FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Houghton Bay Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Houghton Bay Small Business Loans
Houghton Bay unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional business loan?
Apply to the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or by phone. You will receive a same day response and the money could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an interest rate per annum along with other charges and fees. Our company loan is a pre-paid loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into either a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any company reason, such as control of cash flow business remodels and marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About larger Houghton Bay Business Loans
What is the Larger Houghton Bay Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan of this size, your business needs to have been trading for at least 3 years, and have an annual income of $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funding be utilised?
A large business loan can be used to fund almost every business reason, such as company renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory or 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 needed to access funding over $150,000. This can be done as a result of an charge against assets, which could also include registration with the PPSR or making a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a promise to repay credit that is general in nature, rather than stating security over a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable if the company lender is not able to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central registry run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests that are registered for personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants preference over private property assigned depending on the date that a security interest has been registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document that is filed to provide an official notice of a claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re seeking a Larger Business Loan of more than $250K we can offer an initial pre-approval to ease the process. We may be able to make this decision without a credit check and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial evaluation that involves you answering some financial well-being checks. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of credit. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer that you might receive could be 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, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Complete the online form within a few minutes and an experienced company lending specialist will contact you to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) along with a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months worth of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K to $250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent, 12 months of bank records, IRD statements and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables summaries.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide a response in one hour, provided you submit your request in standard business times and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statement, we’ll offer the decision within an company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be capable of offer you with a conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to make sure you apply during standard company hours, and let us use the advance bank verification link to verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us the copies of bank statements it can take a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically provide an answer within one hour if you make your application in standard business hours and permit us to use the bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer an answer in as little as the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we may be able to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about 6 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 may be quicker depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain agreements have been approved in 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to ensure you apply during normal business hours. Also, let us use the modern bank verification link to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you send us the copies of bank accounts, it will take a little longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we take into consideration a range of aspects for determining your health of your business and the level of repayments your business can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances that are unique to your business.
When you submit an application for a particular amount, we will consider a number of variables to determine how much we can lend you such as health of the business as well as the amount of repayments that your business can afford. 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 apply for the company loans, we will assess the risk assessment the company and provide you with a customised offer including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. The company loan is an upfront-priced loan which means you be aware of the total amount payable including any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the rate that I am charged?
Business loan interest rates vary due to variables like the amount to be borrowed, what business assets the funds are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company is in, how long the company has been running, what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to fund the loan, as well as the general health as well as creditworthiness company.
What are the costs?
There are no hidden fees for our company loans. You’ll know precisely how much you be required to pay, and when, from day one. There’s no compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I repay the loan early?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of the loan at any point in time.
If you choose to do this please speak to our friendly company loan experts. The specialists will offer you with repayment details and an early payment figure. This is calculated as the total of the principal amount remaining and any accrued interest at the date of early payout and 1.5 percent of the principal remaining and any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing payment dates and to align with your cash flow standard, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from the nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Security of your data, and making it clear how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as ensure the security of your information is vital and a vital part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption standards to protect your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to protecting the security of customers and security. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system that allows you to immediately verify your bank account details online so we can provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when an company owner makes use of an asset that they own to obtain the loan. The asset can be a personal asset like the family home, or an company asset like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The majority of banks, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against an asset. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, your assets could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence, it’s a way of securing additional financing using the worth of the asset you already have.
What do I require security to get a company loan?
Up to $150K in loans there is no requirement for asset security upfront to access the money, however we do need an individual guarantee. As long as you follow your loan obligations (as stated in your loan contract), asset security is not required. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, there is personal ensure and security in the form an asset charge.