FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Western Heights Small Business Loans
Tell me how you can avail the Western Heights Small Business Loans
Western Heights unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
Apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or by phone. You will receive an answer within the same day and have the funds in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. The company loan is a pre-paid loan therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes any fees, interest or charges. This is then divided into weekly or daily repayment figure.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any business need, such as cash flow management, company improvements, advertising to purchase inventory, new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
Concerning Larger Western Heights Business Loans
What is the Larger Western Heights Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly, depending on you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, calculated at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount the company needs to have been operating for at least three years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funding be used for?
A larger company loan can be used for nearly any company reason, such as business renovations, to purchase new equipment or inventory or as general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s in the form of a charge against assets, which could also include registering this through the PPSR or making a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to repay credit that is generally based rather than specifying security over a particular asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business borrower is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online registry run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are registered in respect of personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR gives priority over personal property to be granted depending on the date that a registration of a security interest.
An affidavit is an official document filed to offer the public notice of a legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking the Larger Business Loan of $250,000 or more it is possible to offer a preliminary pre-approval to help make 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 is based upon an initial evaluation that involves the answer to a series of financial health questions. This is not an offer or guarantee of credit. Acceptance without condition is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you might receive could be subject to different conditions.
Application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for a business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of trading (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated business expert in lending will be in touch to assist you.
To apply for up to $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s License) as well as a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$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 – $500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, as well as interim financials for the current financial year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How fast will I get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we can often offer an answer within one hour – as long as you apply during standard business timings and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements we can offer the decision in as little as the span of one company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we might be likely to offer you with a conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will require to wait around 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The quickest method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours and let us use the advance bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you choose to send us the copies of bank statements , it can take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we typically provide a response in one hour, provided you submit your request during normal business time and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements, we will be able to offer a decision in just 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) We may be able to provide you with a conditional pre-approval within about six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take around 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The most efficient method is to ensure you apply during normal business hours and permit us to use the advance bank verification to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you choose to send us documents from your account accounts, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we look at a variety of factors that determine the health of the company and the extent of repayments your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specifics the business.
If you apply for a specific amount we look at a range of aspects to determine your well-being of the business and the extent of payments your business is able to afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specifics of your company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for a business loan?
When you make an application for business loans with us company loan, we’ll assess the risk assessment the business and provide you with a customised proposal that includes the loan amount, the terms and interest rates. This company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will know in advance the total amount you will have to pay, including charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the basis for the rate I will be charged?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on several factors such as the amount that is of money borrowed, the business assets the money will be used for in addition to the industry that the business is in, how long the company has been running, what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and also the general well-being and creditworthiness of the company.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden fees for our company loans, and you’ll know exactly how much you’ll need to pay and when, from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as long as you make your payments in time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You are able to make an application for loans with no cost upfront or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with setting up and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5% of the amount of loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan early?
You can repay the total amount of your loan early at any time.
If you decide to do this please contact our helpful business lending professionals. They’ll offer you with repayment details and an early payout figure. This will be calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and the accrued interest up to the date of early payout in addition to 1.5% of the principal amount remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in with your cash flow cycle we offer repayments either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being clear about how we collect, use, exchange and secure your information, is crucial and a vital part 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 information and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to customer security and privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online, allowing us to provide a fast response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when a business owner makes use of an asset that they own to obtain the loan. The asset can be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home, or a company asset such as a truck or piece or equipment.
The vast majority of banks, even the big banks, tend to secure loans against an asset. If you have trouble paying back the loan then the asset could be transferred to the lender. In essence, it’s an opportunity to secure new funding using the value of what you already own.
Should I require security for an company loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, it is not necessary to secure assets prior to the loan’s access, however we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as stated in your loan contract document), asset security will never be needed. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 generally, you can get an individual ensure and security in the form of a charge over assets.