FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Highbury Small Business Loans
Tell me how you can avail the Highbury Small Business Loans
Highbury unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
What is this Unsecured Loan different from an traditional business loan?
It is imaginable to apply to this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or by phone. You will receive an instant response and the funds could be available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. Our business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll be aware of the total amount due, which includes any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is broken down into weekly or daily amount to be paid back.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for almost any business need, such as cash flow management, company remodels and marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About the Larger Highbury Business Loans
What is the Larger Highbury Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly to work with your situation.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, calculated at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan that is this large, your business needs to have been operating for a minimum of 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funds be utilised?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for almost any business reason, such as company renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s by taking a charge against assets and can include registration in the PPSR or making a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to repay a loan which is general in nature rather than defining security over a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally accountable if the company borrower is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned depending on the date that a security interest has been registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document filed to offer the legal claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for larger company loans of more than $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval to simplify the process. We could be able to apply for this without a credit verification and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial evaluation that involves you answering a few financial health checks. It is not an offer of credit or guarantee of finance. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you might receive could be on different conditions.
Application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You can apply for a business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months worth of trade (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and easy. Just fill out the online application within a few minutes and an experienced company credit specialist will be in touch to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000 you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) along with an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, in addition to interim current financial year financials as well as Aged Payables and Receivables reports.
How fast will I get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer a response in one hour if you submit your request in standard company timings and permit us to utilise the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide a decision within an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be able to offer you with a conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval within less than 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard company hours. Also, let us use the advance bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us duplicates of your banking statement, it will take a little longer.
How quickly will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer an answer in just one hour if you apply within standard business time and let us make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements we can offer an answer within 1 business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we could be capable of offer you with a conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval in less than 24 hours.
The fastest method for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use our advance bank verification to confirm your bank details online. If you upload documents from your account statement, it may take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount, we will consider a number of factors in order to assess the well-being that is your company and the extent of repayments that your company can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances that are unique to your business.
If you apply for a certain amount, we take into consideration a variety of aspects to determine the health that is your company as well as the amount of the repayments your company is able to afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specifics of your business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for an company loan?
When you make an application for business loans with us business loan, we will assess the risk profile the business and offer an individualised offer that includes the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What is the basis for the rate I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of variables like the amount to be borrowed, the company assets the funds are used to purchase as well as the field the company operates in, how long the business has been operating, what percentage of the business has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, and general health and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans. You’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay and when, right from the first day. There’s no compounding and no additional fees (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 without any upfront costs or 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 proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Can I pay off the loan in advance?
You can repay the entire amount of your advance loan at any time.
If you decide to do this please contact our helpful company loan experts. We will offer you with the details of your repayment along with an early payout estimate. This will be calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and any accrued interest at the date of early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the principal remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To help you avoid missing payments and to work with your cash flow general, we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being upfront about how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as safeguard your data, is vital and an integral element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption standards to protect your sensitive, personal financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to protecting the security of clients and security. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account details online to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when a company owner uses the assets they have to secure a loan. The asset can be either an individual asset, such as the family home, or an company asset such as a vehicle or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of banks, including the major banks, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s an opportunity to secure new funding taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
Do I need security for a company loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans it is not necessary to secure assets prior to the loan’s access, however we do require a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as detailed in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security is not required. For loans of over $150K generally, there is an individual ensure and security is provided in the form of charges on assets.