FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the New Zealand Small Business Loans
Tell me about the New Zealand Small Business Loans
New Zealand unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What makes the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
The application to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or on the phone. You’ll receive a same day response and have the funds on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans refer to an annual interest rate along with other charges and fees. This business loan is a loan that is priced upfront and you’ll know ahead of time the total amount to be paid, including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is broken down into either weekly or daily installment amount.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every business purpose including managing cash flows, company renovations, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
About larger New Zealand Business Loans
What is the Larger New Zealand Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company expansion opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term with a maximum of 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your situation.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is determined at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan in this amount the company needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funds for?
A larger company loan can be used for almost every business purpose including company improvements, purchasing new equipment or inventory for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed to access funding over $150,000. It is usually by way of charge against assets, which could also be registered in the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to pay off a credit line that is generally based rather than stating the security of a specific asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable if the business creditor is unable to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are granted to individuals who own personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR grants priority over personal property to be assigned according to the date a registration of a security interest.
A caveat is a legal document filed to provide the public notice of a legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
When you’re applying for larger company loans of $250K or more we can offer an initial pre-approval in order to simplify the process. We might be able to do this without a credit check and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial evaluation that involves answering a couple of financial health checks. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of funds. Unconditional approval is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you may receive may have different terms.
Application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for a business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months’ worth of transactions (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and easy. Complete the online form within a couple minutes, and an experienced business expert in lending will be in touch to guide you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) along with a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K to $250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details for application including credit consent, 12 months bank statement, an IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, and interim financial statements for the current year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables Summary.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we usually offer an answer in just one hour – as long as you apply at standard company times and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements we can offer the decision in just one business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we could be likely to provide you with conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Some deals have been approved within 24 hours.
The most efficient method can be ensure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use our advanced bank verification system to verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us duplicates of your banking statements it will take a little longer.
What is the time frame to receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we can often offer a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request at normal business timings and permit us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statements we can offer the decision in just the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be in a position to provide the conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will require to wait approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some deals have been approved in 24 hours.
The fastest method can be ensure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to verify your bank account information online. If you send us the copies of bank accounts, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a particular amount, we consider a variety of elements to determine the well-being for your business and the level of the repayments your business can support. The total amount of your loan will depend on the particular circumstances for your company.
When you apply for a particular amount, we look at a range of elements to assess your health that is your company and the amount of repayments that your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the particulars the company.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a company loan?
If you decide to make an application for our company loan, we’ll assess the risk profile of your business and provide you with a customised proposal that includes the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. A company loan is an upfront cost loan therefore you will be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes any charges or interest.
What is the basis for the rate I am charged?
The interest rates on company loans rates vary due to factors including the amount that is borrowed, what company assets the funds will be used for and the sector the company operates in, how long the company is in operation and what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and overall health and creditworthiness of the company.
What are the costs?
There are no hidden fees with our company loans. You’ll know precisely how much it is that you need to pay, and when, starting from day one. There’s no compounding interest, and there are no additional charges (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can request a credit loan with absolutely no upfront cost and no commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with establishing and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of loan.
Can I repay the loan earlier?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of your loan early at any time.
If you choose to pursue this option, please call our helpful company lending professionals. We will provide you with details on repayment and an early payment figure. This is calculated as the sum of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the time of the early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal remaining plus any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing payments and to work with your cash flow general, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
The security of your personal information, as well as being clear about the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and protect your information, is of huge importance and an integral aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption techniques to protect your personal, sensitive as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to the security of our customers as well as their security. We use an advanced banking verification system to immediately verify your bank account details online so we can provide quick responses.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when an company owner uses an asset that they own to get the funding. The asset may be an individual asset, such as the family home, or an business asset like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The majority of banks, including the largest banks, are inclined to make loans secured by an asset. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, then your asset may be transferred to the lender. In essence it is an opportunity to secure additional financing using the value of what you already own.
Should I need security to get a company loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, no asset security is required in advance to gain access to the funds However, we require a personal guarantee. need an individual guarantee. As long as you follow the terms of your loan (as stated in your loan contract document) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security is not required. For loans over $150,000 generally, you are able to get a personal ensure and security that is in the form charges on assets.