FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The South Wharf Small Business Loans
Let me know about the South Wharf Small Business Loans
South Wharf unsecured loans provides the range of $5,000 to $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
How is this Unsecured Loan different from an traditional company loan?
Apply to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes by phone. You will receive a same day response and funds may be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans refer to an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. Our business loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any interest, fees or charges. This is then divided into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost every business reason, such as the management of cash flow, company remodeling, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About Larger South Wharf Business Loans
What is the Larger South Wharf Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term for up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly to work with your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, 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 that is this large, your company needs to have been operating for a minimum of 3 years and generate an annual revenue of at least $700K. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
What can I use the funds for?
A Business Loan of a larger size is a great option for almost every company need, including business improvements, purchasing inventory or new equipment or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually by way of charge on assets, which could also be registered in the PPSR or making as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a promise to pay back a loan that is general in nature, rather than stating security over an asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable if the company the borrower fails to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests that are registered for personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR permits prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned according to the date the registration of a security interest.
A caveat is a legal form of document to offer the public notice of a legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We might be able to get this done without a credit check, and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial evaluation that involves answering a couple of financial health questions. It is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of funds. 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
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may apply for an business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months worth of trade (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Complete the online form within a few minutes and a dedicated business credit specialist will contact you to assist you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll need ID details (valid Driver’s Licence), an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Application details including credit consent and 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, and interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables reports.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) We can usually provide an answer within an hour, provided you make your application during standard business time and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements , we are able to offer an answer in as little as an company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we may be likely to offer you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval within less than 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard business hours. Also, allow us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to upload documents from your account statement, it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually provide an answer within one hour – as long as you make your application within standard business timings and allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements, we will be able to offer the decision in as little as the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) We may be in a position to offer the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, this can be faster depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The quickest method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use the modern bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you decide to upload documents from your account statements it can take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loans that range from $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a specific amount we take into consideration a range of variables that determine your health of the company and the extent of payments your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances that are unique to your company.
When you apply for a particular amount, we take into consideration a variety of aspects to determine how much we can lend you such as health for your business and the extent of the repayments your company can support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances the company.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for an business loan?
If you decide to request the company financing, we will assess the risk assessment of your business and provide you with a tailored proposal that includes the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. This business loan is an upfront priced loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount you will have to pay, including interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
The interest rates on company loans rates differ based on various variables like the amount to be borrowed, the company assets the funds are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company operates in, the long the company has been operating and how long the company has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and the general well-being or financial standing of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden fees for our business loans. You’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay, and at what time, from the day you sign up. There’s not any 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 make an application for loans without any upfront costs or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with the setting up and management of the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Can I repay the loan in advance?
You can choose to repay all of your loan early at any time.
If you do decide to do this please talk to one of our helpful business loan experts. They will offer you with repayment details and an early payment figure. This is calculated as the sum of the principal amount remaining and the accrued interest up to the time of early payout in addition to 1.5 percent of the principal remaining plus any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Protecting your information, and knowing how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as ensure the security of your information is of paramount importance and an integral part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption standards to secure your personal, sensitive as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to security for our clients and privacy. We make use of an advanced banking verification system to instantly verify your bank account details online, allowing us to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when a business owner borrows from the assets they have to get the loan. The asset could be a personal asset like the family home, or a company asset such as a vehicle or piece or equipment.
The vast majority of banks, not just the big banks, tend to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your asset may be sold by the lender. In essence it is the process of securing new financing using the value of what you already own.
Are I need security to secure an business loan?
For loans up to $150K the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds, however we do require the personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill the loan terms (as specified in the loan contract) the security of assets is not required. For loans of over $150K generally there is a personal guarantee and security that is in the form an asset charge.