FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The St Kilda Small Business Loans
Let me know about the St Kilda Small Business Loans
St Kilda unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
You can apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or over the phone, receive a same day response and funds may be available in just 24 hours. Traditional business loans reference an annual interest rate together with additional fees and charges. Our business loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including the interest, fees and charges. This is then broken down into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
The Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company purpose including cash flow management, company renovations, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About Larger St Kilda Business Loans
What is the Larger St Kilda Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support company growth opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of with a maximum of 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan that is this large the company needs to have been in operation for at least 3 years, and have an annual income of $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 to prove at minimum 12 months of business.
What can the funding be used for?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for almost all company use, including business renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually by way of charge on assets and can be registered on the PPSR or making as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a promise to repay a loan which is generally based rather than stating the security for a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business borrower is unable to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are that are registered for personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned according to the date a security interest has been registered.
A caveat is a legal document filed to provide an official notice of a claim to property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting an enterprise loan of $250,000 or more it is possible to offer an initial pre-approval to ease the process. We may 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 assessment that includes you answering a few financial well-being checks. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of financing. A conditional approval is subject an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you may receive may be based on different conditions.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You are eligible to 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 company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of trading (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Simply complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company expert in lending will be in touch to guide you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) along with an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K to $250K: Application details including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $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 current financial year financials, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables Summary.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer in just one hour if you apply in quality company hours and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statements , we’ll be able to provide an answer within just an business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we might be likely to provide you with a conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will require to wait around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this can be quicker based upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The quickest method can be make sure you apply during normal company hours and let us use the advance bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements it will take a little longer.
How quickly will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we typically provide an answer within an hour – provided you apply in standard business times and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statements, we’ll be able to provide an answer in just 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we may be capable of provide the conditional pre-approval in around six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The fastest method would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours. Also, allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload documents from your account statements it can take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We provide loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we will consider a number of elements that determine the health that is your company as well as the amount of repayments that your company can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your company.
If you apply for a specific amount we will consider a number of aspects to determine the well-being of your company and the extent of payments your business is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particular circumstances that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for an company loan?
If you decide to apply for business loans with us business financing, we’ll assess the risk profile of your business and offer an individualised proposal that includes the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. This business loan is a loan that is priced upfront and you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the rate that I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of factors including the amount borrowed, what company assets the funds are used to purchase as well as the field the business operates in, how long the company has been operating as well as whether the company has sufficient cash flow to fund the loan, as well as the overall well-being or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden fees with our company loans. You’ll be aware of the amount it is that you need to pay and when, right from day one. There’s no compounding interest and no additional fees (as as you make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan absolutely no upfront cost and no commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated in establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You can decide to repay all of your loan at any point in time.
If you choose to pursue this option, please talk to one of our helpful company lending experts. We will provide you with details for repayment and an early payment figure. It will be calculated using the total of the remaining principal amount and any accrued interest at the time of the early payout in addition to 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
What are the repayment methods?
To help you avoid missing payments and to work your cash flow schedule, we provide payments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically withdrawn from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Security of your data, and being clear about how we collect data, process, exchange and secure your information, is of paramount importance and is an essential aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to protecting the security of customers and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when an business owner utilises an asset that they own to obtain a loan. The asset may be an individual property, such as the family home or it could be a company property like a truck or piece or equipment.
The vast majority of banks, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, then your assets could be taken over by the lender. In essence, it is the process of securing new financing making use of the value of what you already have.
What do I require security for a company loan?
For loans up to $150K no asset security is required prior to the loan’s access, however we do need a personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan obligations (as specified in your loan contract) the security of assets will never be required. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, you can get personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of an asset charge.