FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Freshwater Small Business Loans
Tell me how you are able to avail the Freshwater Small Business Loans
Freshwater unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is how is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
You can apply for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone, receive an immediate response, and have the funds available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an annual interest rate as well as other fees and charges. The business loan is a cash-based loan therefore you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any fees, charges or charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any business purpose including control of cash flow business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About Larger Freshwater Business Loans
What is the Larger Freshwater Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help business growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly to work with your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan that is this large, your business needs to have been in operation for at least 3 years, and have an annual income of $700,000. It is necessary to 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 least 12 months of trading.
How can the funds be utilised?
A large company loan is a great option for almost any business need, including company renovations, to purchase new equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. This is in the form of a charge over assets, which could also be registered on the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to repay a loan which is generally in nature rather than specifying the security of a specific asset. The person signing the ensure is personally liable in the event that the company 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 lists security interests that are that are registered for personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR grants the priority of personal property granted depending on the date that a security interest that is registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document lodged to offer 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 larger business loans of more than $250,000, we may offer an initial pre-approval that will help simplify the process. It is possible to do this without credit checks and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment, which involves you answering some financial health checks. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of financing. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer you receive could be on different terms.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You may apply for a company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months of business (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 quick and simple. Just fill out the online application within a few minutes and an experienced company credit specialist will be in touch to assist you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) and an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if credit is over $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details for application including credit consent and 12 months bank statement, an IRD statements as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financials for the current financial year such as age-related payables and 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 an hour if you apply within quality company times and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements , we are able to offer a decision in just one company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be able to offer you with conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval, however this can be quicker based on the specifics of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The most efficient method can be make sure you apply during standard company hours. You can also let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you choose to send us documents from your account statements , it may take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we can often offer a response in one hour – as long as you make your application in normal business timings and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer the decision in as little as one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be in a position to provide the conditional pre-approval in about six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this could be shorter based upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours. You can also let us use the modern bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you upload duplicates of your banking statements, it can take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount, we will consider a number of factors that determine what is the well-being for your business and the extent of repayments that your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particular circumstances the company.
If you apply for a certain amount, we look at a range of elements to assess how much we can lend you such as health of the company and the extent of payments your business can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics the business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for a business loan?
When you apply for business loans with us company credit, we will assess the risk assessment that you have for your business and provide an individualised offer including the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront and you’ll know in advance the total amount due, which includes any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the amount I pay?
The interest rates on business loans rates differ based on various factors like the amount of money borrowed, the company assets the funds are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company is in, how long the business has been in operation for, whether the company has enough cash flow to support the loan, and the overall health or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the charges?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our company loans. You’ll know precisely what it is that you need to pay, and when, from the first day. There’s no compounding and there are no additional charges (as long as you make your payments in time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan with no upfront cost or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved in establishing and managing the loan. This is only a fee if you proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan early?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of the loan at any point in time.
If you choose to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly business loan professionals. They’ll provide you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. It will be calculated using the total of the principal balance and the accrued interest up to the date of early payout, plus 1.5% of the remaining principal plus any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and making it clear how we collect the information we collect, use, share and secure your information, is crucial and is a crucial element 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 secure your personal, sensitive financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to security for our clients and security. We employ a highly sophisticated bank verification system link to instantly confirm your bank account information online. This allows us to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an business owner makes use of assets they own to secure the loan. The asset could be an individual property, such as the family home or a company asset such as a vehicle or other piece of machinery.
The majority of lenders, including the major banks, prefer to secure loans against an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan then the asset might be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s the process of securing new financing by using the value of what you already have.
Should I need security for an business loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, no asset security is required before you can access the money However, we do need a personal guarantee. As long as you follow your loan commitments (as stated in your loan contract) the security of assets is not needed. For loans that exceed $150,000, generally there is the option of a personal guarantee and security that is in the form an asset charge.