Female entrepreneurs outpace men in borrowing for property and business investment
Self-employed women in Australia are leading the rise in lending for residential, investment, and commercial properties, according to new data from RedZed, a lender specialising in loans for the self-employed.
The research indicates that both the number and value of loans secured by women who own small businesses have increased at a faster rate than those taken out by their male counterparts. This trend coincides with broader shifts in wealth management, as more women take on senior roles and benefit from significant intergenerational wealth transfers.
Since 2020, loans to RedZed’s female clients have exceeded $2 billion, reflecting greater demand for capital and a larger presence of women in business ownership. The average loan size has also grown, rising from $530,000 in 2020 to $600,000 in 2025, suggesting a move towards larger investments by women business owners.
In 2015, women accounted for 25% of RedZed’s clients. That figure, according to the latest RedZed report, has now reached 33% and continues to increase, signalling the expanding influence of women entrepreneurs in Australia’s business sector.
“We’re at an historic turning point in custodianship, opportunity, and leadership for Australian women,” said Natalie Irvine (pictured right), chief sales and marketing officer at RedZed. “With an estimated $3.2 trillion set to be transferred to women in the next decade, the financial dynamics are shifting significantly.
“Australia’s lending and wealth management landscape is shifting in a big way. Women are stepping up as major drivers of wealth creation and decision-making. This momentum comes from years of progress, more women entering the workforce, achieving higher levels of education, and building careers in fields like STEM that lead to stronger earning power.
“Together with the gradual growth of women in leadership roles, the rapid growth in female entrepreneurship, and the largest intergenerational wealth transfer Australia has ever seen, we can expect to see the number of high-net-worth women in Australia continue to rise in the years ahead.”
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