FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Northwood Small Business Loans
Let me know what you think of the Northwood Small Business Loans
Northwood unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months, cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
Apply to get this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or by phone. You will receive an immediate response, and the funds could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an interest rate per annum along with other charges and fees. Our business loan is a pre-paid loan so you will be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into either a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any company use, including the management of cash flow, business improvements, advertising to purchase inventory, new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
About larger Northwood Business Loans
What is the Larger Northwood Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 for a fixed period of for up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount, your business needs to have been trading for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of at least $700,000. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years as well as own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funding for?
A large business loan can be used for nearly any business reason, such as business renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment or as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is needed for accessing funds over $150,000. This can be done in the form of a charge against assets and can include registration in the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a commitment to pay back a loan that is generally in nature rather than stipulating the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally liable in the event that the business creditor is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR allows priority over personal property to be granted in accordance with the date on which a registration of a security interest.
Caveats are legal form of document to offer the public notice of a legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
When you’re applying for an enterprise loan of $250K or more it is possible to offer a preliminary pre-approval to help smooth out the process. We might be able to apply for this without a credit verification and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial evaluation that involves you answering a few financial well-being checks. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of finance. Unconditional approval is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you are offered could be based on different terms.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
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)
- you must prove at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and easy. Complete the online form in few minutes and an experienced company lending specialist will contact you to help you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) along with an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Application details including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K – $500K: Application details including credit consent and 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summaries.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer a response in one hour if you submit your request at standard company time and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements , we will be able to provide a decision within just an company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K and up) we may be able to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this can be quicker based on the circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval in the space of 24 hours.
The most effective method is to make sure you apply during normal company hours, and allow us to use our advance bank verification link to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you decide to upload duplicates of your banking accounts, it takes a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we typically offer an answer within an hour – provided you make your application in standard business timings and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you want to upload copies of your bank statements, we’ll be able to provide an answer in just an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be in a position to offer you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval document, you will require to wait about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal business hours. You can also allow us to use our advance bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload duplicates of your banking statements, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a particular amount, we will consider a number of elements for determining the well-being of the business and the amount of payments your business can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specifics of your business.
When you make an application for a particular amount, we look at a range of aspects to assess the well-being of the company and the amount of repayments your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specifics that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for a business loan?
When you make an application for the business loan, we’ll assess the risk profile that you have for your company and provide you with a customised proposal that includes the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. A business loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the rate that I pay?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on several factors like the amount of money of money borrowed, the business assets the funds are used to purchase and the sector the business is in, how long the company has been operating for, how long the company has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, and also the general health as well as creditworthiness business.
What are the fees?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans, and you’ll know precisely what it is that you need to pay and when, from the first day. There’s no compounding interest, and there are no additional charges (as long as you make your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You are able to make an application for loans with without any upfront costs or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with the setting up and management of the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you decide to take the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You can repay the entire amount of the loan at any point in time.
If you choose to take this route, please speak to our friendly company loans professionals. The experts will offer you with repayment details and an early payment figure. It will be calculated using the total of the remaining principal amount and any accrued interest at the time of early payout plus 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
What is the process for repayments?
To make sure you do not miss payments and to work your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and being upfront about how we collect the information we collect, use, share and safeguard your data, is vital and is a crucial part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption techniques to protect your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to security for our clients and security. We make use of an advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank account information online to offer rapid response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when the business owner utilises an asset that they own to secure the funds for a loan. The asset can be a personal asset like the family home or a company property like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The majority of lending institutions, including the major banks, prefer to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence it is a way of securing new financing taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Do I require security for an business loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, there is no requirement for asset security upfront to access the money however, we require a personal guarantee. need the personal guarantee. As long as you follow your loan obligations (as stated in your loan contract document) Asset security is not needed. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, there is an individual guarantee and security in the form of the charge of assets.