FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Freshwater Small Business Loans
Let me know about the Freshwater Small Business Loans
Freshwater unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
It is possible to apply to your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or over the phone, receive a same day response and funds may be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. The business loan is a pre-paid loan so you will know in advance the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost any company purpose including the management of cash flow, company remodeling, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About Larger Freshwater Business Loans
What is the Larger Freshwater Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support company growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly to work with the flow of cash.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
It is crucial to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan that is this large the business needs to have been in operation for at least 3 years with an annual turnover of $700K. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at the least 12 months of operating.
What can I use the funds for?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost every business purpose including business renovations, purchase of equipment or inventory, as 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 required for funding of more than $150,000. It’s in the form of a charge against assets, and could include registering this with the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to pay off a credit line that is general in nature, rather than defining security over an asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally liable in the event that the company creditor is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are granted to individuals who own personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR permits priority over personal property to be assigned depending on the date that a security interest has been registered.
A caveat is a legal document filed to provide notice of a legal claim on a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for larger company loans that is greater than $250,000 we can offer an initial pre-approval that will help simplify the process. It is possible to get this done without a credit check and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial evaluation that involves answering a couple of financial well-being questions. This is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of credit. Acceptance without condition is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer you may receive may be on different terms.
The application process
Are I 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, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months worth of trade (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and simple. Just fill out the online application in just a few minutes, and a dedicated company lending specialist will be in touch to guide you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000 you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) and a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months’ worth 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-$500K: Information on the application including credit consent and 12 months bank statement, an IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables reports.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we can often offer an answer within one hour – as long as you make your application in quality business hours and let us make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements , we will be able to provide a decision within just one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we might be likely to provide the conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Some offers have been approved in just 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard company hours. You can also let us use the modern bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you decide to send us duplicates of your banking statements it will take a little longer.
How quickly will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer in just one hour – as long as you submit your request in standard business time and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statements, we are able to provide a decision within 1 business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) We may be capable of provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application within about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The most efficient method can be ensure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use our advance bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you choose to send us duplicates of your banking statements, it may take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we look at a variety of variables in order to assess what is the well-being for your company and the extent of the repayments your company is able to afford. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances the company.
When you submit an application for a particular amount, we consider a variety of factors to determine the health of your business and the extent of the repayments your business can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the particular circumstances the business.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for a company loan?
When you apply for the company financing, we’ll assess the risk profile the business and offer you with a tailored offer that includes the loan amount, the terms and interest rates. This company loan is an upfront priced loan so you will be aware of the total amount due, which includes any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the rate that I am charged?
Interest rates for company loans rates depend on a variety of factors like the amount of money borrowed, what business assets the money are used to purchase, the industry the business is in, how long the business is in operation, how long the company has sufficient cash flow to cover the loan, and general well-being and creditworthiness of the company.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges for our company loans, and you’ll know precisely what you’ll be required to pay and when, from the very first day. There’s not any compounding interest and no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can apply for a loan with without any upfront costs 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. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You may choose to pay back the entire amount of the loan early at any time.
If you do decide to take this route, please speak to our friendly business loan experts. They will offer you with the details of your repayment along with an early payout estimate. This is calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the time of early payment plus 1.5 percent of the principal balance and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do you make repayments work?
To ensure you do not miss due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow general, we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
The security of your personal information, as well as being clear about the ways we gather data, process, exchange and ensure the security of your information is vital and is a crucial part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption standards to protect your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to protecting the security of clients and security. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank account information online, allowing us to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an business owner uses an asset that they own to get a loan. The asset may be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home, or a company property like a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of lenders, including the big banks, tend to secure loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your asset may be offered for sale by the lender. In essence, it is the process of securing new funding using the value of what you already have.
What do I require security to secure an company loan?
For loans that exceed $150K, it is not necessary to secure assets upfront to access the money However, we do need the personal guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan obligations (as detailed in your loan contract document), asset security is not required. For loans of over $150K generally, you are able to get personal guarantee and security in the form of a charge over assets.