FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Seatoun Small Business Loans
Let me know how you are able to avail the Seatoun Small Business Loans
Seatoun unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 month and cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
How is how is the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
Apply to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or by phone. You will receive an immediate response, and have the funds on your account within 24 hours. Traditional business 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 and you’ll know ahead of time the total amount due, which includes the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What could you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any business reason, such as cash flow management, business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
About larger Seatoun Business Loans
What is the Larger Seatoun Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help business growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed for up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly to work with your situation.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit that is this large, your business needs to be trading for at least 3 years with an annual turnover of $700K. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old or have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
How can the funding be utilised?
A larger company loan can be used for nearly any business purpose including company renovations, purchase of equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is required to access funding over $150,000. It is usually in the form of a charge against assets, which could also include registering this through the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a commitment to repay credit that is generally in nature rather than specifying the security for a particular asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally accountable if the company the borrower fails to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online registry run by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests registered in respect of personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR grants the priority of personal property assigned according to the date a security interest has been registered.
A caveat is a legal document that is filed to provide the public notice of a legal claim to property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K we may be able to provide a preliminary pre-approval to help simplify the process. We could be able to apply for this without a credit check and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial assessment, which involves the answer to a series of financial well-being questions. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of funds. A conditional approval is subject an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you receive could be on different conditions.
Application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You may be eligible for a business 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 of business (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Just fill out the online application in just a few minutes, and an experienced business expert in lending will call you to help you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if credit is over $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financial statements for the current year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables summary.
How fast will I get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we typically offer an answer within an hour – as long as you make your application in quality business timings and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statements , we will be able to offer a decision within 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we could be capable of offer you with a conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. After you’ve signed your 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 agreements have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to make sure you apply during normal company hours and permit us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you upload duplicates of your banking accounts, it can take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we can often provide an answer within an hour, provided you submit your request at normal business time and let us use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements, we will be able to provide a decision in just an business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we might be capable of provide you with conditional pre-approval 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 upon the circumstances for each application. Certain transactions have received approval within 24 hours.
The fastest method for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard business hours. Also, permit us to use the modern bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us the copies of bank statements it can take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a particular amount, we will consider a number of variables for determining the health that is your company and the extent of repayments your business can afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances that are unique to your company.
When you apply for a set amount, we will consider a number of elements to assess your well-being for your company and the amount of repayments that your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particulars of your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for an company loan?
If you decide to make an application for business loans with us company credit, we will assess the risk profile that you have for your company and offer an individualised proposal that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. A business loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you know the exact amount due, which includes any charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the factor that determines the price I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates differ based on various factors such as the amount that is borrowed, the business assets the funds will be used for, the industry the business is in, how long the business has been running for, whether the business has sufficient cash flow to pay for the loan, as well as the general health and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the charges?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans, and you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be required to pay, and at what time, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as long as you make your payments in time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan with no cost upfront or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay out the loan in advance?
You may choose to pay back the total amount of your loan early at any time.
If you are deciding to take this route, please speak to our friendly business credit experts. They will offer you with details for repayment as well as an early payout amount. This is calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the time of early payment and 1.5% of the principal remaining plus any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To ensure you do not miss payment dates and to align with your cash flow routine, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being upfront about how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as ensure the security of your information is of paramount importance and an integral part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption standards to protect your sensitive, personal as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to customer security and security. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank account details online. This allows us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when a business owner utilises the assets they have to secure the funding. The asset could be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home or a company asset such as a truck or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of the lenders not just the largest banks, are inclined to make loans secured by assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, your asset may be sold by the lender. In essence, it is an opportunity to secure new financing by making use of the value of what you already have.
Are I require security to secure an business loan?
For loans up to $150K it is not necessary to secure assets in advance to gain access to the funds, however we do require an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan commitments (as detailed in the loan contract), asset security will never be required. For loans of over $150,000 generally there is an individual ensure and security in the form of the charge of assets.