FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Officer Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the Officer Small Business Loans
Officer unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary company loan?
Apply to your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone, receive an immediate response, and funds may be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an interest rate per annum together with additional fees and charges. We offer a company loan is a cash-based loan which means you know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any fees, charges or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily installment amount.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for almost every business purpose including managing cash flows, company remodels and marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About larger Officer Business Loans
What is the Larger Officer Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate the flow of cash.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount, your company needs to have been trading for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of at least $700,000. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years as well as 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 can be used for nearly any business need, including company improvements, purchasing inventory or new equipment for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is necessary to access funding over $150,000. It’s by way of charge against assets and can include registration with the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a commitment to repay credit that is generally based rather than stipulating security over a particular asset. The person signing the ensure is personally accountable if the business the borrower fails to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR gives prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned according to the date a security interest was registered.
A caveat is a legal form of document to provide an official notice of a claim to property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking a Larger Business Loan of more than $250,000 we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval in order to ease the process. We might be able to do this without a credit verification and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on a preliminary assessment which includes you answering a few financial health checks. It is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of funds. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer you may receive may be on different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for an business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months’ worth of transactions (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Just complete the online application within a few minutes and a dedicated business lending specialist will call you to guide you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s License), a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if loan above $150K).
$250K – $500K: Application details including credit consent and 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim current financial year financials including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we can often offer an answer within an hour, provided you submit your request at standard business hours and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload copies of your banking statements , we’ll be able to offer an answer in as little as an business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we might be able to provide the conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this can be quicker based on the circumstances of each application. Certain transactions have received approval in just 24 hours.
The most effective method for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload the copies of bank accounts, it can take a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we typically offer an answer within one hour if you apply during normal business times and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements, we are able to offer an answer in just the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) We may be likely to provide the conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this can be faster depending on the specifics of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours and permit us to use the advance bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us documents from your account statement, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a particular amount, we look at a variety of elements that determine how much we can lend you well-being of your company and the level of payments your business can support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your business.
If you apply for a set amount, we take into consideration a variety of elements to determine how much we can lend you such as health that is your company and the amount of repayments your company is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particulars that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a company loan?
When you request our company loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment of your business and offer you with a tailored proposal that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. A company loan is an upfront-priced loan which means you be aware of the total amount you will have to pay, including charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the rate that I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on several variables like the amount to be of money borrowed, the business assets the money are used to purchase and the sector the company operates in, the long the company has been running and what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to fund the loan, as well as the overall well-being or financial standing of the business.
What are the costs?
There are no hidden costs for our business loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you’ll be required to pay and when, right from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest, and no additional fees (as as long as you pay your payments on time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can apply for a loan with without any upfront costs or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with establishing and managing the loan. This is only a fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I repay the loan in advance?
You may choose to pay back all of your loan early at any time.
If you do decide to pursue this option, please call our helpful company lending experts. They’ll provide you with repayment details and an early payout figure. It will be calculated using the total of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the time of early payout in addition to 1.5 percent of the principal balance plus any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To make sure that you don’t miss repayments and to fit in with your cash flow general, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from the nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and making it clear the ways we gather data, process, exchange and protect your information, is of huge importance and an integral aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption standards to protect your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to protecting the security of clients and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify the bank account details online, allowing us to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a business owner utilises assets they own to secure the funds for a loan. The asset can be either an individual asset, such as the family home or an company asset such as a truck or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of the lenders including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan then the asset might be transferred to the lender. In essence it is means of securing new funding using the worth of the asset you already own.
Should I require security to get a company loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans no asset security is required upfront to access the money However, we require a personal guarantee. require a personal guarantee. As long as you follow the terms of your loan (as stipulated in your loan contract) Asset security is not needed. For loans that exceed $150K, typically, you will need a personal ensure and security in the form of an asset charge.