FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Epuni Small Business Loans
Let me know how you can avail the Epuni Small Business Loans
Epuni unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
It is imaginable to apply to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or on the phone. You’ll receive an immediate response, and the funds could be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an interest rate per annum along with other charges and fees. This company loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you be aware in advance of the total amount payable including the interest, fees and charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily repayment figure.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any company reason, such as cash flow management, company remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Concerning Larger Epuni Business Loans
What is the Larger Epuni Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed that can last up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, calculated at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount the company needs to have been operating for a minimum of 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. Your business must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of business.
How can the funding be used for?
A larger company loan can be used to fund almost every business need, including company improvements, purchasing new equipment or inventory, as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed to access funding over $150,000. It is usually by way of charge on assets and can be registered with the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a commitment to repay credit that is generally in nature rather than stipulating the security for a particular asset. The person signing the ensure is personally liable if the business the borrower fails to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR allows prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted according to the date the registration of a security interest.
Caveats are legal form of document to offer the legal claim against a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for larger company loans of $250,000 or more, we may offer an initial pre-approval to make the process. We may be able to apply for this without a credit check, and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on a preliminary assessment which includes you answering a few financial well-being questions. It’s neither an offer nor a guarantee of finance. Unconditional approval is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer you might receive could have different terms.
The application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You are eligible to apply for an company loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of trading (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and easy. Just fill out the online application within a couple minutes, and an experienced company lending specialist will be in touch to guide you through the process.
To apply for up to $100,000 you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K – $250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent and 12 months bank statement, an IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials for the current financial year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables summary.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request within standard business time and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statement, we’ll offer the decision within just one business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we could be able to offer you with a conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Certain deals have been approved within 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to ensure you apply during normal business hours, and let us use the modern bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statement, it takes a bit longer.
How fast will I get the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically offer an answer in just one hour if you submit your request in standard business hours and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements we can provide an answer in as little as an business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) We may be in a position to offer you with a conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The most effective method can be ensure you apply during normal business hours and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system link to check your bank’s information online. If you upload documents from your account statements, it can take 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 consider a variety of factors in order to assess how much we can lend you health for your business and the amount of repayments that your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances for your company.
When you apply for a certain amount, we look at a range of elements to assess your health for your business and the extent of payments your company can support. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specifics the business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for an business loan?
If you decide to make an application for our company loans, we will assess the risk assessment that you have for your company and offer you with a customised proposal that includes loan amount, term and interest rates. The company loan is an upfront cost loan so you will be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including interest rates, fees or charges.
What is the basis for the rate I am charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates vary due to factors like the amount of money that is borrowed, what company assets the money will be used for in addition to the industry that the business is in, how long the business has been in operation as well as whether the business has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, as well as the general well-being and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our company loans, and you’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay and when, right from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and no extra fees (as long as you are able to make your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan with no cost upfront or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with the setting up and management of the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you choose to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly company loan specialists. They will offer you with details for repayment and an early payout figure. This is calculated as the sum of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the time of the early payout plus 1.5% of the principal amount remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To help you avoid missing payment dates and to align your cash flow schedule, we provide repayments either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being transparent about the ways we gather data, process, exchange and safeguard your data, is of huge importance and is an essential element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to protecting the security of customers and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online so we can provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when the business owner borrows from an asset they own to secure the funding. The asset can be either an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home or it could be a company asset such as a truck or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of lenders, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, then your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence it is means of securing new funding making use of the value of what you already own.
Are I require security to get an business loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds but we do require an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan commitments (as stipulated in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security is not needed. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, you are able to get a personal guarantee and security in the form of an asset charge.