FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Semaphore South Small Business Loans
Tell me more about Semaphore South Small Business Loans
Semaphore South unsecured loans provides the range of $5,000 to $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is how is the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
It is imaginable to apply for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone, receive an instant response and have the funds available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an annual interest rate together with additional fees and charges. We offer a company loan is a pre-paid loan and you’ll know in advance the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company purpose including control of cash flow company remodeling, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, as general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
About Larger Semaphore South Business Loans
What is the Larger Semaphore South Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your situation.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan that is this large, your company needs to be trading for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700K. Your company must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at the least 12 months of operating.
What can I use the funding for?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for nearly every business need, including business improvements, purchasing new equipment or inventory or as 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 required for accessing funds over $150,000. This can be done by way of charge on assets, which could also be registered on the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a commitment to repay credit that is general in nature rather than specifying security over an asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable if the business borrower is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central registry run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are that are registered for personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR gives preference over private property granted according to the date the security interest was registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document that is filed to provide the public notice of a legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting larger company loans of more than $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval that will help smooth out the process. We might be able to apply for this without a credit check, and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial evaluation that involves you answering a few financial health checks. It is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of credit. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you may receive may be on different terms.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You are eligible to apply for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months worth of trade (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and easy. Just complete the online application within a few minutes and a dedicated company credit specialist will call you to guide you through the process.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence), a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K-$250K: Application details including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent and 12 months of bank statements, IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables summary.
How quickly will I receive an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) We can usually offer an answer in just one hour, provided you submit your request during standard business hours and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statements we can offer an answer within just the span of one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we may be likely to provide you with a conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Certain transactions have received approval in 24 hours.
The most efficient method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours. You can also let us use the advanced bank verification system link to verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statement, it takes a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually offer an answer in just one hour – as long as you apply during standard business hours and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements, we are able to provide an answer within one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be able to provide you with a conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Some offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The quickest method can be make sure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use our modern bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you send us duplicates of your banking accounts, it takes a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We provide the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount we consider a variety of factors for determining what is the well-being for your company and the amount of the repayments your company is able to afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances of your business.
When you make an application for a specific amount we consider a variety of elements to assess how much we can lend you such as health of the company and the amount of repayments your business can support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a company loan?
When you request our company loan, we’ll assess the risk profile of your business and provide an individualised proposal that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. This business loan is an upfront-priced loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount you will have to pay, including costs, fees, or interest rates.
What is the basis for the rate I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on several factors including the amount borrowed, the business assets the funds are used to purchase as well as the field the company is in, how long the company has been running as well as whether the business has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, and also the general well-being or financial standing of the business.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our company loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you need to pay and when, right from the 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 make an application for loans no cost upfront or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with setting up and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you decide to take the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan in advance?
You can repay the entire amount of the loan early at any time.
If you decide to do this please speak to our friendly business lending experts. They will provide you with repayment details and an early payment figure. This will be calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and any accrued interest at the time of early payment, plus 1.5 percent of the principal balance plus any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To ensure that you don’t miss payments and to work your cash flow cycle we offer repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being transparent about the ways we gather information, use it, and exchange it, as well as protect your information, is vital 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 techniques to protect your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to security for our clients and security. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify your bank account details online, allowing us to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when a business owner utilises an asset they own to get a loan. The asset may be an individual property, such as the family home, or an company asset such as a vehicle or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of lending institutions, not just the big banks, tend to secure loans against assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, your asset may be sold by the lender. In essence, it is an opportunity to secure additional financing taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Are I require security to get a business loan?
For loans up to $150,000 no asset security is required upfront to access the money, however we do need an individual guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan obligations (as specified in your loan contract) Asset security will never be required. For loans that exceed $150,000, generally, you can get an individual guarantee and security in the form charges on assets.