FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Fortitude Valley Small Business Loans
Tell me more about Fortitude Valley Small Business Loans
Fortitude Valley unsecured loans offers the range of $5,000 to $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months, cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
You can apply to get this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get an immediate response, and the money could be available in just 24 hours. Traditional business loans reference an annual interest rate along with other charges and fees. Our company loan is a cash-based loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount due, which includes any fees, charges or charges. This is then divided into weekly or daily installment amount.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company purpose including control of cash flow business remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About the Larger Fortitude Valley Business Loans
What is the Larger Fortitude Valley Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help business growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly depending on the flow of cash.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan of this size, your company needs to have been trading for at least 3 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 as well as 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 large business loan can be used to fund almost all company use, including business renovations, purchase of new equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary for funding of more than $150,000. This is by taking a charge on assets, and could include registering this on the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to pay off a credit line that is generally based rather than stipulating security over a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally accountable if the business creditor is unable to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR gives prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted in accordance with the date on which a security interest was registered.
A caveat is a legal document lodged to offer the public notice of a legal claim to a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan of $250K or more we can offer a preliminary pre-approval to help make the process. It is possible to make this decision without credit checks and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes you answering some financial health questions. This is not an offer or guarantee of financing. Unconditional approval is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you receive could be on different terms.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You may apply for a business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Just complete the online application in just a few minutes, and a dedicated company credit specialist will contact you to help you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s License) as well as an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least 6 months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K to $250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Information on the application including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statement Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim financials from the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables reports.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we can often offer a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request in quality business times and let us make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statements , we are able to offer a decision in just 1 company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be in a position to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within 24 hours.
The quickest method is to ensure you apply during standard company hours. You can also allow us to use our advance bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us the copies of bank statements , it may take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we typically provide an answer within one hour if you apply within standard business time and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statements, we are able to provide a decision in as little as one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) We may be likely to offer you with conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this can be faster depending upon the circumstances for each application. Certain transactions have received approval in 24 hours.
The quickest method can be ensure you apply during standard business hours. You can also allow us to use our advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us duplicates of your banking statement, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount we will consider a number of variables that determine what is the health of your business and the amount of the repayments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specific circumstances that are unique to your business.
When you submit an application for a set amount, we take into consideration a variety of aspects to assess the well-being that is your company and the extent of the repayments your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances for your company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for a business loan?
If you decide to apply for our business credit, we’ll assess the risk profile that you have for your business and offer you with a tailored offer that includes the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. A business loan is an upfront cost loan which means you know the exact amount payable including any charges or interest.
What determines the rate that I will be charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates depend on a variety of factors including the amount borrowed, the business assets the money are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company operates in, how long the company has been running, what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to support the loan, and general well-being or financial standing of the company.
What are the charges?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans. You’ll know precisely how much you be required to pay and when, starting from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as as long as you pay your payments on time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can request a credit loan with with no upfront cost or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with the setting up and management of the loan. You are only charged this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Can I repay the loan in advance?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of your loan early at any time.
If you decide to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly company loan experts. They’ll offer you with details for repayment along with an early payout estimate. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal balance and the accrued interest up to the time of early payment and 1.5% of the principal amount remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either weekly or daily. These are automatically withdrawn from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being upfront about how we collect, use, exchange and secure your information, is of huge importance and is an essential aspect 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 as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to protecting the security of customers and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to instantly verify the bank account details online, allowing us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the business owner utilises an asset they own to obtain the funds for a loan. The asset may be a personal asset like the family home or an business asset like a truck or piece or equipment.
The vast majority of lenders, even the banks with the biggest size, prefer to guarantee loans against an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your assets could be sold by the lender. In essence, it is means of securing new financing using the value of what you already have.
Do I need security to get an company loan?
Up to $150K in loans the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds however, we do need an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan commitments (as detailed in the loan contract) the security of assets will never be required. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, you can get personal ensure and security in the form a charge over assets.