FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Tell me how you can avail the Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Forrest Hill unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 month and cash flow friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What makes what makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
Apply for the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or by phone. You will receive an answer within the same day and the funds could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company need, such as control of cash flow business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, or as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About Larger Forrest Hill Business Loans
What is the Larger Forrest Hill Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a fixed-term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is determined at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan in this amount the company needs to be operating for at least three 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 business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funding for?
A larger business loan can be used for almost all business need, including business improvements, purchasing equipment or inventory or as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is necessary for accessing funds over $150,000. This can be done by way of charge against assets, and may include the registration of this in the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a promise to pay back a loan that is general in nature, rather than stipulating the security of a specific asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally responsible if the business borrower is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register run by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests registered in respect of personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR grants the priority of personal property granted according to the date the security interest that is registered.
An affidavit is an official document that is filed to provide notice of a legal claim to a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K we can offer an initial pre-approval to ease the process. It is possible to make this decision without a credit check and within 6 hours of the initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial evaluation that involves answering a couple of financial health questions. It is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of financing. Acceptance without condition is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you are offered could have different terms.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may apply for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of business (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and easy. Just complete the online application within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company loan specialist will be in touch to assist you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) and an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K-$250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K to $500K: Information on the application including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statements and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financials for the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables Summary.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we usually provide an answer in just one hour if you submit your request during standard business timings and you allow us to utilise the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements , we are able to offer a decision in as little as 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we might be likely to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take around 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain agreements have been approved within just 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard company hours. You can also permit us to use the modern bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you opt to upload duplicates of your banking accounts, it will take a little longer.
How fast will I get the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer an answer within an hour – provided you apply during standard business timings and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statements, we’ll be able to offer a decision in as little as one business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) We may be able to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in around six hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval form, it will take between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some deals have been approved in 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours and allow us to use the sophisticated bank verification to check your bank’s information online. If you send us documents from your account accounts, it may take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount, we look at a variety of factors in order to assess what is the well-being for your company and the extent of repayments that your company can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics that are unique to your company.
When you make an application for a certain amount, we will consider a number of aspects to determine how much we can lend you such as well-being of your business and the amount of repayments your company can afford. The total amount of your loan will be determined by the specific circumstances that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for an company loan?
If you decide to apply for the company loans, we will assess the risk profile the business and provide you with a customised offer, including the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. This business loan is an upfront priced loan so you will know the exact amount payable including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the rate that I’m charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates vary due to factors such as the amount that is of money borrowed, the business assets the money are used to purchase as well as the field the business is operating in, how long the company has been in operation, how long the business has sufficient cash flow to cover the loan, and also the overall health or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the fees?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our company loans, and you’ll know precisely what it is that you need to pay, and when, right from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest, and the loan comes with no additional fees (as as you make your payments on time).
We do not charge an application fee. You are able to make an application for loans absolutely no upfront cost and no obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with setting up and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I repay the loan in advance?
You can repay the total amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you do decide to take this route, please call our helpful business loan experts. The experts will offer you with details for repayment and an early payment figure. The figure will be calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the time of early payment and 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from your nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and knowing how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as protect your information, is of paramount importance and a vital element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their security. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated banking verification system to instantly verify the bank account details online. This allows us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when the business owner utilises an asset they own to secure the funds for a loan. The asset can be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home, or an company asset like a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of lenders, including the big banks, tend to secure loans against assets. If you have trouble paying back the loan then the asset might be taken over by the lender. In essence it is means of securing new financing by using the worth of the asset you already own.
Are I need security to get an company loan?
For loans up to $150,000 no asset security is required before you can access the money but we require a personal guarantee. need an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as detailed in your loan contract) Asset security will never be required. For loans over $150K generally, you can get a personal ensure and security in the form of an asset charge.