FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Riverwood Small Business Loans
Tell me how you are able to avail the Riverwood Small Business Loans
Riverwood unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What makes how is the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
You can apply to get this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone, receive an immediate response, and funds may be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an interest rate per annum together with additional fees and charges. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you be aware of the total amount to be paid, including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is divided into weekly or daily payment 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 remodels and marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About larger Riverwood Business Loans
What is the Larger Riverwood Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly to work with your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan that is this large the company needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
How can the funding be utilised?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for almost any business reason, such as business renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory 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 required to access funding over $150,000. This can be done as a result of an charge against assets and can include the registration of this on the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to pay off a credit line that is general in nature, rather than specifying the security of a specific asset. The person signing the ensure is personally accountable if the business lender is not able to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests that are registered for personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants priority over personal property to be granted according to the date the security interest has been registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal form of document to provide the legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan of $250,000 or more we can offer an initial pre-approval in order to make the process. We might be able to get this done without a credit check and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment, which involves the answer to a series of financial health questions. It is neither an offer nor a guarantee of credit. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you might receive could be on different conditions.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for an business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months worth of trade (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 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 help you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s License) as well as an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K-$250K: Application details including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months of bank records, IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, plus interim financial statements for the current year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summaries.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) We can usually provide an answer within one hour if you submit your request in quality business timings and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statements , we are able to provide a decision within one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we might be likely to provide you with a conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this can be quicker based upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved in 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard business hours and let us use the modern bank verification to confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload duplicates of your banking statements it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we usually provide an answer in just one hour – provided you make your application within standard business hours and you allow us to use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statements, we are able to provide a decision in as little as an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we might be in a position to provide you with conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once 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 particular circumstances of each application. Certain transactions have received approval within 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload duplicates of your banking accounts, it takes a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loan amounts between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a particular amount, we take into consideration a range of aspects to determine the well-being that is your company as well as the amount of repayments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances that are unique to your business.
If you apply for a certain amount, we will consider a number of variables to determine your well-being of the company as well as the amount of repayments that your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will be determined by the specifics for your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a business loan?
If you decide to make an application for the business loans, we’ll assess the risk profile of your company and provide you with a customised offer, including the loan amount, the terms and interest rates. A business loan is an upfront priced loan and you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the rate that I’m charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates depend on a variety of factors like the amount of money borrowed, what business assets the funds will be used for, the industry the business is in, how long the company is in operation as well as what percentage of the business has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and general health or financial standing of the business.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden charges for our business loans. You’ll know precisely how much you’ll be required to pay, and when, starting from the first day. There’s no compounding interest, and no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can apply for a loan absolutely no upfront cost and no any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of loan.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can choose to repay the total amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you choose to do this please speak to our friendly business loan professionals. We will provide you with details for repayment and an early payment figure. This will be calculated as the sum of the remaining principal amount plus any accrued interest as of the date of early payout and 1.5% of the principal remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
What are the repayment methods?
In order to help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Protecting your information, and knowing the ways we gather data, process, exchange and protect your information, is of paramount importance and a vital aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption techniques to protect your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to customer security and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online so we can offer rapid response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an business owner makes use of the assets they have to obtain a loan. The asset can be a personal asset like the family home, or it could be a business asset such as a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The majority of lenders, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against assets. If you have trouble paying back the loan, then the asset could be taken over by the lender. In essence, it is an opportunity to secure new funding making use of the value of what you already own.
Are I require security to get an business loan?
For loans up to $150K the requirement for asset security is not required prior to the loan’s access however, we require a personal guarantee. need an individual guarantee. If you adhere to the terms of your loan (as stated in the loan contract), asset security will never be needed. For loans that exceed $150,000, typically, you will need personal guarantee and security that is in the form the charge of assets.