FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Loftus Small Business Loans
Let me know more about Loftus Small Business Loans
Loftus unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is how is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
Apply to your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or on the phone. You’ll 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. We offer a company loan is a pre-paid loan which means you be aware in advance of the total amount to be paid, including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What could you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any company need, such as the management of cash flow, company remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
About Larger Loftus Business Loans
What is the Larger Loftus Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support business expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a fixed-term up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly to work with your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is calculated at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan of this size, your company needs to be in operation for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of business.
What can I use the funding for?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost all company reason, such as business improvements, purchasing equipment or inventory or as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is required for accessing funds over $150,000. This can be done by way of charge against assets, which could also include registration through the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a promise to repay credit that is general in nature rather than stipulating security over a particular asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally accountable if the business creditor 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 that are registered for personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR permits prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted in accordance with the date on which a security interest that is registered.
An affidavit is an official document filed to offer the public notice of a legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
When you’re applying for an enterprise loan of $250,000 or more we can offer an initial pre-approval to ease the process. We may be able to apply for this without a credit check, and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment, which involves the answer to a series of financial health questions. This is not an offer or guarantee of credit. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you receive could have different terms.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for an business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months’ worth of transactions (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and easy. Simply complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated business expert in lending will be in touch to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000 you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s License) as well as an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent twelve month bank accounts, the IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, in addition to interim current financial year financials as well as Aged Payables and Receivables summary.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide an answer within one hour if you make your application during standard business times and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements we can offer a decision in as little as the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be able to offer you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. After 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 circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The most effective method for you to apply is ensure you apply during normal business hours, and permit us to use the modern bank verification link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us duplicates of your banking statement, it takes a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually offer a response in one hour if you make your application during normal business time and you allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision in as little as 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we might be capable of provide the conditional pre-approval in about six hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Certain offers have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours. You can also allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload documents from your account statements it can take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount we look at a variety of aspects to determine your well-being for your business and the extent of the repayments your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances the business.
When you apply for a set amount, we take into consideration a variety of variables to assess your health of the company and the amount of repayments that your company can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particulars for your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for a company loan?
When you make an application for one of our company financing, we will assess the risk assessment for your company and provide you with a customised offer including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. This company loan is an upfront cost loan which means you be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the rate that I pay?
The interest rates on company 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 and the sector the company is operating in, how long the company has been running, in the event that the business has sufficient cash flow to fund the loan, and also the general health or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans. You’ll know precisely how much it is that you be required to pay and when, starting from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding and no extra fees (as long as you are able to make your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an application fee. You are able to make an application for loans with no cost upfront or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated in establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I pay off the loan earlier?
You can repay the entire amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you are deciding to take this route, please talk to one of our helpful business loans experts. The experts will provide you with details for repayment as well as an early payout amount. It will be calculated using the sum of the principal amount remaining plus any accrued interest as of the time of the early payout plus 1.5% of the principal remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in with your cash flow routine, we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
The security of your personal information, as well as knowing the ways we gather, use, exchange and secure your information, is of huge importance 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 techniques to protect your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to customer security and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account details online. This allows us to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an business owner borrows from an asset they own to get the funding. The asset can be either an individual asset, such as the family home, or a business asset such as a vehicle as well as a piece of machine.
The majority of lenders, not just the major banks, prefer to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then the asset could be sold by the lender. In essence it’s an opportunity to secure new financing making use of the value of what you already have.
Do I need security to secure a company loan?
For loans that exceed $150K, it is not necessary to secure assets upfront to access the money but we do require an individual guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan obligations (as stipulated in the loan contract), asset security will never be needed. For loans over $150K generally, there is a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of charges on assets.