FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Albion Small Business Loans
Tell me how you are able to avail the Albion Small Business Loans
Albion unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What makes how is the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
Apply to the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or on the phone. You’ll receive an immediate response, and have the funds in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans refer to an annual interest rate together with additional fees and charges. This company loan is a cash-based loan therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount payable including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What could you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost every business purpose including cash flow management, company improvements, advertising for purchasing inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
About the Larger Albion Business Loans
What is the Larger Albion Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly to work with the flow of cash.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is determined at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan that is this large the business needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700,000. Your business must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of business.
How can the funds be utilised?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for nearly any business purpose including company renovations, purchase of new equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is needed to access funding over $150,000. It is usually by way of charge over assets, and may include registering this on the PPSR or making as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to repay credit that is general in nature, rather than defining the security for a particular asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally responsible if the business borrower is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR allows preference over private property granted according to the date the security interest has been registered.
Caveats are legal form of document to offer the public notice of a legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re seeking a Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval that will help ease the process. We could 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 well-being checks. It is neither an offer nor a guarantee of financing. Unconditional approval is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer that you are offered could have different conditions.
Application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You can apply for an business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of trading (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. Just complete the online application within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company credit specialist will call you to guide you.
To apply for up to $100,000, you’ll need the right identification documents (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 also require:
$100K – $250K: Information about the application including credit approval, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Application details including credit consent twelve months bank statement, an IRD statement Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financial statements for the current year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables Summary.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we usually offer a response in one hour if you make your application within quality business timings and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to upload copies of your banking statements we can provide the decision in just an company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K and up) we might be able to provide you with conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Certain offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply is to make sure you apply during normal business hours and let us use the advance bank verification link to verify your bank information online. If you send us documents from your account statements it takes a bit longer.
How fast will I get the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we typically provide a response in one hour, provided you submit your request within standard business times and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements, we’ll be able to provide the decision in as little as the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be able to offer the conditional pre-approval in about six hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Some transactions have received approval within 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours, and let us use the advance bank verification to instantly verify your bank information online. If you upload documents from your account statements, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount we look at a variety of variables that determine the health that is your business and the extent of repayments that your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances of your company.
When you make an application for a particular amount, we take into consideration a variety of elements to assess how much we can lend you such as health that is your business as well as the amount of repayments your business can support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specific circumstances for your company.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for an company loan?
When you make an application for one of our business loans, we will assess the risk profile of your business and offer an individualised proposal that includes the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. It is a business loan is an upfront cost loan so you will be aware of the total amount to be paid, including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the factor that determines the price I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates differ based on various factors including the amount that is borrowed, what company assets the funds are used to purchase as well as the field the company is in, how long the business has been running for, what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and also the general health or financial standing of the business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden fees with our business loans, and you’ll know exactly 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 additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an application fee. You are able to get a cash loan no cost upfront or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated in establishing and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the amount of loan.
Can I repay the loan earlier?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of the loan in full at any time.
If you decide to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly business loan professionals. They will offer you with the details of your repayment along with an early payout estimate. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal balance and accrued interest to the time of the early payout and 1.5 percent of the remaining principal plus any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
In order to help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Security of your data, and being transparent about how we collect, use, exchange and secure your information, is of paramount importance and is a crucial part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to security for our clients and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system that allows you to immediately confirm your bank account information online to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when an company owner uses the assets they have to make the loan. The asset can be either an individual property, such as the family home, or an company asset such as a vehicle or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lending institutions, even the major banks, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then the asset might be sold by the lender. In essence it is an opportunity to secure new funding taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Are I require security for a company loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds but we do require the personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as stated in your loan contract document), asset security will never be required. For loans of over $150,000 generally, you are able to get an individual guarantee and security that is in the form an asset charge.