farmcfo.com.au · 0412 759 847Getting into farming (start-up budget)
A start-up budget starts with your own money and the farm you're looking at. A lender will later ask for the same things, so gathering them now saves doing it twice.
How to send them
- Send documents for every entity: each company, trust or partnership, and each owner or guarantor.
- Three years means the last three finalised financial years.
- A shared Google Drive or OneDrive folder works best. For Xero or MYOB, add Nick as an adviser user rather than exporting reports.
- Black out tax file numbers. Farm CFO doesn't need them.
- Missing something? Send what you have and note the gap. It won't hold the work up.
Your finances
| Done | Document | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| A list of your savings, assets and debts, for each person going into the business | You | |
| Proof of income: your last two tax returns, or recent payslips | Your accountant or employer | |
| Last 12 months of statements for your everyday, savings and loan accounts | Online banking | |
| Any off-farm income you'll keep, and what it pays | You |
The farm
| Done | Document | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| The property you're looking at: listing, lease offer, share farming or agistment terms | The agent, landowner or family | |
| Property details: hectares, carrying capacity, water, fencing, yards and sheds | The listing, the landowner or a site visit | |
| Quotes for starting stock, plant and any work needed before you start | Stock agents and suppliers |
Your plan and experience
| Done | Document | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| The enterprise you plan to run and the stock numbers you're aiming for | You | |
| Your farming experience and training, written like a short resume | You | |
| A succession plan, if you're taking over a family farm | Your family, accountant or solicitor |
Extra records for livestock
Add these for each livestock enterprise you run. Skip the groups that don't apply.
All livestock
| Done | Document | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Property Identification Code (PIC) for each property, registered in the right name | Your state's PIC authority, such as Local Land Services in NSW | |
| Livestock reconciliation for the financial year: numbers by class at 1 July and 30 June, purchases, sales, births, deaths and stock killed for rations | Your herd and flock records or your accountant | |
| Agistment received or paid, with head, dates and rates | Agistment agreements and invoices |
Pigs
| Done | Document | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Herd performance reports: sow numbers, pigs weaned per sow per year, growth rate, feed conversion and mortality | Your herd recording software | |
| Feed records: diets, tonnes used, grain and meal prices | Your feed mill, nutritionist or supplier invoices | |
| Processor or buyer contracts, price schedules and kill sheets | Your processor | |
| APIQ certification status and PigPass records | APIQ and the PigPass database |
Cattle
| Done | Document | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Joining, pregnancy testing, calving and weaning numbers | Your herd records | |
| Sale and purchase dockets with weights and c/kg | Agent account sales, kill sheets, feedlot statements | |
| LPA accreditation status and NLIS account details | myMLA and the NLIS database |
Sheep
| Done | Document | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Joining, scanning, lamb marking and weaning numbers | Your flock records | |
| Wool clip records: bales, micron, yield and price | Your wool broker's sale summaries | |
| Lamb and sheep sale dockets with weights and c/kg | Agent account sales and kill sheets | |
| Shearing and crutching costs | Contractor invoices | |
| LPA accreditation status and NLIS account details | myMLA and the NLIS database |
Checked 26 October 2026. Based on what Farm CFO needs for the work and what the Regional Investment Corporation and most lenders commonly ask for. Your lender's own letter is the final word on what it needs. Farm CFO is a business name of Levelhead Capital Pty Ltd (ABN 15 703 134 918). farmcfo.com.au · 0412 759 847
Ready to start?
Send what you have and we'll confirm the fee in writing before any work starts.