FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the The Gap Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the The Gap Small Business Loans
The Gap unsecured loans offers the range of $5,000 to $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary company loan?
You can apply for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get an instant response and have the funds in your account in 24 hours. Traditional business loans refer to an annual interest rate as well as other fees and charges. The company loan is a pre-paid loan therefore you’ll know in advance the total amount payable including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every business purpose including cash flow management, company remodels and marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About the Larger The Gap Business Loans
What is the Larger The Gap Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help business growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan that is this large, your company needs to be trading for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of at least $700K. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of business.
How can the funds be utilised?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost all company use, including business remodeling, buying inventory or new equipment for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is needed for funding of more than $150,000. This can be done in the form of a charge on assets, and may be registered on the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to repay credit that is generally based rather than stipulating the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally liable in the event that the business creditor is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online 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 grants priority over personal property to be assigned according to the date the security interest has been registered.
Caveats are legal document filed to provide the legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
When you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250,000, we may offer an initial pre-approval to make the process. We could be able to do this without a credit verification and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon a preliminary assessment which includes you answering a few financial well-being checks. It’s neither an offer nor a guarantee of financing. A conditional approval is subject a full credit assessment and any offer that you might receive could be subject to different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You can apply for a company loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of trading (for a 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 simple. Just fill out the online application within a couple minutes, and a dedicated business expert in lending will be in touch to guide you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s License) along with a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if credit is over $150K).
$250K – $500K: Information on the application including credit consent and 12 months bank statement, an IRD statement Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, and interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables Summary.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we typically offer an answer within an hour if you apply during quality company times and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements we can offer a decision in just one business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we could be able to provide you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Certain deals have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal business hours. You can also allow us to use our modern bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank accounts, it can take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically provide an answer within one hour, provided you make your application at normal business timings and you allow us to use the bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements, we will be able to provide a decision in just one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we could be likely to provide you with conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this could be shorter based upon the circumstances for each application. Some agreements have been approved in 24 hours.
The fastest way is to ensure you apply during normal business hours. You can also permit us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you opt to send us duplicates of your banking statements, it will take a little longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount we will consider a number of variables in order to assess your health for your business as well as the amount of payments your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances that are unique to your company.
When you make an application for a specific amount we consider a variety of elements to assess your health of the business and the extent of repayments that your company is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the particulars of your company.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a company loan?
If you decide to request business loans with us business loans, we’ll assess the risk profile the company and offer you with a customised offer including the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. This business loan is a loan that is priced upfront and you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount payable including any charges or interest.
What is the factor that determines the price I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates differ based on various factors like the amount of money borrowed, what business assets the funds will be used for, the industry the business operates in, how long the business has been in operation for, how long the business has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and also the overall well-being or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the costs?
There are no hidden costs with our company loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you’ll need to pay and when, from the first day. There’s not any compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as as you make your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to make an application for loans with with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with establishing and managing the loan. It is only charged for this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the loan amount.
Can I pay off the loan in advance?
You may choose to pay back all of your loan in full at any time.
If you choose to take this route, please speak to our friendly company lending experts. They’ll offer you with details on repayment along with an early payout estimate. It will be calculated using the total of the principal amount remaining and the accrued interest up to the time of early payout, plus 1.5% of the remaining principal as well as any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To help you avoid missing payments and to work with your cash flow standard, we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Protecting your information, and making it clear the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and safeguard your data, 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 standards to protect your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to customer security and privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system to instantly verify the bank account details online. This allows us to offer quick responses.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when the business owner makes use of the assets they have to secure a loan. The asset may be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home or it could be a business property like a truck or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of lenders, even the banks with the biggest size, prefer to guarantee loans against assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, then your asset may be transferred to the lender. In essence, it is an opportunity to secure new financing by making use of the value of what you already have.
Are I require security to get a business loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, there is no requirement for asset security prior to the loan’s access but we require a personal guarantee. need an individual guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan commitments (as detailed in your loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security is not required. For loans over $150K generally there is an individual ensure and security that is in the form an asset charge.