FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Sefton Small Business Loans
Let me know about the Sefton Small Business Loans
Sefton unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
The application for the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes by phone. You will receive an answer within the same day and the funds could be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans reference an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. This company loan is a pre-paid loan therefore you’ll know in advance the total amount due, which includes any fees, charges or charges. This is then divided into weekly or daily amount to be paid back.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any business purpose 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 cannot be used for personal reasons.
About larger Sefton Business Loans
What is the Larger Sefton Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly depending on your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan in this amount the business needs to have been operating for at least three years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old as well as own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
What can the funding be used for?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for nearly all company reason, such as company renovations, to purchase new equipment or inventory or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed for accessing funds over $150,000. This can be done by way of charge against assets, and could include the registration of this with the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to repay credit that is generally based rather than stipulating security over a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business creditor is unable to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are registered in respect of personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR allows prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted depending on the date that a security interest was registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document lodged to offer the legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re applying for larger business loans of more than $250,000, we may offer an initial pre-approval in order to simplify the process. We might be able to do this without a credit check and within 6 hours of the initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial assessment that includes answering a couple of financial health questions. This is neither an offer nor a guarantee of financing. Acceptance without condition is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you receive could be on different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for an business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months’ worth of transactions (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and simple. Complete the online form within a couple minutes, and an experienced business credit specialist will call you to guide you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K-$250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Information on the application including credit consent, 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim current financial year financials such as age-related payables and aged Receivables Summary.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer an answer in just one hour, provided you make your application within standard company time and allow us to utilise the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statements , we are able to provide a decision in just the span of one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be able to provide the conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Certain agreements have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply can be make sure you apply during standard company hours. Also, allow us to use our advanced bank verification system to verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload documents from your account statement, it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer in just one hour – provided you apply within normal business times and permit us to use the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide the decision within an business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we may be in a position to provide the conditional pre-approval in around six hours. After you’ve 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. Certain agreements have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The most efficient method would be to ensure you apply during normal business hours, and let us use the advanced bank verification system to verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank accounts, it takes a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we will consider a number of variables in order to assess the health of your business and the level of payments your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics of your business.
When you make an application for a set amount, we take into consideration a variety of variables to determine your well-being of your business as well as the amount of the repayments your business can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the particulars that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a business loan?
When you request the company loan, we will assess the risk assessment the company and provide an individualised offer including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. A business loan is an upfront cost loan so you will know the exact amount to be paid, including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the factor that determines the price I am charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of variables like the amount to be of money borrowed, the company assets the funds are used to purchase, the industry the business operates in, the long the company has been operating as well as whether the company has enough cash flow to support the loan, and the overall well-being or financial standing of the business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll know precisely what you need to pay and when, starting from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as as long as you pay your payments in time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan without any upfront costs or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I pay out the loan in advance?
You can repay the entire amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you do decide to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly business loans specialists. The specialists will offer you with details on repayment and an early payout figure. It will be calculated using the sum of the remaining principal amount and the accrued interest up to the time of the early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining plus any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing payment dates and to align with your cash flow cycle we offer repayments either daily or weekly. They are automatically deducted from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being upfront about the ways we gather, use, exchange and secure your information, is of huge importance and is a crucial element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption techniques to protect your sensitive, personal as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their security. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online, allowing us to offer quick responses.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when a business owner makes use of an asset they own to make the funding. The asset may be an individual property, such as the family home, or it could be a business asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lenders, including the big banks, tend to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your asset may be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s a way of securing additional financing making use of the value of what you already have.
Should I need security to get a company loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, there is no requirement for asset security in advance to gain access to the funds but we do need an individual guarantee. As long as you follow the loan terms (as detailed in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be required. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, you are able to get an individual guarantee and security that is in the form an asset charge.