FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Details of The St Lucia Small Business Loans
Tell me about the St Lucia Small Business Loans
St Lucia unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
How is the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
Apply to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or by phone. You will receive an answer within the same day and the money could be available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an annual interest rate plus other fees and charges. Our business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is broken down into either weekly or daily repayment figure.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any business purpose including cash flow management, business improvements, advertising to purchase inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
About the Larger St Lucia Business Loans
What is the Larger St Lucia Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit that is this large the business needs to have been operating for at least three years, and have an annual income of $700,000. Your business must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years as well as own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funds for?
A large company loan is a great option for almost every business reason, such as company renovations, purchase of inventory or new equipment or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is required for accessing funds over $150,000. It’s by taking a charge on assets and can be registered with the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is general in nature, rather than stating security over an asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable if the business borrower is unable to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests that are registered for personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR gives priority over personal property to be granted according to the date a security interest has been registered.
A caveat is a legal document filed to offer an official notice of a claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250K we may be able to provide a preliminary pre-approval to help simplify the process. It is possible to make this decision without a credit check, and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial assessment that includes the answer to a series of financial health questions. It’s in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of finance. Acceptance without condition is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you receive could be based on different conditions.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may apply for an business loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of business (for for the 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 simple and easy. Complete the online form within a few minutes and an experienced company loan specialist will contact you to guide you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent and 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summary.
How quickly will I receive an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we typically offer a response in one hour if you apply during standard company timings and you allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statements , we are able to provide a decision in just one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we might be in a position to offer you with conditional pre-approval in about six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait about 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval in 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply is to ensure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use the advance bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements it takes a bit longer.
How fast will I get the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) We can usually provide a response in one hour – provided you make your application at normal business time and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer an answer in as little as one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) We may be in a position to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in around 6 hours. Once you have signed the 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. Certain offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The fastest method is to make sure you apply during normal business hours. Also, permit us to use the advance bank verification link to verify your bank account information online. If you send us copies of your bank accounts, it may take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount we will consider a number of variables in order to assess your well-being of the company and the extent of repayments that your business can support. The total amount of your loan will depend on the particular circumstances of your company.
When you apply for a set amount, we consider a variety of elements to assess how much we can lend you such as well-being of your business as well as the amount of repayments your company can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances that are unique to your company.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for a business loan?
If you decide to request the company credit, we’ll assess the risk assessment of your business and provide you with a tailored offer, including the loan amount, the terms and interest rates. The company loan is an upfront cost loan which means you know the exact amount you will have to pay, including charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the rate that I pay?
The interest rates on company loans rates vary due to factors including the amount of money borrowed, the business assets the money will be used for as well as the field the company operates in, how long the company is in operation for, whether the business has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, and overall health as well as creditworthiness company.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden charges for our business loans. You’ll be aware of the amount it is that you be required to pay and when, right from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest, and there are no additional charges (as as you make your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can make an application for loans with without any upfront costs or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with establishing and managing the loan. This is only a cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I pay out the loan early?
You can choose to repay all of your loan at any point in time.
If you decide to do this please speak to our friendly company loans experts. The specialists will offer you with details on repayment as well as an early payout amount. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal balance and any accrued interest at the time of early payout in addition to 1.5 percent of the principal remaining and any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
The security of your personal information, as well as being upfront about the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and ensure the security of your information is vital and a vital part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption techniques to protect your personal, sensitive financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our clients as well as their security. We use an advanced bank verification system link to instantly confirm your bank account information online to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when the business owner makes use of assets they own to get the funds for a loan. The asset can be an individual asset, such as the family home or a business property like a truck or piece or equipment.
The majority of lenders, including the big banks, tend to secure loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, the asset might be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s means of securing new financing by making use of the value of what you already have.
Do I need security for an company loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans it is not necessary to secure assets before you can access the money but we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as stipulated in your loan contract document) Asset security is not needed. For loans of over $150K typically, you will need an individual guarantee and security in the form charges on assets.