FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Waterways Small Business Loans
Tell me how you can avail the Waterways Small Business Loans
Waterways unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
It is imaginable to apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone, receive a same day response and funds may be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual interest rate as well as other fees and charges. The company loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you know ahead of time the total amount payable including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is divided into weekly or daily amount to be paid back.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every business use, including the management of cash flow, 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 purposes.
About larger Waterways Business Loans
What is the Larger Waterways 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 up to 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly depending on the flow of cash.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan of this size, your business needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years with an annual turnover of $700,000. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of business.
How can the funds be utilised?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for almost every business need, including business renovations, purchase of inventory or new equipment or as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. This can be done by taking a charge on assets, which could also be registered through the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is generally based rather than defining security over a particular asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally liable in the event that the business lender is not able to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register run by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR gives preference over private property granted according to the date a security interest has been registered.
Caveats are legal document lodged to offer notice of a legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for larger company loans of $250K or more it’s possible to offer an initial pre-approval in order to make the process. We may be able to apply for this without a credit check, and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial assessment that includes answering a couple of financial well-being questions. It’s in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of credit. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer that you may receive may be subject to different conditions.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may apply for an business loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of business (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and easy. Complete the online form in just a few minutes, and a dedicated business expert in lending will contact you to help you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000 you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence), a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K to $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 and 12 months of bank statements, IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials for the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables Summary.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we typically provide an answer within an hour, provided you submit your request during standard company hours and permit us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statements , we will be able to offer the decision in just 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we may be capable of offer you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based upon the circumstances for each application. Some agreements have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to ensure you apply during normal business hours and let us use the advance bank verification to instantly verify your bank information online. If you upload the copies of bank statements it will take a little longer.
How soon will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) We can usually provide an answer within one hour – provided you submit your request at normal business timings and allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you want to upload copies of your bank statements we can offer an answer in just one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) We may be likely to offer the conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain offers have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest method can be make sure you apply during normal business hours and allow us to use our sophisticated bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you opt to upload documents from your account accounts, it can take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a particular amount, we will consider a number of elements in order to assess the health for your company and the level of the repayments your company will be able to support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances of your company.
When you apply for a specific amount we consider a variety of variables to determine the well-being for your company and the extent of the repayments your company can support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances of your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for the cost of a business loan?
When you request one of our business credit, we will assess the risk profile the company and offer you with a tailored offer that includes the loan amount, the terms and interest rates. It is a business loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you know the exact amount payable including any charges or interest.
What determines the rate that I pay?
Business loan interest rates depend on several factors like the amount of money borrowed, what business assets the money will be used for as well as the field the company operates in, the long the company has been running and in the event that the business has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, as well as the overall well-being or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our company loans. You’ll know precisely what it is that you need to pay, and when, right from day one. There’s no compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as as long as you pay your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to request a credit loan with with no upfront cost or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with the setting up and management of the loan. The only way to pay this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can decide to repay the total amount of your advance loan at any time.
If you do decide to take this route, please talk to one of our helpful business loan experts. They’ll provide you with repayment details as well as an early payout amount. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the time of early payment in addition to 1.5% of the principal amount remaining and any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To make sure that you don’t miss payments and to work your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either weekly or daily. They are automatically deducted from the nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being transparent about the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and safeguard your data, is crucial and is a crucial part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption techniques to protect your personal, sensitive as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to security for our customers and privacy. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated bank verification system that allows you to instantly verify your bank account details online to offer rapid 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 asset, such as the family home or it could be a company property like a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of the lenders including the largest banks, are inclined to secure loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your assets could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s means of securing new financing taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
Are I require security to get a company loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, no asset security is required before you are able to access the money however, we do require a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan obligations (as specified in your loan contract document) Asset security will never be needed. For loans over $150K generally, you can get the option of a personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of the charge of assets.