FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Lower Hutt Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Lower Hutt Small Business Loans
Lower Hutt unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What is how is the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary company loan?
Apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone, receive an answer within the same day and the money could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual rate of interest plus other fees and charges. Our business loan is a pre-paid loan therefore you’ll know in advance the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, charges or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily repayment figure.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any company use, including managing cash flows, business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
About Larger Lower Hutt Business Loans
What is the Larger Lower Hutt Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly, depending on you cashflow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is determined at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount, your company needs to be in operation for at least 3 years, and have an annual income of $700K. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at the least 12 months of operating.
What can the funds be used for?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for nearly any business purpose including company remodeling, buying new equipment or inventory, as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is needed for funding of more than $150,000. This is by way of charge against assets, which could also include registering this through the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a promise to repay credit that is general in nature rather than stipulating security over a particular asset. The person signing the ensure is personally liable 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 contains security interests which are registered with respect to personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR permits preference over private property assigned according to the date a security interest was registered.
A caveat is a legal form of document to provide the legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K it is possible to offer a preliminary pre-approval to help make the process. We might be able to apply for this without a credit check, and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is based on a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial well-being questions. This is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of finance. Acceptance without condition is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you receive could have different conditions.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You may be eligible for a business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months worth of trade (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and simple. Just fill out the online application within a few minutes and an experienced company credit specialist will be in touch to help you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s License), a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Information on the application including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank statements, IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables Summary.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we usually offer an answer within an hour – as long as you submit your request within standard company time and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide an answer in as little as the span of one company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we may be in a position to offer you with a conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Some deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to ensure you apply during normal company hours. Also, allow us to use our modern bank verification link to verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload documents from your account statements , it takes a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically provide an answer within one hour – provided you make your application at standard business time and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statements, we’ll be able to provide the decision in just the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we may be able to provide you with a conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain transactions have received approval in just 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal business hours and allow us to use our advance bank verification to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements, it may take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount we will consider a number of factors that determine the well-being of your business and the amount of the repayments your business will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances that are unique to your company.
When you apply for a particular amount, we consider a variety of aspects to determine how much we can lend you such as health of the company and the amount of payments your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be determined by the specific circumstances that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a business loan?
If you decide to apply for our company loans, we will assess the risk profile the business and provide you with a customised offer that includes the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. The company loan is an upfront-priced loan so you will know in advance the total amount you will have to pay, including costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the amount I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of factors including the amount that is borrowed, what business assets the funds are used to purchase, the industry the business operates in, how long the company has been in operation, what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to support the loan, and also the overall health as well as creditworthiness company.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden charges for our company loans. You’ll know exactly how much you need to pay and when, right from the first day. There’s not any compounding interest and no extra fees (as long as you are able to make your payments in time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can make an application for loans without any upfront costs or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with the setting up and management of the loan. You are only charged this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can repay all of your loan in full at any time.
If you are deciding to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly company loans professionals. We will provide you with details on repayment and an early payout figure. It will be calculated using the sum of the principal balance and accrued interest to the time of the early payout plus 1.5% of the principal amount remaining plus any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To ensure you do not miss payments and to work with your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. They are automatically deducted from your business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Security of your data, and being clear about the ways we gather, use, exchange and protect your information, is crucial and is a crucial part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption techniques to protect your sensitive, personal as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to security for our clients and privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online. This allows us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when an business owner borrows from the assets they have to make the loan. The asset may be an individual property, such as the family home, or a business asset like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The majority of the lenders even the major banks, prefer to make loans secured by assets. If you have trouble paying back the loan then the asset could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s means of securing additional financing using the worth of the asset you already own.
Are I require security for a business loan?
For loans up to $150,000 there is no requirement for asset security prior to the loan’s access however, we do need a personal guarantee. If you adhere to your loan commitments (as detailed in the loan contract) the security of assets will never be needed. For loans that exceed $150,000, generally there is an individual ensure and security in the form a charge over assets.