FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Hillcrest Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the Hillcrest Small Business Loans
Hillcrest unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
You can apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone, receive a same day response and have the funds on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual rate of interest along with other charges and fees. The company loan is a cash-based loan so you will know ahead of time the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily installment amount.
What could you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for almost any company reason, such as the management of cash flow, company remodels and marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
About the Larger Hillcrest Business Loans
What is the Larger Hillcrest Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund 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 in order to accommodate your situation.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan that is this large the company needs to have been trading for at least 3 years with an annual turnover of $700K. Your company must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
What can the funds be used for?
A larger company loan can be used for almost all company reason, such as business renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory for general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is required to access funding over $150,000. It is usually by taking a charge against assets, and may include the registration of this in the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is general in nature, rather than stating security over an asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally liable if the business lender is not able to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests registered in respect of personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR allows priority over personal property to be assigned in accordance with the date on which a security interest was registered.
An affidavit is an official document lodged 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 requesting a Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250,000 it is possible to offer an initial pre-approval that will help ease the process. It is possible to do this without a credit verification and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial assessment that includes answering a couple of financial health questions. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of funds. A conditional approval is subject an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you receive could be on different conditions.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for a company loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of business (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and simple. Just complete the online application in just a few minutes, and an experienced business loan specialist will be in touch to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll need:
$100K-$250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if credit is over $150K).
$250K to $500K: Information on the application including credit consent, 12 months of bank records, IRD statements and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, and interim financial statements for the current year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables reports.
How quickly will I receive an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we typically provide an answer within an hour, provided you apply within standard company timings and permit us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements , we’ll be able to provide the decision within one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K and up) we could be likely to offer the conditional pre-approval in around 6 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 upon the circumstances for each application. Certain agreements have been approved within 24 hours.
The most effective method would be to ensure you apply during standard company hours and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to verify your bank account information online. If you opt to send us duplicates of your banking statement, it may take a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually provide an answer within an hour if you apply within normal business hours and allow us to use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to upload copies of your bank statements, we are able to provide a decision in just an business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we might be likely to offer you with conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Certain deals have been approved within just 24 hours.
The fastest method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours, and permit us to use the modern bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you upload copies of your bank statement, it may take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can 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 how much we can lend you health of the company and the amount of repayments that your business is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances the company.
When you apply for a certain amount, we take into consideration a variety of aspects to determine your health that is your company and the amount of repayments your business can support. The total amount of your loan will be determined by the particular circumstances that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for the cost of a company loan?
When you make an application for our company loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment for your business and provide you with a customised proposal that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. This business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will be aware in advance of the total amount payable including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the factor that determines the price I’m charged?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on several variables like the amount to be that is borrowed, what business assets the money are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the business operates in, how long the business has been operating for, what percentage of the company has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, and overall health or financial standing of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll be aware of the amount you be required to pay and when, from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest and no additional fees (as as long as you pay your payments in time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You can request a credit loan with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan in advance?
You can repay the entire amount of the loan early at any time.
If you do decide to do this please speak to our friendly company loan specialists. They will provide you with details for repayment as well as an early payout amount. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the remaining principal amount plus any accrued interest as of the date of early payout and 1.5% of the principal amount remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To ensure you do not miss due dates and also to be in line your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either weekly or daily. They will be automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Protecting your information, and making it clear the ways we gather information, use it, and exchange it, as well as secure your information, is of huge importance and a vital aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption standards to secure your personal, sensitive as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system link to instantly confirm your bank account information online, allowing us to provide rapid response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the business owner makes use of assets they own to secure the loan. The asset can be a personal asset like the family home or an company asset such as a vehicle or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of banks, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, your asset may be taken over by the lender. In essence it is a way of securing additional financing using the value of what you already have.
Do I need security to get a company loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, no asset security is required prior to the loan’s access but we do need an individual guarantee. As long as you follow the loan terms (as stipulated in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be needed. For loans of over $150,000 typically, you will need the option of a personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of an asset charge.