FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Altona Small Business Loans
Tell me more about Altona Small Business Loans
Altona unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow-friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
How is this Unsecured Loan different from an traditional company loan?
You can apply for the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone, receive an answer within the same day and the funds could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an annual rate of interest along with other charges and fees. The business loan is an upfront priced loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount due, which includes any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost any company reason, such as control of cash flow company remodels and marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
About the Larger Altona Business Loans
What is the Larger Altona Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly, depending on you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is determined at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan of this size, your company needs to be operating for at least three years and generate an annual revenue of $700,000. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at least 12 months of trading.
What can I use the funding for?
A larger business loan is a great option for almost any company reason, such as business improvements, purchasing equipment or inventory or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually by way of charge against assets, which could also include registering this in the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is general in nature rather than specifying the security of a specific asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally accountable if the business borrower is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are registered in respect of personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR allows priority over personal property to be granted according to the date a registration of a security interest.
The caveat can be described as a formal form of document to provide an official notice of a claim to property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re seeking larger company loans of $250,000 or more, we may offer an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We could be able to get this done without a credit check and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes the answer to a series of financial health checks. It’s neither an offer nor a guarantee of financing. A conditional approval is subject an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you might receive could be based on different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You can apply for a company loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months worth of trade (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and simple. Just complete the online application within a few minutes and a dedicated business loan specialist will contact you to guide you through the process.
To apply for up to $100,000 you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K to $250K: Application details including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank statements, IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials for the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we usually provide an answer in just one hour, provided you make your application during quality company time and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer an answer within just the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we could be capable of provide you with conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest method can be ensure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload the copies of bank statements , it may take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically offer a response in one hour, provided you apply during standard business times and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you want to upload copies of your bank statements, we’ll be able to offer an answer within an business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we may be able to offer you with a conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved in 24 hours.
The fastest method is to ensure you apply during standard business hours and let us use the sophisticated bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you send us copies of your bank accounts, it may take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loans ranging from $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a particular amount, we consider a variety of variables for determining what is the well-being that is your company and the extent of repayments that your business can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances of your company.
When you make an application for a specific amount we look at a range of factors to assess your health of the company and the amount of payments your business can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specifics that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a business loan?
When you apply for our business financing, we will assess the risk assessment that you have for your company and provide an individualised offer that includes the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. A business loan is an upfront priced loan so you will know in advance the total amount due, which includes any charges or interest.
What determines the amount I’m charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates depend on a variety of factors like the amount of money that is borrowed, what company assets the funds are used to purchase, the industry the company operates in, the long the company has been operating as well as what percentage of the business has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and also the general well-being as well as creditworthiness company.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden fees with our business loans. You’ll be aware of the amount you’ll need to pay, and when, starting from day one. There’s no compounding and there are no additional charges (as as you make your payments in time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You can make an application for loans with with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with establishing and managing the loan. The only way to pay this cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of your loan early at any time.
If you decide to take this route, please contact our helpful business loans experts. They’ll provide you with details for repayment and an early payment figure. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal balance plus any accrued interest as of the date of early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal amount remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
What is the process for repayments?
To help you avoid missing payments and to work with your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either weekly or daily. They will be automatically deducted from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Protecting your information, and being upfront about how we collect, use, exchange and safeguard your data, is of huge importance and a vital element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption standards to secure your sensitive, personal 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 banking verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online to offer a fast response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when a business owner uses assets they own to get the funding. The asset may be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home or it could be a company property like a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of lenders, even the major banks, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan then your asset may be transferred to the lender. In essence, it is means of securing additional financing using the worth of the asset you already own.
Should I need security to secure an business loan?
For loans up to $150,000 the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds but we do need an individual guarantee. As long as you follow your loan commitments (as stipulated in your loan contract) Asset security is not needed. For loans that exceed $150K, generally, there is the option of a personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of a charge over assets.