FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the West Harbour Small Business Loans
Tell me more about West Harbour Small Business Loans
West Harbour unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from an traditional company loan?
The application to this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or by phone. You will receive an immediate response, and the funds could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an interest rate per annum along with other charges and fees. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will be aware of the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is divided into weekly or daily installment amount.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for nearly every company purpose including cash flow management, company remodels and marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
About the Larger West Harbour Business Loans
What is the Larger West Harbour Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support business growth opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan that is this large the business needs to have been trading for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700,000. Your business must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years or have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funds be used for?
A large company loan can be used for nearly every company purpose including business improvements, purchasing 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 is secured?
Asset security is necessary to access funding over $150,000. It is usually in the form of a charge over assets and can be registered on the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to repay a loan which is general in nature rather than stating the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally responsible if the business the borrower fails to pay back the debt.
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 objects or assets). The PPSR grants prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned according to the date a registration of a security interest.
The caveat can be described as a formal form of document to provide the public notice of a legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting an enterprise loan of more than $250K we may be able to provide a preliminary pre-approval to help simplify the process. We might be able to make this decision without a credit check, and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon a preliminary assessment which includes you answering some financial health questions. It’s neither an offer nor a guarantee of credit. Acceptance without condition is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you are offered could be based on different terms.
The application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You are eligible to apply for a company loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of business (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Just complete the online application in just a few minutes, and an experienced company loan specialist will contact you to help you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s License), a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K to $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent and 12 months bank statement, an IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, and interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) We can usually offer an answer within one hour – as long as you make your application during standard company hours and you allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements , we are able to offer the decision in as little as an company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K and up) we might be in a position to provide the conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to make sure you apply during normal company hours. You can also permit us to use the modern bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you upload the copies of bank accounts, it may take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) We can usually offer a response in one hour, provided you submit your request in normal business times and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statements, we will be able to offer an answer within an business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we could be in a position to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Some deals have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The quickest method is to make sure you apply during normal business hours. You can also let us use the advance bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload duplicates of your banking statements, it may 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 specific amount we consider a variety of variables in order to assess your health of your company and the level of repayments your company is able to afford. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics of your company.
When you submit an application for a certain amount, we consider a variety of elements to assess the health of the company and the level of repayments that your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specifics that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for a business loan?
When you apply for one of our company financing, we’ll assess the risk profile of your business and provide an individualised offer that includes the loan amount, the terms and interest rates. This company loan is an upfront-priced loan therefore you will know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
Interest rates for business loans rates differ based on various factors including the amount that is borrowed, what business assets the funds are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company is in, how long the business is in operation, what percentage of the business has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and also the overall health and creditworthiness of the company.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll know precisely what it is that you be required to pay, and at what time, from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest, and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan with no upfront cost or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with establishing and managing the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Can I repay the loan early?
You can repay the entire amount of the loan early at any time.
If you decide to take this route, please talk to one of our helpful business credit experts. We will offer you with details on repayment along with an early payout estimate. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal remaining and accrued interest to the time of the early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal amount remaining plus any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To ensure you do not miss due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
The security of your personal information, as well as knowing the ways we gather information, use it, and exchange it, as well as protect your information, is of paramount importance and a vital element 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 qualified for our dedication to the security of our clients as well as their privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system link to immediately confirm your bank account information online to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when the company owner uses the assets they have to secure the funding. The asset can be either an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home, or a company asset such as a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of the lenders including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, then your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence it is means of securing additional financing taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Do I need security to secure an business loan?
Up to $150K in loans the requirement for asset security is not required before you are able to access the money however, we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as detailed in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be needed. For loans of over $150K generally there is personal guarantee and security that is in the form the charge of assets.