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 provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
What makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
Apply for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or by phone. You will receive a same day response and funds may be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an interest rate per annum along with other charges and fees. Our company loan is an upfront priced loan and you’ll know ahead of time the total amount to be paid, including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into either weekly or daily repayment figure.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost any company use, including the management of cash flow, company improvements, advertising, to purchase inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
About Larger Lower Hutt Business Loans
What is the Larger Lower Hutt Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support business growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit of this size the business needs to have been trading for at least 3 years, and have an annual income of at least $700K. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of business.
What can the funding be used for?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for almost all business reason, such as business remodeling, buying new equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s by way of charge on assets, which could also include registering this in the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a promise to repay a loan which is general in nature, rather than defining the security of a specific asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable if the business creditor is unable 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 granted to individuals who own personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR gives preference over private property granted according to the date the registration of a security interest.
Caveats are legal document lodged to provide the public notice of a legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
When you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan of $250,000 or more we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval that will help simplify the process. We may be able to make this decision without a credit verification and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment, which involves you answering some financial well-being questions. It is not an offer or guarantee of financing. Acceptance without condition is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you may receive may have different terms.
Application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for an business loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of business (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 fast and simple. Complete the online form within a few minutes and an experienced company credit specialist will be in touch to guide you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s License) along with a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details for application including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank records, IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, as well as interim financials from the current financial year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we typically provide a response in one hour – as long as you make your application at standard company hours and you allow us to utilise the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer a decision within just an company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we could be likely to offer you with a conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved within 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is ensure you apply during normal company hours and let us use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you send us the copies of bank statements it will take a little longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we can often provide an answer in just one hour, provided you submit your request within normal business timings and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to upload copies of your banking statements, we’ll be able to offer an answer within the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we could be likely to offer you with conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Some transactions have received approval within the space of 24 hours.
The most efficient method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours. Also, permit us to use the sophisticated bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements, it can take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a particular amount, we look at a variety of variables to determine how much we can lend you health of the company and the extent of payments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your business.
When you make an application for a particular amount, we will consider a number of aspects to determine the well-being of your company and the level of the repayments your business will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for an company loan?
When you request business loans with us business credit, we will assess the risk assessment for your company and provide you with a tailored proposal that includes loan amount, term and the interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront cost loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount you will have to pay, including costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the rate that I pay?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on several factors such as the amount that is of money borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase, the industry the business operates in, the long the company has been operating and what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to cover the loan, as well as the general health or financial standing of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden fees for our business loans, and you’ll know precisely what you’ll need to pay and when, from day one. There’s not any compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as long as you make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can apply for a loan without any upfront costs or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated in establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I pay out the loan in advance?
You can decide to repay the total amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you are deciding to take this route, please call our helpful business loans specialists. We will offer you with details for repayment along with an early payout estimate. The figure will be calculated as the total of the principal amount remaining and accrued interest to the time of early payment, plus 1.5 percent of the remaining principal and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do you make repayments work?
To make sure that you don’t miss repayments and to fit in with your cash flow routine, we provide payments that are either weekly or daily. They will be automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Protecting your information, and being transparent about how we collect the information we collect, use, share and ensure the security of your information is of huge importance and is an essential aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption standards to secure your personal, sensitive financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to security for our clients and privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online. This allows us to provide rapid response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the business owner makes use of assets they own to make the funding. The asset can be either an individual property, such as the family home or it could be a company asset such as a truck or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of banks, including the big banks, tend to make loans secured by an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan then your assets could be taken over by the lender. In essence, it’s means of securing new financing by using the value of what you already have.
Are I require security to get an company loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, there is no requirement for asset security prior to the loan’s access However, we do need an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan obligations (as stipulated in your loan contract document) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security is not needed. For loans that exceed $150,000, generally, there is an individual guarantee and security is provided in the form of an asset charge.