FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Highett Small Business Loans
Let me know more about Highett Small Business Loans
Highett unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from an traditional business loan?
The application to this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone, receive an answer within the same day and have the funds in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. The business loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you know ahead of time the total amount payable including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily installment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any company need, such as managing cash flows, company remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About Larger Highett Business Loans
What is the Larger Highett Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help company growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly depending on you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount the business needs to be operating for at least three years and have an annual turnover of $700,000. Your business must belong to 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 demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
What can I use the funds for?
A large business loan can be used for almost every company use, including business renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment as well as for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. This can be done by taking a charge over assets, and could be registered with the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is generally in nature rather than defining the security of a specific asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally accountable if the company borrower is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR allows prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted depending on the date that a security interest has been registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document lodged to offer the public notice of a legal claim against a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K it’s possible to offer an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We may be able to apply for this without credit checks and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment that includes the answer to a series of financial well-being questions. It is not an offer of credit or guarantee of finance. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer that you receive could have different terms.
The application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You may apply for an 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 demonstrate at minimum 6 months of trading (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and easy. Complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company loan specialist will call you to guide you through the process.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) along with an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K-$250K: Application details including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent as well as 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, plus interim financials for the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summary.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we can often provide an answer in just one hour – as long as you submit your request during standard business times and you allow us to utilise the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements we can offer the decision within the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be likely to offer you with conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait about 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The fastest way is to make sure you apply during normal business hours. Also, allow us to use the advance bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you upload copies of your bank accounts, it may take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we typically offer an answer in just one hour, provided you apply at standard business hours and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements, we are able to offer a decision in as little as 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we might be in a position to provide the conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Some transactions have received approval within 24 hours.
The most efficient method would be to ensure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use our modern bank verification to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statement, it can take a bit longer.
How much can I 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 that determine your well-being for your company and the amount of repayments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics that are unique to your business.
If you apply for a particular amount, we take into consideration a variety of variables to assess how much we can lend you such as well-being of the business and the level of payments your company is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particulars the company.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for an business loan?
If you decide to make an application for the company credit, we’ll assess the risk profile that you have for your company and offer you with a tailored offer that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. A business loan is a loan that is priced upfront and you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes any charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the basis for the rate I’m charged?
Interest rates for company loans rates depend on several factors such as the amount that is borrowed, what company assets the money will be used for in addition to the industry that the business operates in, how long the business has been operating as well as in the event that the business has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, and the overall well-being and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden fees with our company loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you be required to pay, and when, right from the first day. There’s not any compounding interest and no extra fees (as long as you are able to make your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an application fee. You are able to make an application for loans with absolutely no upfront cost and no obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated in establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you decide to take the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the loan amount.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You may choose to pay back the entire amount of the loan early at any time.
If you do decide to do this please talk to one of our helpful business loans professionals. The specialists will provide you with details on repayment and an early payout figure. The figure will be calculated as the total of the principal remaining and any accrued interest at the time of the early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the principal remaining and any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To help you avoid missing payment dates and to align your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
The security of your personal information, as well as being clear about how we collect data, process, exchange and safeguard your data, is crucial and is a crucial element 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 as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to security for our clients and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online. This allows us to offer quick responses.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when an company owner uses assets they own to get a loan. The asset may be a personal asset like the family home, or an company asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lending institutions, not just the banks with the biggest size, prefer to guarantee loans against an asset. If you have trouble paying back the loan, the asset could be transferred to the lender. In essence, it’s a way of securing additional financing using the worth of the asset you already have.
Should I need security to secure an company loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, no asset security is required before you are able to access the money but we do require an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan commitments (as detailed in your loan contract) Asset security will never be required. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 generally, there is a personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of a charge over assets.