From Startup to Success

In 2018, James and Shannon Pickup had one truck and a dream. Three years and five vehicles later, Australian Pipeline Management, have gone from startup to success. 

A qualified plumber by trade, James Pickup has been in the industry for most of his life. After completing his apprenticeship and gaining experience working in his family’s business, James and his wife Shannon ventured out on their own to establish Australian Pipeline Management (APM) in 2018 and went from startup to success in just three short years.

As the name suggests, APM supports the full pipeline network, providing services ranging from CCTV pipe inspections and locating, to pipe and underground sewage surveying. Beyond this, APM offer support through the construction process, surveying and reporting on pipe and drainage pre and post construction.

When James and Shannon first approached Magnolia Lane, they were looking down the line at a $100k+ equipment finance loan with less than a month’s trading history under their belts. That meant they had no financials and no existing business credit to evidence their ability to service the loan. How does that work, you may ask? Well, there are no clear-cut rules about what will and won’t get a lender on side but there are certainly a few things that help.

Getting Lenders on Your Side
  • Confirmable personal credit – Lenders look at existing credit, such as car loans, for reassurance that you can and will make your repayments on time.
  • Asset backing – Be it home ownership or exceptional savings, lenders like to see that you have existing assets behind you.
  • Deposit – Business infancy poses an obvious risk to lenders. One way to negate this perceived risk is to offer a deposit, typically between 10 – 20% of the asset price.
  • Business continuity – If you have been operating as a sole trader for over two years and transition your business into a company, your sole trader history, including financials, can be used to support and endorse your application.
APM’s Success

Since their first purchase in 2018, APM have settled on 13 pieces of equipment ranging from motor vehicles and trucks right through to niche equipment specific to their industry. Their most recent acquisition was a Volvo FE320 6×4 Rigid Truck, kitted out with a Combi Whale 3 Vacuum System. This is a massive step forward for the company, allowing them to win additional jobs which, without it, they would not have been able to take on. To have settled on so many pieces of equipment, their most recent being the biggest yet, is no mean feat given they began operating a mere three years ago. It is certainly a testament to how well James and Shannon have been running their business.

While APM primarily operates out of Sydney, they also service major regional areas including Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Bathurst, and Newcastle. You can reach them on (02) 9066 9150 or check out their (soon to launch) website at http://www.auspipemanagement.com.au/. To hear more from APM, check out the interview we did with James, here.

When it comes to equipment finance, Magnolia Lane doesn’t take a ‘once size fits all’ approach. We know that’s not how things work. But instead of putting you in the too hard basket and turning you away, we will do everything we can to tailor a solution for you. Our role as a broker is to do the hard work and get the lenders to fight for your business. So, whether you’ve been in the game for five months or 50 years, give us a call on (02) 8287 3000 or get a quote and see what we can do for you and your business!

We’ve got your back because we want you back.