FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Gracefield Small Business Loans
Tell me how you are able to avail the Gracefield Small Business Loans
Gracefield unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
The application to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or by phone. You will receive a same day response and the funds could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an annual interest rate along with other charges and fees. Our business loan is a cash-based loan so you will know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily amount to be paid back.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company purpose including managing cash flows, business remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, to fund general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
About larger Gracefield Business Loans
What is the Larger Gracefield Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business expansion opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly, depending on you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit that is this large the company needs to have been trading for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funds be utilised?
A large business loan can be used to fund almost all business need, including business improvements, purchasing new equipment or inventory for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is required to access funding over $150,000. It’s by taking a charge over assets, which could also include the registration of this in the PPSR or making as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a commitment to repay a loan which is generally based rather than specifying the security for a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the company lender is not able to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants priority over personal property to be granted according to the date the security interest was registered.
A caveat is a legal document that is filed to offer notice of a legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
When you’re applying for an enterprise loan of $250K or more we can offer an initial pre-approval that will help smooth out the process. We could be able to get this done without a credit check, and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial assessment, which involves the answer to a series of financial health questions. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of financing. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you may receive may be subject to different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for a company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (for the 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. Complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company credit specialist will be in touch to assist you.
To apply for up to $100,000 you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll require:
$100K to $250K: Application details including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details for application including credit consent, 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financial statements for the current year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summary.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we usually offer an answer within an hour if you make your application in quality company timings and allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements , we will be able to provide the decision in just one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we could be capable of provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this can be quicker based on the specifics of each application. Some agreements have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The fastest way can be make sure you apply during standard company hours, and let us use the advance bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you send us copies of your bank accounts, it can take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer in just one hour if you apply during standard business times and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements, we are able to offer the decision in as little as the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we might be likely to provide you with a conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval document, you will require to wait between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain deals have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to ensure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use our modern bank verification to confirm your bank details online. If you opt to send us documents from your account accounts, it may take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a particular amount, we consider a variety of aspects to determine how much we can lend you health of the company and the level of the repayments your company can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances of your business.
When you make an application for a certain amount, we take into consideration a variety of variables to assess how much we can lend you such as health of the business as well as the amount of repayments that your company can afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances for your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for the cost of a business loan?
When you make an application for one of our business loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment of your business and provide you with a customised offer that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you know the exact amount you will have to pay, including charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the factor that determines the price I will be charged?
The interest rates on company loans rates differ based on various factors including the amount of money borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase, the industry the company is in, how long the business has been operating for, in the event that the company has sufficient cash flow to pay for the loan, and overall health or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our company loans. You’ll know precisely what you need to pay and when, from day one. There’s no compounding interest and no extra fees (as as you make your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can make an application for loans with without any upfront costs or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you decide to take the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan earlier?
You may choose to pay back the total amount of your loan early at any time.
If you decide to do this please speak to our friendly business lending specialists. They’ll provide you with details on repayment and an early payout figure. This is calculated as the sum of the principal balance and the accrued interest up to the time of early payment plus 1.5% of the principal balance plus any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To ensure that you don’t miss payments and to work your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Protecting your information, and being clear about how we collect, use, exchange and protect your information, is of paramount importance and a vital part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption standards to protect your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to customer security and privacy. We use an advanced banking verification system to instantly verify the bank account details online to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the company owner borrows from the assets they have to get the funding. The asset could be an individual property, such as the family home or a company asset like a truck or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of lending institutions, including the major banks, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you have trouble paying back the loan then your assets could be taken over by the lender. In essence, it is means of securing new funding taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
Are I need security to secure a business loan?
For loans up to $150K there is no requirement for asset security before you can access the money However, we do require the personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as stipulated in your loan contract) Asset security is not needed. For loans that exceed $150K, typically, you will need an individual guarantee and security is provided in the form of a charge over assets.