FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Details of The Forest Hill Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Forest Hill Small Business Loans
Forest Hill unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What is how is the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
It is imaginable to apply for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone. You’ll get an immediate response, and the funds could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an annual rate of interest plus other fees and charges. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you know ahead of time the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any business purpose including cash flow management, business renovations, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
About Larger Forest Hill Business Loans
What is the Larger Forest Hill Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business expansion opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly, depending on your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
It is crucial to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit that is this large the company needs to be operating for at least three years and have an annual turnover of $700,000. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
What can the funding be used for?
A Business Loan of a larger size is a great option for almost every company need, including company improvements, purchasing new equipment or inventory for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed for accessing funds over $150,000. It’s in the form of a charge on assets, and could include the registration of this on the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is generally based rather than stipulating security over an asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally accountable if the business creditor is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central registry run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned according to the date the security interest has been registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal form of document to offer an official notice of a claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan of $250,000 or more we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We might be able to make this decision without a credit check and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial assessment, which involves you answering a few financial health checks. This is neither an offer nor a guarantee of finance. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you may receive may have different conditions.
Application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for a business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months of trading (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and easy. Just complete the online application in few minutes and a dedicated business loan specialist will contact you to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s License), an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K to $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent and 12 months of bank records, IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financials from the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables Summary.
How fast will I get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we typically offer an answer in just one hour – as long as you apply at quality business times and let us make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide an answer in as little as 1 company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K and up) we could be in a position to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in around six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved within 24 hours.
The most efficient method can be ensure you apply during standard business hours. You can also permit us to use the modern bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statement, it may take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually provide an answer within an hour, provided you apply during normal business times and you allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer a decision in as little as an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be in a position to provide you with conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take around 2-3 days for final approval, however this can be faster depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved in just 24 hours.
The most effective method would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use the advance bank verification to check your bank’s information online. If you decide to send us documents from your account statement, it will take a little longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount we look at a variety of elements that determine your health of the company and the level of repayments that your business will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specific circumstances of your company.
When you make an application for a specific amount we look at a range of elements to determine the well-being of your business and the extent of repayments your business will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particulars the company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for an company loan?
If you decide to make an application for business loans with us company financing, we’ll assess the risk profile the company and provide you with a customised offer, including loan amount, term and the interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you will know the exact amount to be paid, including any interest rates, fees or charges.
What is the factor that determines the price I’m charged?
The interest rates on company loans rates depend on a variety of variables like the amount to be that is borrowed, what company assets the money will be used for and the sector the business is operating in, how long the business has been operating for, what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, and also the overall health or financial standing of the business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden fees for our business loans, and you’ll know precisely what you be required to pay and when, right from day one. There’s not any compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as long as you are able to make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can apply for a loan with with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with setting up and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you decide to take the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the amount of loan.
Can I repay the loan earlier?
You may choose to pay back all of your loan early at any time.
If you decide to take this route, please talk to one of our helpful business loan professionals. We will offer you with details for repayment as well as an early payout amount. This is calculated as the total of the principal remaining and accrued interest to the time of early payment in addition to 1.5% of the principal balance plus any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing payment dates and to align your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either weekly or daily. They are automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Security of your data, and making it clear how we collect, use, exchange and safeguard your data, is of huge importance and an integral 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 sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to protecting the security of customers and privacy. We make use of an advanced banking verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online so we can provide a fast response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an company owner makes use of an asset they own to make a loan. The asset could be an individual property, such as the family home, or a business asset such as a vehicle or piece or equipment.
The majority of banks, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to guarantee loans against assets. If you have trouble paying back the loan, the asset could be taken over by the lender. In essence it’s an opportunity to secure additional financing using the value of what you already own.
Do I require security to secure a business loan?
Up to $150K in loans the requirement for asset security is not required prior to the loan’s access however, we do require the personal guarantee. As long as you follow the loan terms (as stipulated in the loan contract), asset security is not needed. If you take out loans in excess of $150K typically, you will need an individual guarantee and security is provided in the form of charges on assets.