FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Karori Small Business Loans
Let me know what you think of the Karori Small Business Loans
Karori unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary company loan?
It is possible to apply to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or on the phone. You’ll receive a same day response and funds may be available in just 24 hours. Traditional business loans reference an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. Our company loan is a pre-paid loan and you’ll be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, interest or charges. This is then broken down into either a daily or weekly installment amount.
What could you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company purpose including 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 to fund personal expenses.
About the Larger Karori Business Loans
What is the Larger Karori Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term for up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly depending on your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, calculated at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan that is this large the business needs to have been operating for at least three years and have an annual turnover of at least $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old or 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 nearly every business need, including company renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory, as general working capital and so 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 funding of more than $150,000. This is in the form of a charge over assets, and may include the registration of this with the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to repay credit that is general in nature rather than stating the security for a particular asset. The person signing the ensure is personally responsible if the company 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 which are registered with respect to personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted according to the date the security interest was registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document that is filed to provide notice of a legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval to ease the process. We could be able to make this decision without credit checks and within 6 hours of the initial application. The pre-approval process is based on a preliminary assessment which includes the answer to a series of financial well-being questions. This is neither an offer nor a guarantee of credit. A conditional approval is subject an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer you receive could have different terms.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may apply for a company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of business (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and simple. Just fill out the online application within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company expert in lending will call you to guide you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll need ID details (valid Driver’s License), a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K to $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if loan above $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details of the application, including credit consent, 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim financials from the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables reports.
How quickly will I receive an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we can often provide an answer in just one hour – as long as you apply during quality company hours and allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements we can provide a decision in as little as the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we might be able to provide the conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Some agreements have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply can be ensure you apply during normal company hours. Also, permit us to use the modern bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you send us duplicates of your banking statement, it will take a little longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer in just one hour, provided you apply in standard business hours and you allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide an answer in as little as 1 business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we could be in a position to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application within about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest method is to make sure you apply during normal business hours. Also, allow us to use the modern bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you upload copies of your bank accounts, it takes a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We provide loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we take into consideration a range of elements for determining your well-being of the company and the level of repayments your company can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances the business.
When you apply for a particular amount, we consider a variety of factors to determine the well-being of your company and the extent of payments your company is able to afford. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances that are unique to your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for an company loan?
When you make an application for our business loan, we will assess the risk profile of your company and provide an individualised offer including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. A company loan is an upfront cost loan therefore you will know the exact amount to be paid, including any charges or interest.
What is the basis for the rate I pay?
The interest rates on company loans rates differ based on various factors such as the amount that is borrowed, the business assets the funds will be used for in addition to the industry that the company operates in, how long the business has been running as well as in the event that the company has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, as well as the general health or financial standing of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden costs for our business loans, and you’ll be aware of the amount you’ll need to pay, and at what time, from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest, and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan no cost upfront or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated in establishing and managing the loan. This is only a fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan in advance?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of the advance loan at any time.
If you do decide to take this route, please call our helpful company loan experts. The professionals will offer you with repayment details as well as an early payout amount. The figure will be calculated as the total of the principal amount remaining plus any accrued interest as of the time of early payment and 1.5 percent of the principal balance and any fees that remain unpaid.
What is the process for repayments?
In order to help you avoid missing payment dates and to align your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and knowing how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as safeguard your data, is of paramount importance and a vital aspect 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 and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to customer security and privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account details online. This allows us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when an business owner makes use of assets they own to obtain the funding. The asset may be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home, or a business asset like a truck or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lenders, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your asset may be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it is means of securing new financing by using the worth of the asset you already have.
Do I need security to secure an business loan?
Up to $150K in loans no asset security is required prior to the loan’s access However, we require a personal guarantee. require the personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as specified in your loan contract document) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be needed. For loans of over $150,000 typically, you will need a personal guarantee and security in the form of a charge over assets.