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 offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
It is imaginable to apply to the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or on the phone. You’ll receive an immediate response, and funds may be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans reference an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. This company loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you’ll know in advance the total amount payable including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is broken down into weekly or daily installment amount.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any company use, including control of cash flow business renovations, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
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 business growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly depending on your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
It is crucial to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount the company needs to have been in operation for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
What can the funds be used for?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for nearly every business use, including business renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory, as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is required to access funding over $150,000. It’s as a result of an charge on assets, which could also include registering this in the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is generally based rather than defining security over an asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable if the business lender is not able to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are registered in respect of personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR allows priority over personal property to be assigned according to the date a security interest that is registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal form of document 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 a Larger Business Loan of $250K or more it’s possible to offer a preliminary pre-approval to help simplify the process. We might be able to apply for this without credit checks and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial evaluation that involves you answering some financial well-being questions. It’s in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of credit. Acceptance without condition is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you might receive could be based on different terms.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of business (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and easy. Just fill out the online application in few minutes and a dedicated company lending specialist will be in touch to assist you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s License) as well as a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K to $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details for application including credit consent, 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials for 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 to $100K) we typically offer a response in one hour, provided you apply within quality business hours and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to upload copies of your banking statements , we are able to offer the decision in as little as the span of one company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K and up) we might be in a position to provide you with conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval within the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way is to make sure you apply during normal company hours. You can also allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you choose to send us documents from your account statements , it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we typically offer an answer within one hour – as long as you make your application at standard business time and let us use the bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statements, we will be able to offer an answer within 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be likely to offer the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval, however this can be faster depending on the specifics of each application. Some agreements have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to check your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload documents from your account statement, it may take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount we look at a variety of factors in order to assess the health of your company as well as the amount of repayments that your business is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your company.
When you make an application for a set amount, we consider a variety of elements to assess your health of your business and the extent of repayments that your company can afford. The total amount of your loan will be determined by the specific circumstances of your company.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for an company loan?
If you decide to request business loans with us business loan, we will assess the risk profile that you have for your company and offer an individualised offer including the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. A business loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you will know in advance the total amount due, which includes any charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the factor that determines the price I pay?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of factors including the amount borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase and the sector the company operates in, the long the company has been operating for, how long the business has enough cash flow to support the loan, and overall well-being as well as creditworthiness company.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden charges for our company loans, and you’ll be aware of the amount you be required to pay and when, starting from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you make your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You are able to request a credit loan no cost upfront or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with establishing 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 amount of the loan.
Can I repay the loan early?
You may choose to pay back all of your advance loan at any time.
If you choose to take this route, please call our helpful company lending specialists. They will provide you with details on repayment as well as an early payout amount. The figure will be calculated as the total of the principal balance and the accrued interest up to the time of the early payout plus 1.5 percent of the principal balance as well as any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To help you avoid missing payment dates and to align with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being transparent about the ways we gather, use, exchange and safeguard your data, is of huge importance and is a crucial aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption standards to secure your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to protecting the security of customers and security. We make use of an advanced bank verification system that allows you to instantly confirm your bank account information online to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when an company owner makes use of an asset that they own to secure the funding. The asset can be an individual asset, such as the family home, or an business asset such as a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of lenders, not just the largest banks, are inclined to make loans secured by assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan then the asset might be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s the process of securing new funding taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Do I require security to secure a company loan?
For loans up to $150,000 the requirement for asset security is not required before you can access the money however, we do require the personal guarantee. If you adhere to your loan commitments (as specified in the loan contract) Asset security is not required. For loans of over $150,000 generally there is an individual guarantee and security that is in the form charges on assets.