FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Puni Small Business Loans
Tell me how you can avail the Puni Small Business Loans
Puni unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
You can apply to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or over the phone. You’ll get an answer within the same day and the funds could be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans refer to an annual rate of interest along with other charges and fees. Our company loan is an upfront priced loan and you’ll be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, charges or charges. This is then divided into a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost any company use, including cash flow management, business improvements, advertising to purchase inventory, new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About the Larger Puni Business Loans
What is the Larger Puni Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of for up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly, depending on your cash flow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan that is this large the business needs to be trading for at least 3 years, and have an annual income of $700,000. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funds be used for?
A large company loan is a great option for almost all company use, including company renovations, purchase of new equipment or inventory, as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually by taking a charge against assets, and may include registration in the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a commitment to pay off a credit line that is generally based rather than specifying the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the company the borrower fails to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests which are registered with respect to personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR allows prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted according to the date a registration of a security interest.
A caveat is a legal document lodged to offer the legal claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan of $250,000 or more we can offer a preliminary pre-approval to help ease the process. It is possible to apply for this without a credit verification and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial health checks. It is not an offer or guarantee of credit. A conditional approval is subject a full credit assessment and any offer that you might receive could be subject to different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may apply for an company 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)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months worth of trade (for you to qualify for 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 easy. Just fill out the online application in just a few minutes, and a dedicated company loan specialist will call you to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) along with a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if credit is over $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details of the application, including credit consent twelve months bank statement, an IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables summary.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer an answer within one hour, provided you submit your request in quality business timings and allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements we can provide a decision within just 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we could be able to provide the conditional pre-approval in about six 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 particular circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval in less than 24 hours.
The most efficient method would be to make sure you apply during standard company hours, and let us use the modern bank verification link to verify your bank account information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements it takes a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we typically offer an answer in just one hour – provided you submit your request during normal business timings and let us use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide the decision in just one business day.
If you are applying 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’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved within 24 hours.
The most effective method would be to ensure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use the modern bank verification link to verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us documents from your account accounts, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a specific amount we consider a variety of elements in order to assess how much we can lend you health of your business and the level of repayments that your company can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances for your company.
When you apply for a certain amount, we consider a variety of variables to assess how much we can lend you such as health 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 determined by the particular circumstances for your company.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a business loan?
When you request the business loans, we’ll assess the risk profile that you have for your business and provide an individualised proposal that includes the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. A company loan is an upfront cost loan therefore you will know the exact amount to be paid, including any charges or interest.
What is the basis for the rate I am charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates depend on several variables like the amount to be borrowed, the company assets the money will be used for in addition to the industry that the business operates in, how long the company has been operating for, in the event that the business has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, and the overall health or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden costs with our business loans. You’ll know exactly how much you’ll be required to pay and when, starting from the first day. There’s not any compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as as long as you pay your payments on time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to get a cash loan with without any upfront costs or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you decide to take the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the amount of loan.
Can I pay out the loan early?
You can decide to repay all of your advance loan at any time.
If you are deciding to take this route, please talk to one of our helpful business lending professionals. They’ll offer you with details on repayment as well as an early payout amount. This is calculated as the total of the principal remaining and accrued interest to the time of early payout and 1.5 percent of the principal remaining plus any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
In order to help you avoid missing payment dates and to align your cash flow schedule, we provide repayments either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Protecting your information, and making it clear how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as secure your information, is of huge importance and is an essential part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption techniques to protect your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to customer security and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank account information online so we can offer rapid response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when an company owner borrows from an asset they own to obtain the loan. The asset could be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home or an company asset such as a vehicle or piece or equipment.
The vast majority of lenders, not just the major banks, prefer to secure loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your assets could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence, it’s the process of securing new financing by making use of the value of what you already own.
Do I need security to secure a company loan?
For loans of up to $150K, no asset security is required in advance to gain access to the funds However, we require a personal guarantee. require a personal guarantee. As long as you follow the terms of your loan (as specified in the loan contract), asset security is not needed. For loans over $150K generally, there is personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of charges on assets.