FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Stonefields Small Business Loans
Tell me how you can avail the Stonefields Small Business Loans
Stonefields 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.
What is the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional company loan?
The application to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or over the phone, receive an instant response and the funds could be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an annual rate of interest plus other fees and charges. We offer a company loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will know in advance the total amount payable including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is broken down into weekly or daily payment amount.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every company need, such as control of cash flow business improvements, advertising, to purchase inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About the Larger Stonefields Business Loans
What is the Larger Stonefields Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help business expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly, depending on you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, calculated at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan in this amount, your company needs to be operating for at least three years and have an annual turnover of at least $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old or have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
What can I use the funding for?
A Larger Business Loan can be used to fund almost every company need, including business renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment or as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually by way of charge on assets and can be registered on the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to pay off a credit line that is generally in nature rather than defining security over a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally responsible if the company the borrower fails to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register run by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR grants the priority of personal property granted according to the date the security interest was registered.
Caveats are legal form of document to provide an official notice of a claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
When you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan of more than $250K we can offer an initial pre-approval in order to simplify 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 an initial assessment that includes you answering a few financial health checks. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of funds. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you are offered could be based on different conditions.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You are eligible to 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 business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of trading (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and simple. Just fill out the online application in few minutes and a dedicated company expert in lending will call you to guide you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K-$250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if loan above $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details for application including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank records, IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, as well as interim financial statements for the current year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summaries.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we can often provide an answer within an hour – as long as you submit your request within quality business time and let us use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide an answer in as little as 1 business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be in a position to offer the conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to make sure you apply during standard company hours. You can also allow us to use our modern bank verification to verify your bank account information 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 money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we usually provide a response in one hour – provided you make your application at standard business time and allow us to use the bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide a decision in as little as the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we might be in a position to offer you with conditional pre-approval within about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Some deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The fastest way is to make sure you apply during standard business hours, and permit us to use the advance bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you opt to send us duplicates of your banking statements, it can take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we take into consideration a range of variables in order to assess the well-being for your company and the level of payments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specifics of your company.
When you submit an application for a set amount, we consider a variety of elements to assess your health of the company and the amount of repayments that your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specifics the business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for a business loan?
If you decide to request business loans with us business loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment the business and provide you with a customised offer, including loan amount, term and interest rates. A company loan is an upfront cost loan which means you be aware in advance of the total amount payable including any charges or interest.
What is the basis for the rate I pay?
The interest rates on company loans rates vary due to factors like the amount of money of money borrowed, the company assets the funds will be used for in addition to the industry that the business is operating in, how long the company has been running as well as how long the company has sufficient cash flow to pay for the loan, as well as the overall well-being or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our company loans. You’ll know exactly how much you’ll be required to pay, and when, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding and no extra fees (as as long as you pay your payments punctually).
We do not charge an application fee. You are able to request a credit loan with no cost upfront or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated in establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You can decide to repay all of your loan early at any time.
If you choose to take this route, please speak to our friendly company credit professionals. They’ll offer you with repayment details and an early payout figure. This is calculated as the sum of the principal balance plus any accrued interest as of the time of early payment and 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining plus any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments that are either weekly or daily. They will be automatically deducted from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and knowing how we collect the information we collect, use, share and protect your information, is of paramount importance and is an essential element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption techniques to protect your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to the security of our clients as well as their privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system that allows you to immediately verify your bank account information online so we can provide a fast response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when a company owner makes use of assets they own to get the funds for a loan. The asset can be a personal asset like the family home, or an business asset like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The majority of lending institutions, not just the largest banks, are inclined to secure loans against assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan then the asset could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s an opportunity to secure additional financing using the worth of the asset you already have.
Are I require security to get a company loan?
For loans up to $150K the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds but we do need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as stated in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be required. For loans that exceed $150,000, typically, you will need a personal ensure and security in the form of an asset charge.