FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Forest Hill Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Forest Hill Small Business Loans
Forest Hill unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 month and cash flow friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
The application for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the phone. You’ll receive an instant response and have the funds in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an annual rate of interest along with other charges and fees. The business loan is a pre-paid loan so you will be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What could you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every business purpose including control of cash flow company improvements, advertising for purchasing inventory or new equipment, as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About Larger Forest Hill Business Loans
What is the Larger Forest Hill Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly to work with the flow of cash.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
The 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 qualify for a loan in this amount, your business needs to be trading for at least 3 years with an annual turnover of $700K. Your company must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
How can the funds be used for?
A large business loan can be used for nearly every business need, including company remodeling, buying 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 is secured?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. This can be done by way of charge on assets, and may include the registration of this with the PPSR or making a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a promise to pay off a credit line that is general in nature rather than stating security over a particular asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally liable if the business creditor is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests that are registered for personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants priority over personal property to be assigned in accordance with the date on which a security interest has been registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document lodged to offer an official notice of a claim on a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking a Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250,000 it’s possible to offer an initial pre-approval to make the process. We could be able to apply for this without a credit verification and within 6 hours of the initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial assessment that includes answering a couple of financial health questions. It’s not an offer or guarantee of finance. Unconditional approval is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you are offered could be based on different terms.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for a business 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)
- you must prove at least 6 months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and simple. Complete the online form within a few minutes and a dedicated business credit specialist will call you to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000, you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months bank statement, an IRD statement Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financial statements for the current year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we typically offer a response in one hour if you apply in quality business timings and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide the decision within just the span of one company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we might be capable of provide you with a conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest way can be make sure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use our advance bank verification link to verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us documents from your account accounts, it will take a little longer.
How quickly will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually offer a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request within standard business hours and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statements, we are able to offer the decision in just an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) We may be in a position to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Some deals have been approved within just 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal business hours and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system to check your bank’s information online. If you decide to send us documents from your account statement, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we look at a variety of elements in order to assess what is the well-being of the business and the extent of repayments that your business will be able to support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances for your company.
If you apply for a particular amount, we will consider a number of elements to determine your health of the company as well as the amount of the repayments your company can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the specifics for your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a business loan?
When you apply for our business credit, we’ll assess the risk assessment the company and provide an individualised offer including the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. It is a business loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the rate that I pay?
The interest rates on business loans rates depend on several factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what company assets the funds will be used for as well as the field the business operates in, how long the business is in operation as well as in the event that the business has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, and the overall well-being or financial standing of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden costs for our company loans. You’ll be aware of the amount it is that you be required to pay and at what time, from day one. There’s no compounding and no extra fees (as long as you make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an application fee. You are able to request a credit loan with with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with the setting up and management of the loan. You are only charged this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of the advance loan at any time.
If you choose to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly business credit professionals. They will provide you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. This will be calculated as the sum of the remaining principal amount plus any accrued interest as of the date of early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal amount remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do repayments work?
To ensure that you don’t miss due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow routine, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and making it clear the ways we gather, use, exchange and ensure the security of your information is crucial and is an essential part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to customer security and privacy. We employ a highly sophisticated banking verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online so we can offer rapid response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a company owner makes use of an asset they own to make the funds for a loan. The asset could be an individual asset, such as the family home or it could be a business asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of the lenders including the big banks, tend to guarantee loans against assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your asset may be sold by the lender. In essence it is means of securing new funding making use of the value of what you already own.
Should I require security to secure a company loan?
Up to $150K in loans no asset security is required in advance to gain access to the funds However, we do need the personal guarantee. If you adhere to the terms of your loan (as specified in your loan contract) Asset security is not needed. For loans of over $150,000 typically, you will need an individual ensure and security in the form of a charge over assets.