FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Let me know what you think of the Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Forrest Hill unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
How is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
Apply to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or by phone. You will receive an answer within the same day and the funds could be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. Our company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including the interest, fees and charges. This is then broken down into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every business purpose including control of cash flow company renovations, marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
About larger Forrest Hill Business Loans
What is the Larger Forrest Hill Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support company growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly to work with your cash flow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan that is this large the company needs to have been trading for at least 3 years, and have an annual income of $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of business.
What can the funds be used for?
A large company loan can be used for almost every company reason, such as business improvements, purchasing new equipment or inventory or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is needed to access funding over $150,000. This can be done as a result of an charge on assets, and could include registration through the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a promise to pay back a loan that is generally in nature rather than stating the security of a specific asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable if the company borrower is unable to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register operated by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been which are registered with respect to personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR permits priority over personal property to be granted according to the date the registration of a security interest.
The caveat can be described as a formal form of document to offer an official notice of a claim on a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250,000 we may be able to provide a preliminary pre-approval to help ease the process. We may be able to apply for this without a credit check, and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes the answer to a series of financial health checks. It’s in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of funds. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you receive could be based on different conditions.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for a business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months worth of trade (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and simple. Just complete the online application in just a few minutes, and an experienced business credit specialist will be in touch to guide you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent as well as 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financial statements for the current year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables summaries.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) We can usually offer an answer within an hour – as long as you make your application during quality business hours and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer an answer in as little as 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be in a position to provide you with a conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will require to wait between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply would be to make sure you apply during normal company hours, and let us use the advanced bank verification system link to verify your bank information online. If you decide to upload duplicates of your banking statement, it takes a bit longer.
How fast will I get the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer a response in one hour – provided you make your application in standard business timings and let us use the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements, we are able to offer a decision in just an business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be in a position to offer you with conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait around 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard business hours and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you send us the copies of bank statements, it takes a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We provide loans ranging from $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we look at a variety of elements to determine the well-being that is your company and the amount of payments your business can afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances the company.
When you make an application for a set amount, we take into consideration a variety of aspects to assess your well-being for your company and the amount of the repayments your company is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the specifics that are unique to your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a company loan?
If you decide to make an application for business loans with us business credit, we will assess the risk profile of your company and offer you with a tailored offer that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will know in advance the total amount payable including any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What is the basis for the rate I will be charged?
The interest rates on company loans rates differ based on various factors including the amount borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase, the industry the business operates in, the long the company is in operation and whether the business has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and general health or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the costs?
There are no hidden costs with our business loans, and you’ll be aware of the amount you need to pay and at what time, from day one. There’s not any compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as long as you make your payments on time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with the setting up and management of the loan. This is only a fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the amount of loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You can choose to repay all of your advance loan at any time.
If you do decide to do this please call our helpful company credit professionals. The professionals will offer you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. The figure will be calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and the accrued interest up to the time of early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To make sure that you don’t miss repayments and to fit in your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically withdrawn from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Security of your data, and knowing the ways we gather data, process, exchange and safeguard your data, is of huge importance and is a crucial aspect 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 financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to the security of our customers as well as their security. We make use of an advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account details online, allowing us to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a business owner borrows from an asset that they own to obtain the loan. The asset may be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home or it could be a company asset such as a vehicle as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of lending institutions, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s the process of securing new financing by taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Should I require security to get a company loan?
For loans up to $150K no asset security is required prior to the loan’s access however, we do require an individual guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan commitments (as detailed in your loan contract document), asset security will never be required. For loans that exceed $150K, generally, there is a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of an asset charge.