The situation

TAFS worked with a mining and construction operator who had started their ABN in April and had already settled around $300,000 in a short period.

The client had 10 years of experience in the mining and construction industry and specialised in pit design, machine operation, and mobile crushing, screening, and recycling services across the civil and mining sectors.

With momentum building quickly, the client was now positioning for a potential $5 million contract, along with the likelihood of needing another $1 million worth of gear to service the work.

The challenge

The issue wasn’t just equipment. It was timing.

The client needed a funding structure that could support:

• upfront purchasing of materials
• smaller equipment needs ahead of project demand
• increased flexibility as contracts ramped up
• near-term working capital pressure before the bigger income landed

For operators in mining and civil work, that’s often the real bottleneck. The contract opportunity can be there, but without enough access to working capital, it becomes much harder to move early and confidently.

The TAFS strategy

TAFS structured an overdraft facility designed to give the client access to funds for materials and smaller equipment upfront, aligned with upcoming contracts and increased demand.

Rather than waiting for the pressure to hit, the strategy was built to help the client prepare for growth before the larger job landed.

That put the business in a stronger position to respond quickly, secure what was needed, and support the next stage of expansion.

What similar operators should know

For growing mining and construction businesses, the biggest funding need isn’t always the large machine.

Often, it’s the working capital behind the job:

• materials
• smaller support equipment
• labour-related cash flow pressure
• upfront costs needed before progress payments catch up

That’s why overdrafts and working capital facilities can be just as important as equipment finance. They help bridge the gap between winning work and actually being able to deliver it properly.

The result

With the facility in place, the client was better positioned to manage cash flow, secure the materials and smaller equipment needed, and confidently pursue a potential $5 million contract.

It’s a strong example of how the right funding structure can help a growing operator scale at the right time, not after the opportunity has already passed.

Key takeaways

• Growth often creates cash flow pressure before it creates income
• Working capital can be just as important as equipment finance
• Newer ABNs can still be funded well when the broader profile is strong
• The right structure helps operators prepare for larger contracts, not just react to them

If your business is growing quickly and the next opportunity will need more than just one asset, TAFS can help structure working capital and equipment funding around where you’re heading.

2) How a Civil Works Operator Used the Right Truck to Improve Efficiency Across the Whole Business

The situation

TAFS helped a repeat client in civil works finance a $200,000 truck through a chattel mortgage.

The client worked across demolitions, dams, driveways, roads and other major civil projects. This wasn’t about buying an asset that would generate income directly on its own. It was about improving the efficiency and profitability of the broader operation.

The challenge

Because the truck wouldn’t produce income as a stand-alone revenue asset, the strength of the overall business needed to support the deal.

The client had a heavily asset-backed position, around $500,000 in cash reserves, and multiple existing loans with strong repayment history. But the deal still had to be framed correctly. The lender needed to see the wider business benefit of the purchase.

The TAFS strategy

TAFS structured a chattel mortgage around the client’s strong financial position, asset base and consistent history across previous lending.

Rather than treating the truck as an isolated purchase, the strategy focused on how it would support efficiency, reliability and profitability across ongoing civil works projects.

What similar operators should know

Not every finance application needs to be built around a direct income stream from the asset itself.

In civil construction and earthworks, some of the best asset purchases are the ones that make the rest of the business run better. If a truck, support vehicle, trailer or piece of gear helps improve margins, reduce downtime, or keep projects moving, it can still be a smart finance decision.

The result

With the truck in place, the business was better positioned to run projects more efficiently, support ongoing demand, and strengthen profitability across the operation.

Key takeaways

• The best asset isn’t always the one that invoices directly
• Efficiency gains can be just as important as direct revenue
• Strong asset backing and good conduct can support broader deal logic
• Chattel mortgages can be a clean fit for established operators buying business-critical equipment

If you’re looking at equipment that will improve how your operation runs day to day, TAFS can help structure a solution around the bigger picture.