FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The West Lakes Small Business Loans
Tell me how you are able to avail the West Lakes Small Business Loans
West Lakes unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What is how is the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional business loan?
It is imaginable to 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 have an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. We offer a business loan is an upfront priced loan therefore you’ll know ahead of time the total amount due, which includes any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is broken down into either weekly or daily amount to be paid back.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any business reason, such as managing cash flows, company remodels and marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, for general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Concerning Larger West Lakes Business Loans
What is the Larger West Lakes Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company growth opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 with a term fixed up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly depending on your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is determined at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Do I qualify 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 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 as well as own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funding be used for?
A large company loan can be used for nearly every business reason, such as company improvements, purchasing inventory or new equipment as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is necessary for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually in the form of a charge against assets, and could be registered on the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to repay credit that is generally in nature rather than defining the security of a specific asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the business creditor is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register operated by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests registered in respect of personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants priority over personal property to be granted according to the date a security interest was registered.
An affidavit is an official document that is filed to provide an official notice of a claim to a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250,000 it is possible to offer an initial pre-approval in order to smooth out the process. We may be able to apply for this without a credit verification and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial assessment, which involves you answering some financial well-being questions. It’s not an offer or guarantee of credit. Unconditional approval is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer you are offered could 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 18 years, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company credit specialist will be in touch to assist you.
To apply for up to $100,000 you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) along with an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Information about the application including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statements and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim current financial year financials including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables Summary.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically offer an answer in just one hour if you make your application within quality company hours and let us utilise the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide the decision in as little as the span of one business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we could be likely to offer you with a conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval document, you will need to wait around 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Certain offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way is to ensure you apply during normal business hours. You can also let us use the advanced bank verification system link to check your bank’s information online. If you decide to upload documents from your account statements it takes a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we can often provide an answer in just one hour, provided you submit your request at standard business times and permit us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer a decision in just one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we might be likely to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Certain transactions have received approval within the space of 24 hours.
The most effective method would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use our advance bank verification to verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us documents from your account statements, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a particular amount, we consider a variety of variables to determine your health that is your company as well as the amount of repayments your business can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances of your company.
If you apply for a particular amount, we consider a variety of factors to assess how much we can lend you such as health of your company and the level of repayments your company will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be determined by the specifics that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for a business loan?
When you request the company loans, we’ll assess the risk profile of your business and provide you with a customised proposal that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. The business loan is an upfront-priced loan therefore you will be aware in advance of the total amount payable including any charges or interest.
What is the factor that determines the price I pay?
The interest rates on company loans rates depend on a variety of factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what business assets the money will be used for in addition to the industry that the company operates in, the long the company has been running, in the event that the business has sufficient cash flow to pay for the loan, and the overall well-being as well as creditworthiness business.
What are the charges?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our business loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you be required to pay and when, right from the very first day. There’s no compounding and no additional fees (as long as you make your payments on time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You are able to request a credit loan absolutely no upfront cost and no obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with setting up and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you decide to take the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I repay the loan early?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you decide to take this route, please talk to one of our helpful company lending professionals. The specialists will provide you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. It will be calculated using the total of the principal remaining and the accrued interest up to the date of early payout plus 1.5% of the principal amount remaining plus any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing payment dates and to align your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and making it clear the ways we gather, use, exchange and protect your information, is of paramount importance and is a crucial element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our clients as well as their security. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated bank verification system link to instantly verify the bank account details online, allowing us to provide a fast response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when the company owner utilises assets they own to make the loan. The asset can be either a personal asset like the family home or an business asset such as a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of the lenders even the big banks, tend to secure loans against an asset. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, then the asset might be sold by the lender. In essence, it’s a way of securing additional financing taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Are I need security to get an company loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, it is not necessary to secure assets upfront to access the money but we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as detailed in your loan contract) the security of assets is not needed. For loans over $150K generally, you are able to get a personal guarantee and security that is in the form the charge of assets.