Buying Business Premises Through an SMSF — When the Numbers Don’t Quite Add Up

How catch-up super contributions and a full financial ecosystem approach turned an equity shortfall into an approved SMSF loan.

Rated 5 from 31 Reviews

The Situation

Two self-employed builders running a business together wanted to purchase a warehouse to operate from. But this wasn’t just about finding premises — they also had future personal investment goals they didn’t want to compromise.

That dual priority pointed toward one structure: buying through a Self-Managed Super Fund. Done right, it would secure their business premises, generate commercial rent back into super, and preserve their personal borrowing capacity for what came next.

The Challenge

Three Key Hurdles
  • Insufficient super balance: Both clients were short of the equity contribution required to proceed.
  • Low historical contributions: Super contributions had been inconsistent in recent years, raising questions about funding capacity.
  • Serviceability concerns: SMSF lending requires demonstrated fund income and confidence in ongoing contributions — neither was fully evidenced upfront.
Initial Position
  • Not enough equity in super
  • Serviceability unconfirmed
Book Appointment
The Challenge

The Approach

Rather than ruling out the SMSF pathway, a structured four-step solution was built around the clients’ actual financial position — not just the numbers on the surface.

Contribution Review Catch-Up Contributions Right Lender Match Full Ecosystem View
Audited super contribution history and identified unused caps with the clients' accountant. Boosted super balances using available catch-up concessional contributions to close the equity gap - tax-effectively. Found a lender that counts proposed future contributions toward serviceability. Built a holistic case aligning business income, super contributions, commercial rent and personal finances.
The key was presenting the full picture: business income, super contributions, commercial rent, and personal finances — all working together as one coherent ecosystem.

The Result

✓ SMSF loan approved for owner-occupied business premises
✓ Equity gap solved via catch-up super contributions
✓ Serviceability supported using proposed future contributions
✓ Business retains control of its premises while building long-term wealth in super
✓ Clients preserve personal borrowing capacity for future investments
The Takeaway

The Takeaway

SMSF lending can be a powerful strategy — but only when structured correctly. With the right approach, catch-up contributions can solve equity shortfalls, proposed future contributions can support serviceability, and business, personal, and super structures can be aligned into a single compelling case. If you are considering buying your business premises or exploring SMSF strategies, let's have a chat.

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