FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Hillcrest Small Business Loans
Tell me how you can avail the Hillcrest Small Business Loans
Hillcrest unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from an traditional company loan?
The application to the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone. You’ll get an instant response and the money could be available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an annual interest rate together with additional fees and charges. Our company loan is a pre-paid loan therefore you’ll be aware of the total amount payable including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily repayment figure.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any business reason, such as the management of cash flow, company remodels and marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
About larger Hillcrest Business Loans
What is the Larger Hillcrest Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly, depending on the flow of cash.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, calculated at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount, your company needs to have been operating for at least three years with an annual turnover of at least $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 as well as own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
How can the funds be used for?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost any business purpose including company remodeling, buying equipment or inventory for general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. This is by taking a charge against assets, and may include the registration of this in the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a promise to repay credit that is generally in nature rather than specifying security over a particular asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally liable if the business the borrower fails to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests that are registered for personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR gives the priority of personal property assigned in accordance with the date on which a security interest has been registered.
Caveats are legal document filed to provide the public notice of a legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re applying for an enterprise loan of $250,000 or more we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval to ease the process. It is possible to apply for this without a credit check and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial health questions. It is not an offer of credit or guarantee of funds. Acceptance without condition is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you might receive could be based on different conditions.
The application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You may apply for an business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of business (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and easy. Complete the online form within a few minutes and a dedicated company loan specialist will call you to assist you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) and a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K to $250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details for application including credit consent as well as 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we can often provide a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request during standard business times and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide a decision within just one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be capable of offer you with a conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will require to wait around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Certain offers have been approved within just 24 hours.
The quickest method can be make sure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use the advance bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you send us documents from your account statement, it may take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually offer an answer within an hour, provided you submit your request during standard business time and let us make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements we can provide a decision in as little as one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we might be likely to provide you with conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved in 24 hours.
The most effective method can be ensure you apply during standard business hours. You can also allow us to use the sophisticated bank verification link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload documents from your account statements, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a particular amount, we take into consideration a range of variables in order to assess how much we can lend you well-being that is your company and the amount of the repayments your company can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances for your company.
If you apply for a particular amount, we consider a variety of variables to determine how much we can lend you such as health of the business and the level of repayments your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the particulars for your company.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for the cost of a business loan?
When you make an application for our company loan, we’ll assess the risk assessment of your company and offer you with a tailored offer, including the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the factor that determines the price I pay?
Business loan interest rates depend on several variables like the amount to be borrowed, the business assets the money are used to purchase, the industry the company is in, how long the company has been operating, whether the business has enough cash flow to support the loan, and also the general well-being or financial standing of the company.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans, and you’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay, and when, right from day one. 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 are able to apply for a loan without any upfront costs or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated in establishing and managing the loan. This is only a cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the amount of loan.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of the loan early at any time.
If you decide to take this route, please contact our helpful company loans specialists. They will offer you with details for repayment and an early payout figure. It will be calculated using the sum of the remaining principal amount plus any accrued interest as of the date of early payout plus 1.5% of the principal balance and any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To ensure that you don’t miss repayments and to fit in your cash flow cycle we offer repayments either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being clear about how we collect the information we collect, use, share and protect your information, is vital and is an essential 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 standards to protect your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to customer security and security. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online to provide rapid response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when the business owner utilises the assets they have to make the funds for a loan. The asset can be either a personal asset like the family home, or an business asset like a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of the lenders including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, the asset could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s means of securing new financing using the worth of the asset you already own.
Should I need security to get an business loan?
For loans that exceed $150K, it is not necessary to secure assets in advance to gain access to the funds but we do require a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as detailed in your loan contract document) the security of assets will never be required. For loans of over $150K generally there is an individual guarantee and security is provided in the form of a charge over assets.