FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Stafford Small Business Loans
Let me know more about Stafford Small Business Loans
Stafford unsecured loans offers 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 makes this 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 answer within the same day and funds may be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans refer to an annual interest rate plus other fees and charges. Our company loan is a pre-paid 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 either a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for almost any company reason, such as control of cash flow business renovations, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
About Larger Stafford Business Loans
What is the Larger Stafford Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company growth opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly depending on your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is determined at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan of this size, your company needs to have been operating for a minimum of 3 years and generate an annual revenue of at least $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
What can I use the funds for?
A large company loan can be used for nearly every company reason, such as company renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is necessary for accessing funds over $150,000. It’s by taking a charge on assets, and could include registering this in the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a commitment to pay back a loan that is general in nature, rather than defining the security of a specific asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business the borrower fails to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR allows priority over personal property to be assigned depending on the date that a security interest that is registered.
Caveats are legal document that is filed to provide notice of a legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re seeking larger company loans that exceeds $250,000, we may offer an initial pre-approval in order to ease the process. It is possible to make this decision without a credit verification and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial evaluation that involves answering a couple of financial health checks. It is not an offer of credit or guarantee of finance. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you receive could be subject to different terms.
Application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may apply for a business loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months worth of trade (for a 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 easy. Just complete the online application within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company lending specialist will call you to guide you through the process.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K – $250K: Application details including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months of bank records, IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, and interim current financial year financials, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summaries.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we can often provide a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request at standard business hours and let us utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements , we are able to provide the decision within just 1 business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be in a position to provide you with a conditional pre-approval in about six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, this can be quicker based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply would be to ensure you apply during standard company hours. You can also let us use the advance bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us duplicates of your banking accounts, it may take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we typically provide an answer within an hour – as long as you submit your request within standard business time and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements, we are able to offer an answer in as little as the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be in a position to provide you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours, and let us use the advanced bank verification system to verify your bank account information online. If you send us documents from your account statements, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we take into consideration a range of factors for determining your health of your business and the amount of repayments your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specifics of your business.
If you apply for a specific amount we will consider a number of elements to assess the well-being that is your company and the level of repayments your business can support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for an business loan?
When you request one of our company financing, we will assess the risk assessment of your business and provide an individualised offer including the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront cost loan therefore you will be aware of the total amount you will have to pay, including charges or interest.
What determines the rate that I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of factors such as the amount that is borrowed, what business assets the funds will be used for as well as the field the company operates in, how long the business is in operation, what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, as well as the general health or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll know precisely how much you’ll be required to pay and at what time, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can make an application for loans with with no upfront cost or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with establishing and managing the loan. This is only a cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5% of the amount of loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you are deciding to pursue this option, please call our helpful business credit professionals. They will offer you with repayment details as well as an early payout amount. It will be calculated using the total of the principal balance and accrued interest to the date of early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal balance and any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To ensure that you don’t miss payments and to work with your cash flow routine, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. They are automatically deducted from your nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being upfront about the ways we gather, use, exchange and safeguard your data, is crucial and an integral element 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 financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to protecting the security of clients and privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system that allows you to immediately verify the bank account details online, allowing us to offer a fast response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when the company owner uses an asset they own to make the funds for a loan. The asset can be either a personal asset like the family home or an company asset such as a vehicle or piece or equipment.
The majority of the lenders even the big banks, tend to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then the asset might be taken over by the lender. In essence, it is a way of securing new funding using the worth of the asset you already own.
What do I need security for a business loan?
For loans up to $150,000 the requirement for asset security is not required upfront to access the money, however we require a personal guarantee. need the personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as detailed in your loan contract document) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be required. For loans over $150,000 generally, you can get a personal ensure and security that is in the form a charge over assets.