FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Northcote Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Northcote Small Business Loans
Northcote unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What is this Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
You can apply to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone. You’ll get an instant response and the funds could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an interest rate per annum along with other charges and fees. The company loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you know in advance the total amount payable including any interest, fees or charges. This is then divided into weekly or daily amount to be paid back.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every company reason, such as the management of cash flow, business renovations, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Concerning Larger Northcote Business Loans
What is the Larger Northcote Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help business expansion opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan that is this large, your company needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years, and have an annual income of $700,000. Your company must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of business.
What can I use the funding for?
A large business loan can be used for almost any business reason, such as company improvements, purchasing inventory or new equipment or as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. This can be done by taking a charge on assets, and could include the registration of this on the PPSR or making as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to pay off a credit line that is generally in nature rather than specifying security over a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally responsible if the business lender is not able to re-pay 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 that are registered for personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR permits prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned according to the date a registration of a security interest.
An affidavit is an official document that is filed to offer an official notice of a claim to property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250,000, we may offer an initial pre-approval that will help make the process. We could be able to apply for this without a credit check, and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial health questions. It is not an offer of credit or guarantee of credit. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you might receive could be based on different terms.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You can apply for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Just complete the online application within a couple minutes, and an experienced business lending specialist will contact you to guide you through the process.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s Licence), an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent, 12 months of bank statements, IRD statements as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financials for the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summary.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we can often offer an answer within an hour, provided you make your application during quality business times and allow us to utilise the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements , we are able to offer an answer in just 1 company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we could be able to offer the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval within less than 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to ensure you apply during standard company hours. You can also permit us to use the advanced bank verification system link to check your bank’s information online. If you send us documents from your account statements it may take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we usually provide a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request in normal business times and let us make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements, we will be able to provide a decision in just the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we might be in a position to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this can be faster depending on the circumstances of each application. Certain deals have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The quickest method can be ensure you apply during standard business hours. Also, allow us to use our modern bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you send us copies of your bank statement, it can take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loans that range from $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we consider a variety of variables that determine how much we can lend you health that is your company and the level of payments your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will depend on the particular circumstances for your company.
When you make an application for a set amount, we look at a range of variables to determine the well-being that is your business and the extent of repayments your business can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the particulars of your business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a company loan?
If you decide to request the company financing, we will assess the risk assessment of your business and provide you with a customised offer, including the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. The business 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 determines the rate that I am charged?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on several factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what business assets the funds will be used for in addition to the industry that the company is in, how long the company has been operating as well as in the event that the business has sufficient cash flow to pay for the loan, as well as the overall well-being as well as creditworthiness business.
What are the charges?
There aren’t any hidden charges for our company loans, and you’ll be aware of the amount you’ll need to pay and when, starting from the day you sign up. There’s not any compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can request a credit loan with no cost upfront or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with establishing and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you decide to take the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan in advance?
You can repay the entire amount of your loan early at any time.
If you decide to do this please call our helpful business credit professionals. They’ll offer you with details on repayment along with an early payout estimate. This will be calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount plus any accrued interest as of the time of the early payout plus 1.5% of the principal amount remaining plus any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
In order to help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated 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 the information we collect, use, share and protect your information, is of paramount importance and is a crucial aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online so we can provide quick responses.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when an business owner makes use of the assets they have to get the funding. The asset can be an individual property, such as the family home or it could be a company asset like a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of banks, even the big banks, tend to make loans secured by an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, your asset may be transferred to the lender. In essence, it’s a way of securing new funding taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
Do I require security to secure an company loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans it is not necessary to secure assets before you are able to access the money however, we do require a personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan commitments (as stipulated in your loan contract) the security of assets will never be required. For loans that exceed $150K, typically, you will need the option of a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of charges on assets.