FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Riverwood Small Business Loans
Let me know what you think of the Riverwood Small Business Loans
Riverwood unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months, cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is this Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
You can apply to this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get an instant response and funds may be available in just 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an annual interest rate plus other fees and charges. We offer a company loan is a pre-paid loan which means you know in advance the total amount payable including any fees, interest or charges. This is then broken down into either a daily or weekly installment amount.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any business need, such as cash flow management, business renovations, marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
About Larger Riverwood Business Loans
What is the Larger Riverwood Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly, depending on your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
This 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 in this amount the company needs to have been operating for at least three years and have an annual turnover 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 demonstrate at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funds be utilised?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for almost any business use, including company renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory for general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is needed to access funding over $150,000. It is usually by taking a charge on assets and can include the registration of this in the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to repay credit that is general in nature, rather than stipulating security over an asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business 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 contains security interests that are registered for personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants the priority of personal property assigned according to the date a security interest was registered.
Caveats are legal document filed to provide notice of a legal claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for larger business loans of more than $250,000, we may offer an initial pre-approval that will help simplify the process. We may be able to apply for this without credit checks and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial health checks. This is not an offer or guarantee of credit. Acceptance without condition is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you might receive could be subject to different terms.
The application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You are eligible to apply for an business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months worth of trade (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Simply complete the online form in just a few minutes, and an experienced company loan specialist will call you to assist you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent, 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, and interim financial statements for the current year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summary.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) We can usually provide an answer within one hour if you submit your request within quality company timings and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements , we will be able to offer the decision within just the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we may be in a position to offer the conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The most efficient method for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal company hours. Also, allow us to use the advance bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statement, it will take a little longer.
How soon will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually provide an answer within one hour, provided you apply in normal business time and you allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statement, we’ll provide an answer in as little as the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we might be capable of offer you with conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this can be faster depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some deals have been approved in 24 hours.
The fastest method would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours. Also, allow us to use the advance bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statements, it may take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount we look at a variety of elements in order to assess what is the well-being of the company and the level of repayments that your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances of your business.
When you submit an application for a set amount, we will consider a number of factors to determine your health for your company and the amount of the repayments your company can support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a company loan?
When you request our business financing, we will assess the risk profile for your company and provide you with a customised offer including the loan amount, the terms and interest rates. It is a business loan is an upfront cost loan therefore you will be aware of the total amount to be paid, including any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates vary due to factors including the amount that is borrowed, what business assets the money are used to purchase, the industry the business operates in, the long the company is in operation as well as what percentage of the business has sufficient cash flow to fund the loan, as well as the overall well-being as well as creditworthiness business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden costs for our company loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you’ll need to pay and when, 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 no upfront cost or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with establishing and managing the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you decide to take the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I repay the loan early?
You may choose to pay back the total amount of your advance loan at any time.
If you choose to do this please call our helpful business credit professionals. They’ll offer you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal amount remaining and accrued interest to the date of early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal balance plus any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To ensure that you don’t miss due dates and also to be in line your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Protecting your information, and being transparent about how we collect, use, exchange and protect your information, is of huge importance and is a crucial element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to security for our clients and security. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify the bank account details online so we can provide rapid response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a business owner makes use of an asset that they own to secure a loan. The asset may be an individual property, such as the family home or an company asset such as a truck or piece or equipment.
The majority of banks, including the big banks, tend to secure loans against an asset. If you have trouble paying back the loan then your assets could be sold by the lender. In essence it’s means of securing additional financing making use of the value of what you already have.
Do I need security for a company loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, there is no requirement for asset security upfront to access the money but we do need an individual guarantee. If you adhere to your loan obligations (as stipulated in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be needed. For loans that exceed $150,000, generally, there is an individual guarantee and security that is in the form a charge over assets.