Melbourne café owners Lisa and Andrew Chen had built a thriving business with two successful locations in Fitzroy and Carlton. When an opportunity arose to acquire a third prime location in South Yarra, they needed to act fast—but their existing bank couldn’t process the loan quickly enough.
The challenge was complex: they needed $850,000 for the commercial property purchase, equipment fit-out, and working capital, all while maintaining cashflow for their existing venues. Traditional lenders were hesitant due to the hospitality industry’s perceived risk post-pandemic.
Our commercial lending specialists understood the café industry’s recovery trajectory and the Chens’ proven track record. We structured a split facility combining a commercial property loan with a business equipment loan, and secured approval from a specialist lender within two weeks.
The Result:
The Chens opened their third location in September, creating 12 new jobs. Their revenue has increased by 45% quarter-on-quarter, and they’re already planning their fourth venue.
“Australian Finance Service Solutions didn’t just get us a loan—they understood our business vision and made it happen at the pace we needed,” said Andrew.