FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Puni Small Business Loans
Let me know how you are able to avail the Puni Small Business Loans
Puni unsecured loans offers the range of $5,000 to $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
How is the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary company loan?
The application for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone, receive an answer within the same day and funds may be available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. This company loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will be aware of the total amount to be paid, including any fees, charges or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any business purpose including cash flow management, company remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
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 company growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly to work with your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan in this amount, your company needs to have been operating for at least three years and have an annual turnover of at least $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funds be utilised?
A larger business loan can be used to fund almost every company use, including company renovations, to purchase new equipment or inventory or as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is necessary to access funding over $150,000. It’s by taking a charge against assets, which could also include registering this through the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a promise to repay a loan which is general in nature, rather than stipulating security over a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business borrower is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests that are registered for personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR allows preference over private property assigned according to the date the security interest has been registered.
An affidavit is an official document that is filed to provide notice of a legal claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting a Larger Business Loan of $250,000 or more we can offer an initial pre-approval in order to smooth out the process. We could be able to do this without credit checks and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial evaluation that involves answering a couple of financial well-being questions. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of funds. Unconditional approval is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer you are offered could be based on different conditions.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You are eligible to apply for an business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months worth of trade (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $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 business lending specialist will contact you to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K-$250K: Information about the application including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details of the application, including credit consent and 12 months bank statement, an IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, as well as interim financial statements for the current year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables summaries.
How quickly will I receive an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we typically offer an answer within one hour if you submit your request at quality company time and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements , we are able to offer an answer within the span of one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we could be likely to provide the conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some deals have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to make sure you apply during standard company hours. You can also allow us to use our advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us documents from your account statements , it will take a little longer.
How quickly will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we usually offer an answer in just one hour if you make your application during normal business hours and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision in as little as 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we could be capable of offer the conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will require to wait between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain agreements have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest method is to ensure you apply during standard business hours. You can also let us use the sophisticated bank verification link to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer loan amounts between $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a particular amount, we will consider a number of elements in order to assess what is the health that is your business and the extent of the repayments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particular circumstances that are unique to your business.
When you make an application for a particular amount, we take into consideration a variety of variables to assess how much we can lend you such as well-being of your company and the level of repayments that your company can afford. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances that are unique to your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for a business loan?
When you request our company loans, we’ll assess the risk profile of your business and offer you with a customised proposal that includes the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. This business loan is an upfront-priced loan so you will be aware of the total amount you will have to pay, including interest rates, fees or charges.
What is the factor that determines the price I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates vary due to variables like the amount to be borrowed, the company assets the funds are used to purchase, the industry the business is in, how long the company has been running, what percentage of the business has sufficient cash flow to pay for the loan, as well as the overall well-being or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans, and you’ll know precisely how much it is that you need to pay, and when, starting from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest, and no extra fees (as long as you are able to make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan with no upfront cost or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with the setting up and management of the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You can repay the entire amount of your loan early at any time.
If you are deciding to take this route, please speak to our friendly business credit specialists. We will provide you with details for repayment and an early payout figure. This is calculated as the sum of the principal amount remaining and any accrued interest at the date of early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the principal remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do you make repayments work?
To ensure that you don’t miss repayments and to fit in your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from your business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Protecting your information, and making it clear how we collect data, process, exchange and safeguard your data, is crucial and an integral 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 protect your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to security for our clients and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online. This allows us to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a business owner utilises an asset that they own to obtain the funds for a loan. The asset can be either an individual property, such as the family home, or it could be a business property like a truck or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of banks, even the banks with the biggest size, prefer to guarantee loans against assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s a way of securing new funding using the value of what you already own.
What do I need security to secure a business loan?
Up to $150K in loans the requirement for asset security is not required prior to the loan’s access however, we do require the personal guarantee. As long as you follow your loan commitments (as stipulated in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security is not needed. For loans that exceed $150,000, generally, you are able to get an individual guarantee and security in the form of a charge over assets.