FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Otara Small Business Loans
Let me know what you think of the Otara Small Business Loans
Otara unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 month and cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What makes the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional company loan?
It is imaginable to apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get a same day response and the funds could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an annual interest rate as well as other fees and charges. Our business loan is an upfront priced loan so you will know in advance the total amount to be paid, including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into weekly or daily payment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every business reason, such as control of cash flow business renovations, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About larger Otara Business Loans
What is the Larger Otara Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate you cashflow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan of this size, your company needs to have been operating for at least three years with an annual turnover of $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 as well as own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of business.
What can I use the funding for?
A large company loan can be used to fund almost every business need, including business renovations, to purchase new equipment or inventory, as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is necessary to access funding over $150,000. This can be done by way of charge over assets and can include registration with the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to pay off a credit line that is general in nature, rather than specifying security over a particular asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally liable in the event that 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 records security interests that have been that are registered for personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR permits preference over private property assigned according to the date a security interest was registered.
Caveats are legal form of document to provide an official notice of a claim to property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re applying for larger business loans that is greater than $250K we can offer an initial pre-approval to ease the process. It is possible to make this decision without a credit check, and within 6 hours of the initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial assessment that includes you answering a few financial health questions. It is neither an offer nor a guarantee of financing. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you are offered could be subject to different terms.
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 over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Simply complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company lending specialist will call you to help you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence), a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K-$250K: Application details including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K – $500K: Information on the application including credit consent, 12 months bank statement, an IRD statements as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, plus interim financials for the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables reports.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we usually offer an answer within one hour – as long as you submit your request in quality company times and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements we can provide a decision within one company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be capable of provide you with conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this can be quicker based on the specifics of each application. Certain agreements have been approved in 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal business hours and permit us to use the advance bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you send us copies of your bank statement, it may take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we usually provide an answer in just one hour – provided you make your application within normal business hours and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide the decision in as little as 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be likely to provide the conditional pre-approval within about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval document, you will require to wait about 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Certain deals have been approved in 24 hours.
The quickest method can be make sure you apply during normal business hours and allow us to use our advanced bank verification system link to confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload duplicates of your banking statements it may take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we take into consideration a range of variables in order to assess the well-being of your business as well as the amount of repayments that your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances of your company.
When you apply for a specific amount we consider a variety of variables to determine the health that is your business as well as the amount of payments your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the specific circumstances for your company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a business loan?
If you decide to request our business loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment the business and provide you with a customised proposal that includes loan amount, term and interest rates. The company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will know in advance the total amount you will have to pay, including interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the rate that I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates vary due to factors including the amount of money borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase as well as the field the business is operating in, how long the business is in operation for, in the event that the company has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and the general well-being or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the charges?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll know precisely what it is that you be required to pay and at what time, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and no additional fees (as long as you make your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan with no upfront cost 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 proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the amount of loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan earlier?
You can repay all of your loan in full at any time.
If you do decide to take this route, please speak to our friendly company loans professionals. They’ll provide you with repayment details along with an early payout estimate. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal remaining and the accrued interest up to the time of early payment in addition to 1.5% of the remaining principal and any fees that remain unpaid.
What are the repayment methods?
In order to help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Security of your data, and making it clear the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and ensure the security of your information is of paramount importance 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 protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account details online to offer a fast response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the company owner utilises an asset that they own to secure the funding. The asset may be an individual asset, such as the family home, or an company asset such as a vehicle or piece or equipment.
The majority of lending institutions, even the big banks, tend to secure loans against assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, then the asset could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence, it’s a way of securing new funding making use of the value of what you already have.
Do I need security for a business loan?
For loans that exceed $150K, no asset security is required upfront to access the money However, we require a personal guarantee. need the personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as detailed in the loan contract) the security of assets is not needed. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 typically, you will need an individual guarantee and security in the form of the charge of assets.