Essential Tips to Avoid 5 Common Credit Killers and Boost Scores

5 Credit Killers

What are the top factors that can damage your credit score?

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

A good credit score speaks volumes about your financial habits. It's the evidence most creditors need to evaluate your credit worthiness.

Interestingly, there are some credit killers that even people maintaining good credit scores would unwittingly be a part of, which will be their undoing when applying for credit facilities in the future.

These mistakes may seem to be insignificant, but when the time comes, you may face more problems than you expect.

Avoiding Debt

Creditors need to evaluate your financial history to approve any credit facilities.

If you have no previous or existing debts, it might adversely affect your case, as creditors have no way of checking out how you'll handle the credit you get from them.

Shopping For Rates

Looking around for the best rate may actually turn out to be bad.

Too many inquiries within a short period could damage your credit score.

Usually, if you do more than 3 or 4 inquiries within a single month, you are likely to scare the lenders. For the same reasons, transferring the balances on your credit cards could be a bad idea as well.

Assuming There's a Grace Period

If you are late on a payment by even one day, you are late, period.

Never assume there's a grace period for late payments, because it only affects your credit score negatively.

Closing Old Accounts

Because your relevant transaction history also gets erased when you close your old accounts, your credit history is shortened and it may lower your credit score.

If you want to close your old accounts, close everything except the oldest account, which will leave a longer history.

Co-signing Loans

The obvious problem here is that the primary borrower's mistakes will end up on your credit report as well.

Business Loan Repayment Calculator

Explore potential business finance scenarios with our Business Loan Calculator. Test different borrowing amounts, interest rate assumptions and loan structures to see how various scenarios may influence your estimated repayments and overall finance costs.

Business Loan Repayment Calculator

Published: Sunday, 1st Aug 2021
Author: Paige Estritori

Rate this article

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Business Loans Articles

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Evaluating Your Refinancing Options

Refinancing can be a powerful tool for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Australia. It offers an opportunity to restructure debt, potentially secure better interest rates, and the possibilities of improved cash flow - all critical elements for maintaining and growing a business. Given the dynamic nature of financial markets, refinancing can provide businesses with a strategic advantage to manage their finances more effectively. - read more

Understanding Business Loan Repayments: How Repayment Amounts Are Calculated

Business loan repayments are shaped by the amount borrowed, interest rate, loan term, repayment frequency, fees and repayment structure. Understanding how these factors interact can help Australian business owners estimate affordability and compare loan options more confidently. - read more

Equipment Leasing for Australian Businesses: Cash Flow, Costs and Key Considerations

Equipment leasing can help Australian businesses access vehicles, machinery, technology or other essential assets without paying the full purchase price upfront. This guide explains how leasing works, how it may affect cash flow and budgeting, and what to consider before choosing a lease arrangement. - read more

Cash Flow and Working Capital: Practical Strategies for Australian Business Growth

Cash flow is the movement of money into and out of a business. Working capital is the short-term funding available after current liabilities are considered. Together, they help a business meet day-to-day obligations, manage timing gaps and plan for growth opportunities. - read more

Business Loan Covenants Explained for Australian Businesses

Business loan covenants are conditions a borrower agrees to meet during the loan term. This guide explains common covenant types, how they may affect business decisions, and what Australian borrowers should review before signing a commercial loan agreement. - read more

Alternative Funding Options for Your Australian Business

When it comes to starting or expanding a business in Australia, securing funding is often a top priority. However, traditional funding options, such as bank loans or government grants, can be difficult to obtain for small businesses. - read more

How to Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying for a Business Loan

Your credit score is a crucial factor that lenders examine when you apply for a loan. It acts as a numerical representation of your creditworthiness, helping lenders to determine the risk involved in offering you a loan. Essentially, it helps them predict your ability to repay the loan based on your past financial behaviour. - read more

Finance News

SME Borrowing Rebound Puts Planning Ahead of Panic

04 Nov 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian SME borrowing activity appears to have regained momentum, with newly reported Banjo Loans Barometer data for the quarter to 30 September 2026 pointing to stronger loan applications, more loans drawn and a continued focus on cash buffers. The result is notable because it follows months of more cautious borrowing signals from parts of the small business market, and suggests many firms are not simply waiting for conditions to improve before reviewing their funding position. - read more

SMEs Turn to Non-Bank Funding as Investment Plans Hold Up

28 Oct 2026: Paige Estritori

Australian SMEs planning their next round of investment are increasingly looking beyond traditional bank funding, with new ScotPac SME Growth Index findings reported by Inside Small Business on 22 October 2026 showing non-bank finance has reached a record share of intended funding use. The result is a notable signal for business owners and finance managers: the question is no longer simply whether credit is available, but which structure best matches the timing, risk and cash flow profile of the business. - read more

Business Confidence Signals Put Loan Readiness Back in Focus

16 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Latest Australian business survey reporting is sending a practical message to owners and finance managers: trading conditions may be holding up in parts of the economy, but confidence remains fragile. For SMEs, that mix matters. When revenue is uneven, input costs are sticky and customers are cautious, the timing and structure of new borrowing can become just as important as the headline interest rate. - read more

Why ATO Interest Changes Matter for Business Borrowers

09 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

A tax change now working through Australian business finances deserves close attention from owners, directors and finance managers. Since 1 July 2025, the ATO’s general interest charge and shortfall interest charge have no longer been tax-deductible. For businesses carrying overdue tax or correcting underpaid obligations, that can lift the effective after-tax cost of falling behind. - read more

Payday Super Puts Payroll Timing Under the Finance Microscope

02 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s move towards Payday Super is more than a compliance update for employers. For many small and medium-sized businesses, it changes the rhythm of payroll-related cash outflows and places a sharper focus on whether day-to-day liquidity is strong enough to meet obligations as they fall due. - read more

Specialist SME Lending Remains Open, But Discipline Matters

26 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Latest market reporting around specialist SME lender Judo Bank points to a business credit market that is not shutting down, but is becoming more deliberate. The lender’s continued focus on relationship-led lending, deposits and small to medium-sized business borrowers suggests demand for finance remains present among firms with clear plans and serviceable cash flow. - read more

Payment Timing Keeps Pressure on SME Working Capital

19 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Fresh small business indicators are again pointing to a familiar challenge for Australian SMEs: trading activity may continue, but the timing of cash receipts is still creating pressure. Recent industry commentary has highlighted uneven payment behaviour, cautious customer spending and a more deliberate approach to investment among smaller firms. For owners and finance managers, that combination can make working capital planning just as important as sales growth. - read more

Click for more Finance News

Knowledgebase

Bond:
A fixed-income investment in which an investor loans money to an entity that borrows the funds for a defined period at a variable or fixed interest rate.