FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Somerton Small Business Loans
Tell me more about Somerton Small Business Loans
Somerton unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What makes what makes the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
It is imaginable to apply for the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or by phone. You will receive an instant response and funds may be available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual interest rate plus other fees and charges. This business loan is a cash-based loan which means you know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any fees, interest or charges. This is then broken down into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for almost any business use, including managing cash flows, company renovations, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Concerning Larger Somerton Business Loans
What is the Larger Somerton Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support business expansion opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a fixed-term for up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with the flow of cash.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount the company needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. The applicant must also 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 of proving at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funding be utilised?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost any company reason, such as company improvements, purchasing inventory or new equipment as well as for general working capital and so 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 is by way of charge over assets and can include registration through the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to pay back a loan that is generally in nature rather than stating the security of a specific asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally accountable if the business borrower is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register run by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests registered in respect of personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR gives preference over private property assigned according to the date the registration of a security interest.
A caveat is a legal document filed to provide an official notice of a claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking larger business loans that is greater than $250,000 we can offer an initial pre-approval that will help simplify the process. It is possible to apply for this without a credit verification and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial assessment that includes answering a couple of financial health questions. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of financing. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you are offered could be on different terms.
Application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You may apply for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of trading (for 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 easy. Complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company credit specialist will call you to guide you.
To apply for up to $100,000 you’ll need ID details (valid Driver’s Licence) and a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months worth of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K – $500K: Application details including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials for the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summary.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide a response in one hour – as long as you make your application within quality business hours and let us utilise the bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer a decision in just the span of one company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we could be capable of offer the conditional pre-approval within about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait around 2-3 days for final approval, however this can be quicker based on the specifics of each application. Some agreements have been approved in just 24 hours.
The fastest way can be make sure you apply during standard business hours. You can also allow us to use our modern bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you upload duplicates of your banking statements it can take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we can often offer an answer in just one hour – provided you make your application at standard business times and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statements we can offer a decision within an business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) We may be in a position to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application within six hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this could be shorter based on the circumstances of each application. Some transactions have received approval in just 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use our sophisticated bank verification link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to upload the copies of bank statements it can take a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount we take into consideration a range of factors to determine what is the well-being that is your business and the amount of payments your business will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances for your business.
If you apply for a specific amount we consider a variety of aspects to assess how much we can lend you such as health of the company and the level of repayments that your company can support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particular circumstances the company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for an business loan?
If you decide to make an application for one of our company loan, we will assess the risk profile of your company and provide an individualised offer including the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. The company loan is an upfront-priced loan so you will know the exact amount you will have to pay, including costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on several factors like the amount of money of money borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase and the sector the business operates in, the long the company has been operating, in the event that the company has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and the general well-being or financial standing of the company.
What are the charges?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans. You’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay and when, starting from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and no additional fees (as as long as you pay your payments punctually).
We do not charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan with without any upfront costs or commitment to apply.
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 loan.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can repay the entire amount of your loan early at any time.
If you do decide to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly company loan professionals. We will offer you with repayment details and an early payment figure. This will be calculated as the total of the principal amount remaining and accrued interest to the time of the early payout and 1.5 percent of the principal remaining and any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing payments and to work your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically withdrawn from the nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and knowing how we collect data, process, exchange and safeguard your data, is crucial and an integral element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to security for our customers and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online, allowing us to offer a fast response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when an company owner utilises an asset they own to obtain a loan. The asset can be an individual asset, such as the family home, or an business asset such as a vehicle or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lenders, even the major banks, prefer to secure loans against assets. If you have trouble paying back the loan then the asset might be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it is a way of securing new financing using the value of what you already have.
Should I need security to get a company loan?
Up to $150K in loans the requirement for asset security is not required upfront to access the money however, we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan commitments (as stipulated in the loan contract), asset security is not required. For loans of over $150K generally, you are able to get a personal guarantee and security in the form charges on assets.