FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Let me know how you are able to avail the Forrest Hill Small Business Loans
Forrest Hill unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
It is imaginable to apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone, receive an answer within the same day and funds may be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an annual interest rate along with other charges and fees. Our company loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you be aware of the total amount payable including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is broken down into either a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any business use, including cash flow management, business renovations, marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About Larger Forrest Hill Business Loans
What is the Larger Forrest Hill Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly to work with your cash flow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan that is this large the business needs to be in operation for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old as well as own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funds be used for?
A larger company loan can be used for nearly every company use, including business renovations, to purchase new equipment or inventory or as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary to access funding over $150,000. This can be done in the form of a charge on assets, and may include registration in the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a commitment to repay credit that is generally in nature rather than stating the security of a specific asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally accountable if the company the borrower fails to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR gives the priority of personal property granted in accordance with the date on which a security interest has been registered.
Caveats are legal document lodged to provide the public notice of a legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan of more than $250,000, we may offer an initial pre-approval to simplify the process. We could be able to make this decision without a credit check, and within 6 hours of the initial application. The pre-approval process is based on a preliminary assessment which includes you answering a few financial well-being questions. It is not an offer of credit or guarantee of credit. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you might receive could be on different terms.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may apply for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months’ worth of transactions (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and simple. Just fill out the online application in just a few minutes, and a dedicated company expert in lending will contact you to help you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s License) and an active NZBN/IRD, and at least six months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K-$250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K-$500K: Application details including credit consent as well as 12 months bank statement, an IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, plus interim financials from the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summaries.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we usually provide an answer within an hour – as long as you submit your request during quality business times and you allow us to utilise the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer the decision within just 1 company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be capable of offer you with a conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The quickest method is to make sure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use our modern bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you decide to upload the copies of bank statements it takes a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we can often offer a response in one hour if you apply at standard business hours and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements, we will be able to provide the decision within the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be able to offer the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some deals have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The fastest method would be to ensure you apply during normal business hours. Also, allow us to use our advance bank verification link to check your bank’s information online. If you opt to send us duplicates of your banking statements, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we take into consideration a range of elements in order to assess your well-being for your company and the level of the repayments your company can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances for your business.
If you apply for a particular amount, we will consider a number of aspects to determine your health of your company and the level of payments your business will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances the company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for a business loan?
When you apply for the company financing, we will assess the risk profile for your company and provide you with a tailored offer that includes the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. It is a company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will know in advance the total amount due, which includes any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the rate that I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on several factors such as the amount that is of money borrowed, the business assets the funds will be used for, the industry the company is operating in, how long the business has been in operation and in the event that the business has enough cash flow to support the loan, and the general health or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden fees with our business loans. You’ll know precisely how much you’ll need to pay, and when, starting from the very first day. There’s not any compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You are able to get a cash loan with no cost upfront or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated in establishing 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% of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you choose to do this please talk to one of our helpful business loans specialists. They’ll offer you with repayment details and an early payment figure. This will be calculated as the sum of the principal remaining plus any accrued interest as of the date of early payout and 1.5 percent of the principal balance as well as any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To help you avoid missing payment dates and to align your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Security of your data, and being transparent about the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and safeguard your data, is vital and is a crucial part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to protecting the security of clients and privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify the bank account details online, allowing us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the business owner utilises an asset they own to secure the loan. The asset could be a personal asset like the family home, or it could be a business asset like a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of lenders, even the major banks, prefer to guarantee loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then the asset could be sold by the lender. In essence it is means of securing new financing by making use of the value of what you already have.
Should I require security to get a business loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, no asset security is required in advance to gain access to the funds However, we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. If you adhere to your loan obligations (as stated in the loan contract), asset security is not needed. For loans that exceed $150K, generally, there is a personal guarantee and security in the form of the charge of assets.