Free tool
Shortfall calculator: how much do you really need?
List what's due and what's coming in. The gap — plus a sensible buffer — is the number to ask for.
Your shortfall
$0
Ask for (with buffer)
$0
See if you qualify →Planning guide only — not an offer of finance. Nothing is stored. No credit check when you first enquire.
Why the right number matters when you're in a hurry
When a deadline is breathing down your neck, it's tempting to grab a round number and run. But the amount you ask for shapes everything that follows — which loan types fit, how fast a lender can say yes, and how comfortable the repayments feel in three months' time. A clear, itemised shortfall also reads well to an assessor: it shows you know exactly where the money is going.
How to fill it in
- Due soon: every bill that must be paid before your deadline — the builder's progress claim, the tax debt, the bond, the mechanic, the surgeon's gap fee.
- Coming in: money you're certain will land in time. Be strict. Hope is not a cash flow.
- Buffer: 5–15% covers most surprises without over-borrowing.
What the result tells you
| Shortfall | Often worth looking at |
|---|---|
| Under $5,000 | A hardship arrangement, a payment plan or a no-interest loan before any borrowing — see fastest ways to get money |
| $5,000 to $500,000, trading business | Unsecured, cash-flow or line-of-credit options sized on turnover |
| $20,000 to $5,000,000 with property | A property-secured business loan — the fastest route for bigger amounts |
| Personal need of any size | Looked at case by case — tell us the purpose on the form |
Got your number? Take it to the 60-second enquiry. There's no credit check when you first enquire, your details aren't scattered across a pile of lenders, and a real person calls you back. Please put the real figure and purpose in — accurate answers get you matched first time. Want to check your speed too? Try the Tomorrow-o-meter or read how much to borrow in a rush.
Shortfall calculator FAQ
Why not just borrow a round number?
Because borrowing too little means a second scramble in a fortnight, and borrowing too much means paying for money you didn't need. Adding up what's genuinely due against what's genuinely coming in gives you a figure you can defend to a lender — and to yourself.
What should I count as money coming in?
Only money that will actually arrive before the bills are due: cash in the bank you can spare, confirmed customer payments, a tax refund that's already been issued. Hopeful invoices and maybe-sales don't count.
What's the buffer for?
Things rarely cost exactly what the quote says. A small buffer covers the gap between the estimate and reality — a variation on the reno, an extra night's accommodation, a fee you didn't see coming.
Does the calculator include loan costs?
No — pricing depends on your circumstances, so the tool doesn't guess at it. Ask about the total cost of any option before you sign, and factor it into your repayment plan.
Is this saved anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser and disappears when you close the page.
Know your number? Let's find the money.
One 60-second enquiry, no credit check when you first enquire, and a real person who calls you back with the quickest sensible option.
No credit check to enquire
No spray-and-pray
A real person, quickly