FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Forrest Hill unsecured loans provides the range of $5,000 to $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 month and cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
You can apply for this 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 in 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an annual interest rate as well as other fees and charges. This business loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will be aware of the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, charges or charges. This is then divided into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for virtually every business need, such as control of cash flow company renovations, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
About larger Forrest Hill Business Loans
What is the Larger Forrest Hill Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company expansion opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly depending on your situation.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit that is this large, your company needs to be in operation for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700,000. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
How can the funds be utilised?
A Business Loan of a larger size is a great option for almost all business reason, such as company renovations, purchase of new equipment or inventory or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is required to access funding over $150,000. This is as a result of an charge over assets, and may include registering this through the PPSR or making as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a promise to repay a loan which is general in nature, rather than stating security over a particular asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally responsible if the business the borrower fails to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are which are registered with respect to personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR permits the priority of personal property assigned according to the date a security interest that is registered.
Caveats are legal form of document to offer the public notice of a legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re requesting a Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250,000 we can offer an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We might 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 evaluation that involves you answering a few financial well-being questions. It’s not an offer or guarantee of credit. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer you receive could be based on different terms.
Application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You may 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)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Complete the online form in just a few minutes, and a dedicated business credit specialist will contact you to assist you.
For a loan of up to $100,000, you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) along with a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Information on the application including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, and interim financial statements for the current year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer within an hour, provided you apply in standard business times and let us make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer the decision within one business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we may be likely to provide you with a conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Some transactions have received approval within less than 24 hours.
The most effective method is to make sure you apply during standard company hours and permit us to use the advance bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us documents from your account statements it can take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually offer an answer within one hour, provided you apply at standard business hours and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements, we will be able to offer a decision in just the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) We may be in a position to offer you with a 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, it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use our modern bank verification link to check your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload documents from your account statements it can take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we take into consideration a range of factors that determine what is the well-being of the business and the amount of payments your company is able to afford. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances of your company.
When you make an application for a set amount, we will consider a number of factors to assess the well-being that is your business as well as the amount of repayments your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances that are unique to your company.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for an business loan?
When you make an application for business loans with us business credit, we’ll assess the risk profile the company and provide an individualised offer including loan amount, term and interest rates. A company loan is an upfront cost loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount you will have to pay, including charges or interest.
What determines the rate that I pay?
Interest rates for company loans rates depend on several variables like the amount to be borrowed, the business assets the funds will be used for, the industry the business is operating in, how long the company has been in operation for, how long the business has enough cash flow to support the loan, and general well-being and creditworthiness of the company.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you be required to pay and when, 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 don’t charge an application fee. You are able to make an application for loans with no upfront cost or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved in establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay out the loan early?
You can choose to repay the total amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you decide to do this please talk to one of our helpful business credit experts. They’ll provide you with repayment details as well as an early payout amount. This will be calculated as the total of the principal remaining and the accrued interest up to the time of early payment and 1.5% of the principal amount remaining and any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To ensure that you don’t miss repayments and to fit in with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically withdrawn from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and making it clear how we collect the information we collect, use, share and ensure the security of 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 make use of industry-standard encryption techniques to protect your sensitive, personal as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We use an advanced banking verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online. This allows us to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a business owner uses assets they own to obtain the funds for a loan. The asset can be either a personal asset like the family home or a company property like a truck or piece or equipment.
The majority of lending institutions, including the big banks, tend to make loans secured by an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, the asset might be sold by the lender. In essence it is the process of securing new funding using the worth of the asset you already have.
What do I need security to get an business loan?
For loans up to $150,000 it is not necessary to secure assets prior to the loan’s access however, we do need an individual guarantee. If you adhere to the loan terms (as specified in your loan contract document), asset security is not required. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 generally there is a personal ensure and security in the form of an asset charge.