FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Freshwater Small Business Loans
Tell me how you are able to avail the Freshwater Small Business Loans
Freshwater unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months, cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is how is the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional business loan?
It is imaginable to apply to this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone. You’ll get an instant response and the funds could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an interest rate per annum together with additional fees and charges. This company loan is a cash-based loan so you will be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes the interest, fees and charges. This is then broken down into either a daily or weekly payment amount.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost every business purpose including control of cash flow company improvements, advertising, to purchase inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available 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 expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 with a term fixed for up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your situation.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is calculated at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan that is this large the company needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700K. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old or have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can the funding be used for?
A large business loan can be used to fund almost any company purpose including business improvements, purchasing inventory or new equipment, 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 necessary to access funding over $150,000. This is as a result of an charge on assets, and may include registration with the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to repay credit that is generally based rather than stipulating security over a particular asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally accountable if the business the borrower fails to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR gives prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned according to the date the security interest has been registered.
An affidavit is an official document lodged to provide an official notice of a claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for an enterprise loan of more than $250,000 we can offer a preliminary pre-approval to help ease the process. We may be able to apply for this without a credit check, and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial evaluation that involves you answering a few financial health checks. It is not an offer of credit or guarantee of finance. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer that you may receive may be based on different terms.
The application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You can apply for an company loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (for 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 simple and easy. Just fill out the online application in few minutes and a dedicated business credit specialist will be in touch to help you.
To apply for up to $100,000, you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) and an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K-$250K: Information about the application including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K to $500K: Information on the application including credit consent twelve month bank accounts, the IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, as well as interim financials from the current financial year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically offer an answer within one hour if you make your application at standard business hours and allow us to utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements , we will be able to offer the decision in as little as an company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we could be in a position to offer you with conditional pre-approval within six hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard company hours. Also, allow us to use the advance bank verification link to check your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload the copies of bank statements , it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide a response in one hour if you apply in standard business hours and let us use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements we can provide an answer in just one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we might be capable of provide you with a conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this can be faster depending on the circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use our advance bank verification link to verify your bank account information online. If you upload copies of your bank statements it takes a bit 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 certain amount, we look at a variety of variables to determine your well-being for your company and the amount of repayments your business can support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances that are unique to your company.
When you make an application for a specific amount we consider a variety of aspects to assess your health of the company and the amount of payments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specifics the business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a business loan?
If you decide to apply for one of our company financing, we will assess the risk assessment of your business and offer an individualised proposal that includes loan amount, term and interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront-priced loan therefore you will be aware in advance of the total amount payable including any interest rates, fees or charges.
What is the factor that determines the price I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of factors such as the amount that is borrowed, the business assets the money are used to purchase and the sector the company is operating in, how long the business has been in operation as well as what percentage of the company has sufficient cash flow to fund the loan, and general health and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our company loans. You’ll be aware of the amount you be required to pay and at what time, from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest, and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You are able to apply for a loan absolutely no upfront cost and no commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can repay the entire amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you do decide to do this please call our helpful company credit specialists. The professionals will provide you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. It will be calculated using the total of the principal amount remaining and any accrued interest at the date of early payout and 1.5 percent of the principal balance and any fees that remain unpaid.
What are the repayment methods?
To ensure that you don’t miss payments and to work with your cash flow routine, we offer repayments that are either weekly or daily. They are automatically deducted from your nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Security of your data, and knowing how we collect the information we collect, use, share and protect your information, is vital and is an essential element 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 protect your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to security for our clients and security. We use an advanced bank verification system to instantly verify the bank account details online so we can offer a fast response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when the business owner borrows from assets they own to make the funds for a loan. The asset can be an individual property, such as the family home or a business asset such as a truck or piece or equipment.
The majority of lenders, even the big banks, tend to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence, it is the process of securing new financing by making use of the value of what you already have.
What do I need security to get an business loan?
For loans of up to $150K, there is no requirement for asset security before you are able to access the money however, we do need an individual guarantee. As long as you follow your loan obligations (as stated in your loan contract) the security of assets will never be needed. For loans of over $150,000 generally, there is the option of a personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of the charge of assets.