FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Freshwater Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Freshwater Small Business Loans
Freshwater unsecured loans offers the range of $5,000 to $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
How is this Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
It is possible to apply for your 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 company loans are based on an annual interest rate along with other charges and fees. Our company loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any fees, charges or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly every company purpose including managing cash flows, company remodeling, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
About larger Freshwater Business Loans
What is the Larger Freshwater Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly, depending on your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
It is crucial to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is determined at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount, your company needs to have been in operation for at least 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 or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
How can the funds be utilised?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for nearly any business need, including company improvements, purchasing equipment or inventory, as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. This is by taking a charge on assets and can be registered through the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a commitment to repay credit that is generally based rather than stipulating the security for a particular asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally responsible if the company borrower is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests which are registered with respect to personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted according to the date the security interest that is registered.
A caveat is a legal form of document to offer an official notice of a claim to a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking an enterprise loan that exceeds $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval that will help make the process. We might be able to do this without a credit check, and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial assessment that includes you answering a few financial well-being questions. This is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of finance. A conditional approval is subject an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you might receive could be on different conditions.
Application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You are eligible to apply for a business 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)
- 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 or $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and simple. Complete the online form in few minutes and a dedicated business expert in lending will call you to assist you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s License) along with a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, 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 you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statement Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim financial statements for the current year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables Summary.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we can often offer an answer in just one hour, provided you submit your request at standard company times and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements we can offer a decision in as little as an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be likely to provide the conditional pre-approval within about six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved within just 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to ensure you apply during standard company hours, and allow us to use our modern bank verification to check your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statement, it may take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we can often provide an answer within one hour if you apply during standard business times and permit us to use the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements we can provide a decision within 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we might be in a position to provide you with conditional pre-approval in 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 transactions have received approval in just 24 hours.
The most efficient method is to ensure you apply during normal business hours and allow us to use the modern bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you decide to upload duplicates of your banking statements, it will take a little longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount we take into consideration a range of aspects that determine your well-being of the company as well as the amount of payments your business will be able to support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics that are unique to your company.
If you apply for a specific amount we will consider a number of elements to assess the well-being for your business and the level of the repayments your business can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specifics of your business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a business loan?
When you make an application for our company credit, we’ll assess the risk profile for your company and provide you with a customised proposal that includes loan amount, term and the interest rates. The company loan is an upfront cost loan so you will be aware of the total amount to be paid, including any interest rates, fees or charges.
What is the factor that determines the price I am charged?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on several factors such as the amount that is borrowed, the business assets the funds are used to purchase and the sector the business operates in, the long the company has been running for, whether the business has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and the overall well-being or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden fees with our company loans, and you’ll know precisely what it is that you need to pay and at what time, from the very first day. There’s no compounding and there are no additional charges (as as long as you pay your payments on time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to make an application for loans with absolutely no upfront cost and no commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated in establishing and managing the loan. This is only a cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan early?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of the loan at any point in time.
If you are deciding to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly business lending specialists. We will offer you with the details of your repayment and an early payment figure. The figure will be calculated as the total of the principal balance plus any accrued interest as of the time of early payment and 1.5% of the principal balance and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do repayments work?
To ensure you do not miss payment dates and to align with your cash flow routine, we provide repayments either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Security of your data, and being upfront about the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and secure your information, is of huge importance and is an essential part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption standards to secure your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to customer security and security. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system link to instantly verify the bank account details online to provide a fast response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when a company owner makes use of an asset that they own to make the funds for a loan. The asset may be an individual asset, such as the family home, or an business property like a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of the lenders not just the big banks, tend to guarantee loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then the asset might be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s the process of securing additional financing making use of the value of what you already have.
Are I require security to secure a business loan?
For loans up to $150K there is no requirement for asset security prior to the loan’s access however, we do need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan obligations (as stated in your loan contract), asset security is not required. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 generally, you are able to get personal ensure and security that is in the form an asset charge.