Education-led content designed to help owners understand where funding may fit.
International Trade Funding
Landed Cost Working Capital Calculator
Estimate landed cost and indicative working capital pressure for import shipments.
A practical landed-cost page that doubles as an education piece for trade operators.
Trade financeInventory fundingSupplier timingImport & export cash flow
Actual amount depends on lender appetite, profile, documents and purpose.
More complex scenarios, acquisitions or multi-part structures can take longer.
Preparation helps create a clearer, faster and more credible first conversation.
Overview
A practical guide.
Landed-cost clarity is one of the fastest ways to improve decision-making in an importing business.
Funding content tailored to importers, exporters, wholesalers and distribution businesses managing stock, shipment timing and customer terms.
Important note: All facilities remain subject to lender assessment, documentation, suitability, pricing, terms and conditions. The content on this page is general in nature and designed to support early-stage understanding.
Where it fits
Common situations.
While every business is different, the following examples show where this topic commonly appears in real conversations.
Estimate the true cash outlay of a shipment
This is a common reason businesses review international trade funding. The right structure depends on purpose, timing and the cash profile of the business.
Visualise the effect of freight, duty and GST
This is a common reason businesses review international trade funding. The right structure depends on purpose, timing and the cash profile of the business.
Plan working capital more accurately
This is a common reason businesses review international trade funding. The right structure depends on purpose, timing and the cash profile of the business.
Understand why inventory funding needs often exceed the supplier invoice
This is a common reason businesses review international trade funding. The right structure depends on purpose, timing and the cash profile of the business.
Considerations
What owners should think through.
Before speaking with any lender or adviser, it helps to think clearly about the purpose, timing and broader cash impact of the decision.
Assumptions should be tailored to the businessThis factor can materially influence facility structure, timing and lender fit.
The cycle may involve deposits or split paymentsThis factor can materially influence facility structure, timing and lender fit.
A buffer above the bare number is often prudentThis factor can materially influence facility structure, timing and lender fit.
This is a planning estimate onlyThis factor can materially influence facility structure, timing and lender fit.
Estimator
Landed-cost and funding simulator.
Use this simple simulator to estimate the broad cash impact of an import cycle. It is illustrative only.
Indicative only. The final structure depends on trading history, shipment cadence, debtor quality and the broader business profile.
Example
Practical example.
Illustrative scenario
An importer with a $200,000 goods order may discover that landed costs and cycle timing push the practical funding need much higher.
Practical examples are useful because they move the conversation away from generic sales language and closer to how a business actually experiences the funding need. In most cases, the best structure is the one that solves the operational problem without leaving the business too thin after settlement.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
Why not just fund the supplier invoice?
Because duties, GST, freight and time still consume cash.
What if sell-through is faster than expected?
The pressure may ease sooner, but the upfront funding need still matters.
Should all importers use a landed-cost model?
It is highly useful for most inventory-led trade businesses.