aligned to your objectives.
The Loyalty Tax
Are you paying a Loyalty Tax?
Loyalty to a bank often comes with a Loyalty Tax. As bank appetites change, your once-great deal might now be uncompetitive. The longer you wait, the more you could be paying in interest, fees, paperwork for annual reviews, valuations and ongoing covenants.
Minimal paperwork
Access competitive interest rates with the least amount of red tape.
Reduced reporting
Tired of constant valuations and data requests? We can find lenders with lighter ongoing requirements.
Covenant freedom
We identify lenders whose criteria match your business’s natural cycles, not the bank’s rigid boxes.
Refinance process
Our 4-step refinance approach.
A deep-dive review of your existing debt (overdrafts, short-term and long-term facilities) to identify hidden costs.
We leverage our network to identify which of our 50+ lenders currently has the highest appetite for your specific agribusiness or commercial niche.
We use our banker’s mindset to create genuine competition between lenders, advocating for competitive terms and covenant structures.
We manage the entire switching process and paperwork, ensuring the transition is seamless with minimal disruption to your daily operations.