FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Lower Hutt Small Business Loans
Tell me how you can avail the Lower Hutt Small Business Loans
Lower Hutt unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
It is imaginable to apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or on the phone. You’ll receive a same day response and have the funds in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. Our company loan is a pre-paid loan therefore you’ll know ahead of time the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is broken down into either a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every business reason, such as the management of cash flow, business improvements, advertising to purchase inventory, new equipment, or as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
About Larger Lower Hutt Business Loans
What is the Larger Lower Hutt Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of that can last up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly depending on the flow of cash.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that 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 loan in this amount, your company needs to be in operation for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years or have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funds be used for?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for almost all company purpose including company renovations, purchase of new equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is required to access funding over $150,000. This is as a result of an charge over assets, and may include the registration of this through the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a commitment to repay credit that is general in nature rather than defining the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally accountable if the company creditor is unable to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests which are registered with respect to personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR grants prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted depending on the date that a security interest was registered.
Caveats are legal document that is filed to provide the legal claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting an enterprise loan of more than $250K we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval to simplify the process. We may be able to do this without credit checks and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial evaluation that involves the answer to a series of financial health checks. This is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of funds. Unconditional approval is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you may receive may be subject to different terms.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You can apply for a company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (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 quick and easy. Just fill out the online application within a few minutes and an experienced company expert in lending will call you to guide you through the process.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence), an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Application requirements, including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank records, IRD statements and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financials from the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summaries.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically offer a response in one hour, provided you make your application in standard company times and allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide the decision in just 1 company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we may be capable of provide you with a conditional pre-approval in about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Some deals have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use our advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us documents from your account statements it can take a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) We can usually offer a response in one hour – provided you apply at standard business times and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision within the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be in a position to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in around six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The fastest method can be ensure you apply during normal business hours and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you 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 to $500,000. When you make an application for a particular amount, we consider a variety of elements to determine your health that is your business and the amount of the repayments your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specific circumstances that are unique to your company.
When you apply for a set amount, we look at a range of variables to assess your well-being of the company and the amount of the repayments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the particulars for your company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for an business loan?
When you make an application for our business loans, we will assess the risk profile that you have for your company and provide you with a customised proposal that includes the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. A business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will know the exact amount to be paid, including any interest rates, fees or charges.
What is the factor that determines the price I’m charged?
Interest rates for company loans rates differ based on various factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what company assets the funds are used to purchase, the industry the business is operating in, how long the business has been running and in the event that the company has enough cash flow to support the loan, and the general well-being or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll know precisely what you be required to pay and at what time, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan no cost upfront or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with establishing and managing the loan. This is only a fee if you decide to take the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan early?
You can repay all of your loan early at any time.
If you do decide to take this route, please talk to one of our helpful business loan professionals. They will provide you with details for repayment as well as an early payout amount. This is calculated as the total of the principal remaining and any accrued interest at the time of early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the remaining principal as well as any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in your cash flow schedule, we provide repayments either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being upfront about how we collect data, process, 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 make use of industry-standard encryption standards to secure your sensitive, personal financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to security for our clients and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system that allows you to immediately verify your bank account details online to offer a fast response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when an company owner uses an asset that they own to make the loan. The asset could be an individual property, such as the family home or an company asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of banks, including the largest banks, are inclined to secure loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan then your assets could be sold by the lender. In essence, it is a way of securing additional financing taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
Are I require security to secure an company loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, no asset security is required before you can access the money but we do need a personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill the terms of your loan (as specified in the loan contract) Asset security will never be needed. For loans over $150K generally there is the option of a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of the charge of assets.