FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Austral Small Business Loans
Tell me more about Austral Small Business Loans
Austral unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
The application to get this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get a same day response and have the funds in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an annual interest rate plus other fees and charges. The company loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will be aware of the total amount payable including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any business need, such as control of cash flow company renovations, marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About Larger Austral Business Loans
What is the Larger Austral Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support business expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly to work with your situation.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is determined at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan of this size the company needs to be operating for at least three years with an annual turnover of $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old as well as own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funds for?
A larger company loan can be used for almost all company purpose including business renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. This can be done in the form of a charge over assets, and could be registered on the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to repay credit that is generally based rather than stipulating the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business lender is not able to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register run by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been which are registered with respect to personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR permits prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned in accordance with the date on which a security interest was registered.
An affidavit is an official form of document to offer notice of a legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
When you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan of more than $250,000 we can offer a preliminary pre-approval to help make the process. It is possible to do this without credit checks and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial health checks. This is not an offer or guarantee of credit. Unconditional approval is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer you may receive may be based on different conditions.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of trading (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Just complete the online application in just a few minutes, and an experienced business expert in lending will call you to assist you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000 you’ll need ID details (valid Driver’s License) along with an active NZBN/IRD, and at least six months worth of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K-$250K: Information about the application including credit approval, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if credit is over $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent, 12 months of bank records, IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim financial statements for the current year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summary.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we usually provide a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request during quality business hours and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements , we are able to provide an answer in as little as one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we may be likely to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application within about 6 hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within just 24 hours.
The most effective method is to make sure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use our modern bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you send us the copies of bank statements it will take a little longer.
What is the time frame to receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically provide a response in one hour, provided you submit your request at normal business timings and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you choose to submit copies of your bank statements, we are able to offer a decision within one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we might be capable of provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Some transactions have received approval within just 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use the sophisticated bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank accounts, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount we will consider a number of elements to determine the well-being of your business and the level of the repayments your company can afford. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances of your business.
If you apply for a particular amount, we will consider a number of aspects to determine the well-being of the company and the level of payments your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances for your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for the cost of a company loan?
If you decide to make an application for one of our business loan, we will assess the risk assessment for your company and offer you with a tailored offer, including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. This company loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you will be aware of the total amount due, which includes any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What is the basis for the rate I am charged?
The interest rates on company loans rates depend on several factors including the amount borrowed, the business assets the funds are used to purchase and the sector the company operates in, how long the business has been running as well as in the event that the company has enough cash flow to cover the loan, as well as the overall health and creditworthiness of the company.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden fees with our company loans, and you’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay and when, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding and no extra fees (as long as you make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an application fee. You are able to make an application for loans with no cost upfront or commitment to apply.
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 out the loan early?
You can decide to repay all of your loan early at any time.
If you do decide to do this please speak to our friendly company loans professionals. The specialists will provide you with details for repayment and an early payout figure. It will be calculated using the total of the principal balance and any accrued interest at the time of the early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal remaining and any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To ensure you do not miss repayments and to fit in with your cash flow general, we provide repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being transparent about how we collect the information we collect, use, share and protect your information, is crucial and a vital part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to customer security and privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account details online so we can provide a fast response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when the company owner utilises assets they own to secure the loan. The asset can be an individual property, such as the family home, or it could be a company asset like a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of banks, including the largest banks, are inclined to guarantee loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan then the asset could be sold by the lender. In essence, it’s an opportunity to secure new funding using the worth of the asset you already have.
What do I require security to secure an company loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, there is no requirement for asset security before you can access the money but we require a personal guarantee. need an individual guarantee. If you adhere to your loan commitments (as stated in your loan contract document), asset security will never be needed. For loans that exceed $150K, generally, there is personal ensure and security in the form of an asset charge.