FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Let me know more about Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Forrest Hill unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is how is the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary company loan?
Apply to your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get an answer within the same day and funds may be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an annual rate of interest plus other fees and charges. This business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll know in advance the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every company use, including the management of cash flow, business improvements, advertising to purchase inventory, new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
About the Larger Forrest Hill Business Loans
What is the Larger Forrest Hill Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed for up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount the business needs to be trading for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funds be utilised?
A large business loan can be used for nearly every company purpose including business renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory or as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. This is by way of charge on assets, and may include registration with the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a commitment to repay credit that is generally in nature rather than defining security over a particular asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally accountable if the business lender is not able to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register operated by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR permits prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted depending on the date that a security interest has been registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document that is filed to provide an official notice of a claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re applying for an enterprise loan that is greater than $250,000 it is possible to offer an initial pre-approval to make the process. We could be able to do this without a credit check and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes you answering a few financial health checks. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of credit. Unconditional approval is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer you might receive could be on different terms.
Application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You can apply for a company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of trading (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and easy. Just fill out the online application within a couple minutes, and an experienced company expert in lending will contact you to help you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Application requirements, including credit approval, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K-$500K: Information on the application including credit consent twelve months of bank records, IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, as well as interim financial statements for the current year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summaries.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we typically offer an answer within an hour – as long as you submit your request during standard business time and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements we can provide an answer in as little as 1 company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be in a position to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about six hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval within less than 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply can be ensure you apply during normal company hours, and allow us to use our modern bank verification to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statements it may take a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually provide an answer in just one hour – provided you apply during normal business times and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer the decision in as little as an business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we could be able to offer the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some agreements have been approved within 24 hours.
The most efficient method for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal business hours and let us use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you opt to upload duplicates of your banking accounts, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount, we will consider a number of variables in order to assess your well-being for your company and the level of repayments your company is able to afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specifics for your business.
When you apply for a particular amount, we take into consideration a variety of aspects to determine your well-being for your business and the extent of repayments that your business is able to afford. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances of your company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a company loan?
When you make an application for one of our company loans, we will assess the risk assessment that you have for your company and provide an individualised offer that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. It is a business loan is an upfront cost loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount payable including any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the rate that I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates vary due to factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what business assets the funds will be used for as well as the field the business operates in, the long the company has been in operation and what percentage of the company has sufficient cash flow to fund the loan, as well as the general health as well as creditworthiness business.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll know precisely what you need to pay and at what time, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and no extra fees (as as long as you pay your payments in time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to make an application for loans with no cost upfront or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with the setting up and management of the loan. The only way to pay this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you are deciding to do this please call our helpful company lending experts. They will provide you with the details of your repayment along with an early payout estimate. This will be calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the time of early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the remaining principal as well as any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To make sure you do not miss due dates and also to be in line your cash flow cycle we offer repayments either weekly or daily. They will be automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and knowing how we collect, use, exchange and ensure the security of your information is of paramount importance and an integral aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to protecting the security of clients and security. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online, allowing us to offer rapid response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when a business owner utilises an asset that they own to make the loan. The asset can be either an individual property, such as the family home or a business asset such as a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of banks, even the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your asset may be taken over by the lender. In essence, it is an opportunity to secure additional financing using the value of what you already have.
Should I need security for an business loan?
For loans up to $150K it is not necessary to secure assets upfront to access the money however, we do need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as stipulated in the loan contract) Asset security is not required. For loans over $150K generally there is an individual guarantee and security is provided in the form of an asset charge.