FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Lower Plenty Small Business Loans
Tell me how you are able to avail the Lower Plenty Small Business Loans
Lower Plenty unsecured loans provides the range of $5,000 to $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is this Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
Apply to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone. You’ll get an instant response and the money could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual rate of interest along with other charges and fees. The company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. This is then divided into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly every company need, such as control of cash flow business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Concerning 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 business expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with you cashflow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is calculated at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan in this amount, your company needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years with an annual turnover of at least $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at least 12 months of trading.
What can I use the funds for?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for almost all business need, including company improvements, purchasing inventory or new equipment for general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s as a result of an charge against assets and can be registered with the PPSR or making a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to repay a loan which is general in nature rather than stipulating the security of a specific asset. The person signing the ensure is personally responsible if the company creditor is unable to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants priority over personal property to be assigned depending on the date that a registration of a security interest.
Caveats are legal document that is filed to offer an official notice of a claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
When you’re applying for an enterprise loan of more than $250,000 it’s possible to offer an initial pre-approval that will help ease the process. We might be able to do this without credit checks and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes you answering a few financial health questions. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of funds. Acceptance without condition is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you might receive could be subject to different conditions.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for an company loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of business (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and easy. Complete the online form in just a few minutes, and a dedicated business credit specialist will be in touch to assist you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence), an active NZBN/IRD, and at least six months worth of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll need:
$100K-$250K: Application details including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent and 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, and interim financials for the current financial year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables Summary.
How fast will I get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically offer an answer within one hour if you make your application in standard company time and let us utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to submit copies of your bank statements , we will be able to offer an answer in as little as an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be in a position to provide the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval document, you will require to wait between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard company hours. You can also allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you choose to send us duplicates of your banking statements , it may take a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we typically provide an answer within an hour – as long as you make your application within normal business hours and let us use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to upload copies of your banking statement, we’ll provide an answer in just one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) We may be able to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application within about six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within just 24 hours.
The quickest method is to make sure you apply during standard business hours. You can also allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload documents from your account accounts, it will take a little longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a particular amount, we consider a variety of variables in order to assess your health that is your company and the level of payments your company is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particular circumstances the company.
When you submit an application for a particular amount, we look at a range of factors to determine the well-being that is your business and the amount of repayments that your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the particulars of your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for a company loan?
If you decide to apply for the business loan, we’ll assess the risk profile that you have for your business and offer an individualised offer including the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. The company loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you be aware of the total amount due, which includes any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates differ based on various variables like the amount to be of money borrowed, the business assets the funds are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the business operates in, how long the company is in operation and whether the company has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and the general health as well as creditworthiness business.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans, and you’ll be aware of the amount it is that 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 you make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can make an application for loans with absolutely no upfront cost and no obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with setting up and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of the loan at any point in time.
If you choose to take this route, please contact our helpful business credit professionals. We will offer you with details on repayment and an early payout figure. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal amount remaining and accrued interest to the time of early payment in addition to 1.5% of the principal remaining and any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To ensure you do not miss repayments and to fit in with your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either daily or weekly. They are automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and being transparent about the ways we gather data, process, exchange and secure your information, is crucial and is an essential aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption techniques to protect your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to protecting the security of clients and privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online to provide rapid response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when a company owner borrows from an asset they own to obtain a loan. The asset can be either an individual asset, such as the family home or a company property like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of banks, including the big banks, tend to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your assets could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence, it’s a way of securing new funding taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Do I need security for a business loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, there is no requirement for asset security before you can access the money however, we require a personal guarantee. need an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan commitments (as detailed in your loan contract document) Asset security will never be required. For loans of over $150,000 generally there is the option of a personal guarantee and security in the form an asset charge.