FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Seaforth Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the Seaforth Small Business Loans
Seaforth unsecured loans provides 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.
What is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
The application to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone, receive an immediate response, and the money could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an interest rate per annum together with additional fees and charges. Our company loan is a pre-paid loan so you will know ahead of time the total amount payable including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily repayment figure.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any company reason, such as the management of cash flow, company renovations, marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, or as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About larger Seaforth Business Loans
What is the Larger Seaforth Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 for a fixed period of up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly to work with the flow of cash.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount, your business needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years, and have an annual income of $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funds be utilised?
A Larger Business Loan can be used to fund almost any company reason, such as business renovations, purchase of equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. This is in the form of a charge over assets, and may include registration through the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to pay back a loan that is general in nature, rather than defining security over a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally accountable if the business the borrower fails to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online registry run by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been granted to individuals who own personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR gives priority over personal property to be assigned according to the date a security interest that is registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal form of document to offer the public notice of a legal claim to a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting an enterprise loan that exceeds $250,000 we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We may be able to do this without credit checks and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial assessment, which involves you answering a few financial health checks. It is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of funds. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer that you may receive may be subject to different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for a 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 of trading (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and simple. Complete the online form in few minutes and an experienced company expert in lending will be in touch to help you.
To apply for up to $100,000, you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) along with a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K to $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if loan above $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details for application including credit consent, 12 months of bank records, IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, as well as interim current financial year financials as well as Aged Payables and Receivables reports.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer an answer in just one hour, provided you submit your request within standard company hours and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements , we will be able to offer a decision within the span of one company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we might be able to offer you with a conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once 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 specifics of each application. Some agreements have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard business hours and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system link to verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank accounts, it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) We can usually provide an answer within an hour, provided you apply at standard business times and you allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision within 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we could be capable of provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application within about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval within less than 24 hours.
The fastest method would be to ensure you apply during normal business hours. You can also let us use the advance bank verification link to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you send us documents from your account accounts, it may take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a particular amount, we consider a variety of factors to determine what is the health for your company as well as the amount of repayments your business can support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specifics that are unique to your business.
When you apply for a set amount, we look at a range of elements to determine the well-being that is your company and the extent of repayments that your business will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particular circumstances that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for an business loan?
If you decide to make an application for one of our business loans, 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. It is a company loan is a loan that is priced upfront and you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any charges or interest.
What determines the amount I pay?
The interest rates on business loans rates vary due to variables like the amount to be borrowed, what company assets the money will be used for, the industry the company is in, how long the company has been operating, how long the company has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, and general health or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the cost?
There are no hidden costs with our company loans, and you’ll know precisely what you’ll be required to pay, and when, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and no extra fees (as as you make your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan without any upfront costs or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee covers the costs 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 loan amount.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan early?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of your advance loan at any time.
If you decide to take this route, please contact our helpful business loans experts. They will provide you with the details of your repayment along with an early payout estimate. It will be calculated using the total of the principal amount remaining and the accrued interest up to the time of early payment in addition to 1.5 percent of the remaining principal and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do repayments work?
To ensure you do not miss payments and to work with your cash flow cycle we offer repayments either weekly or daily. They are automatically deducted from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and making it clear the ways we gather, use, exchange and protect your information, is vital and is an essential part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to the security of our clients as well as their privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system that allows you to immediately verify your bank account information online, allowing us to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the company owner borrows from an asset that they own to get the loan. The asset can be either a personal asset like the family home or a company asset such as a vehicle or piece or equipment.
The majority of lenders, even the largest banks, are inclined to guarantee loans against an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, the asset could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s the process of securing new financing taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Do I require security for a business loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds, however we do need the personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as detailed in your loan contract) Asset security will never be needed. For loans that exceed $150K, generally, there is a personal ensure and security in the form charges on assets.