FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Lower Plenty Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Lower Plenty Small Business Loans
Lower Plenty unsecured loans offers the range of $5,000 to $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional business loan?
The application for the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or by phone. You will receive a same day response and have the funds in your account in 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an annual interest rate together with additional fees and charges. Our business loan is an upfront priced loan and you’ll be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any business purpose including the management of cash flow, business remodels and marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About larger Lower Plenty Business Loans
What is the Larger Lower Plenty Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly depending on your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
A 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 loan in this amount, your business needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700K. Your business must belong to 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 demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funds for?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for nearly all company use, including business renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s in the form of a charge on assets, and could include registration in the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a commitment to pay off a credit line that is generally in nature rather than defining the security for a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable if the business lender is not able to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online registry run by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been that are registered for personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR permits the priority of personal property granted depending on the date that a registration of a security interest.
Caveats are legal document that is filed to offer the legal claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We may be able to get this done without a credit check, and within 6 hours of the initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial assessment, which involves you answering a few financial well-being questions. It’s in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of credit. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you might receive could be subject to different terms.
Application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You can apply for an business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months of business (for 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 fast and easy. Just complete the online application within a couple minutes, and an experienced company loan specialist will be in touch to help you.
For a loan of up to $100,000, you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details for application including credit consent as well as 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim current financial year financials including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How quickly will I receive an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we can often provide an answer within one hour – as long as you submit your request within standard business time and permit us to utilise the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide an answer within just the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we may be able to provide the conditional pre-approval within six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is 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 in less than 24 hours.
The most effective method can be ensure you apply during normal company hours and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload documents from your account accounts, it will take a little longer.
How soon will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually provide an answer in just one hour, provided you apply within standard business hours and you allow us to use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statements, we are able to provide the decision within the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be capable of offer you with a conditional pre-approval within about six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait about 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Certain offers have been approved within 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours and let us use the advanced bank verification system link to confirm your bank details online. If you send us duplicates of your banking statement, it can take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a specific amount we will consider a number of variables for determining your health of your company and the amount of repayments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances for your company.
When you submit an application for a particular amount, we look at a range of factors to determine your well-being of your company and the amount of payments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the particular circumstances the company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for an business loan?
If you decide to apply for our company credit, we will assess the risk assessment the company and offer an individualised offer including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront cost loan therefore you will be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including charges or interest.
What determines the rate that I pay?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on a variety of factors like the amount of money of money borrowed, the company assets the funds will be used for, the industry the business is operating in, how long the business has been in operation and whether the company has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and the overall health or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden fees with our business loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you’ll need to pay, and at what time, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you make your payments in time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You are able to request a credit loan with without any upfront costs or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved in establishing and managing the loan. This is only a cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan earlier?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of the advance loan at any time.
If you do decide to do this please talk to one of our helpful company credit specialists. We will offer you with details for repayment along with an early payout estimate. This is calculated as the total of the principal balance and any accrued interest at the time of early payment, plus 1.5% of the principal amount remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either weekly or daily. They are automatically deducted from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being clear about how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as protect your information, is vital and a vital part 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 and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to the security of our clients as well as their privacy. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated bank verification system that allows you to immediately confirm your bank account information online so we can offer a fast response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an company owner makes use of assets they own to make the loan. The asset can be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home, or it could be a company asset like a truck or piece or equipment.
The vast majority of banks, including the major banks, prefer to secure loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your assets could be taken over by the lender. In essence, it’s means of securing new financing making use of the value of what you already own.
Should I need security for a business loan?
Up to $150K in loans there is no requirement for asset security upfront to access the money however, we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan commitments (as detailed in your loan contract), asset security will never be required. For loans that exceed $150,000, generally, you are able to get the option of a personal guarantee and security that is in the form a charge over assets.