FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The West Harbour Small Business Loans
Tell me about the West Harbour Small Business Loans
West Harbour unsecured loans provides the range of $5,000 to $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months, cash flow-friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
What is how is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
The application to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or by phone. You will receive a same day response and the money could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans refer to an annual rate of interest plus other fees and charges. Our business loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will know ahead of time the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, interest or charges. This is then divided into weekly or daily payment amount.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for virtually every business use, including the management of cash flow, company remodels and marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Concerning Larger West Harbour Business Loans
What is the Larger West Harbour Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 with a term fixed for up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly, depending on you cashflow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan of this size the business needs to be trading for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 as well as own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
How can the funding be utilised?
A large company loan is a great option for almost every company reason, such as business renovations, purchase of inventory or new equipment 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 necessary to access funding over $150,000. It’s as a result of an charge over assets and can be registered in the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a commitment to pay off a credit line that is general in nature rather than stating the security for a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business borrower is unable to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online registry run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are that are registered for personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR grants preference over private property granted in accordance with the date on which a security interest has been registered.
An affidavit is an official form of document to offer the public notice of a legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
When you’re applying for larger business loans that is greater than $250,000 we can offer an initial pre-approval to make the process. We may be able to get this done without a credit verification and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is based on a preliminary assessment which includes the answer to a series of financial well-being questions. It is not an offer or guarantee of finance. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you may receive may have different conditions.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You can apply for a company loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of business (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and simple. Just complete the online application within a couple minutes, and an experienced company credit specialist will be in touch to guide you.
To apply for up to $100,000 you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as an active NZBN/IRD, and at least six months worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent, 12 months of bank statements, IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, and interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables summaries.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we usually offer an answer within one hour if you apply in standard business times and allow us to utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision in just 1 business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we could be in a position to provide the conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval, however this can be quicker based on the circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved in 24 hours.
The most efficient method is to make sure you apply during normal company hours, and let us use the modern bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you opt to upload the copies of bank accounts, it will take a little longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide an answer within one hour, provided you submit your request in standard business hours and you allow us to use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements we can offer an answer within 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we could be able to provide you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait about 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The fastest method would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours, and permit us to use the advance bank verification to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statement, it may take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we will consider a number of elements to determine what is the well-being for your company and the level of payments your company is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances for your business.
If you apply for a specific amount we look at a range of aspects to assess how much we can lend you such as well-being of the business and the level of repayments that your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specific circumstances of your company.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a company loan?
If you decide to apply for our company credit, we will assess the risk assessment that you have for your company and offer an individualised offer including loan amount, term and interest rates. The company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will be aware of the total amount due, which includes any charges or interest.
What determines the amount I pay?
The interest rates on business loans rates vary due to factors such as the amount that is borrowed, what business assets the funds will be used for in addition to the industry that the business is in, how long the company has been operating, in the event that the business has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, as well as the overall health or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the fees?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans, and you’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay, and when, right from the very first day. There’s not any compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You are able to get a cash loan with without any upfront costs or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with the setting up and management of the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you decide to take the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of your loan early at any time.
If you do decide to pursue this option, please call our helpful company lending specialists. The experts will provide you with details on repayment and an early payment 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% of the remaining principal plus any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To ensure you do not miss due dates and also to be in line your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from your nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Protecting your information, and being transparent about how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as secure your information, is vital and is an essential 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 standards to secure your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to security for our customers and privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system that allows you to instantly verify your bank account information online so we can provide rapid response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a company owner borrows from an asset they own to secure the loan. The asset could be an individual asset, such as the family home, or a business asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of banks, including the major banks, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then your assets could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence, it is the process of securing new financing making use of the value of what you already own.
Should I require security to secure an business loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, no asset security is required before you can access the money However, we do need an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as stated in your loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be required. For loans that exceed $150K, generally, you are able to get an individual ensure and security that is in the form the charge of assets.