FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Bertram Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the Bertram Small Business Loans
Bertram unsecured loans offers the range of $5,000 to $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is how is the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
The application to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone, receive an instant response and funds may be available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual rate of interest as well as other fees and charges. We offer a company loan is a cash-based loan which means you know ahead of time the amount you will have to pay, including any fees, interest or charges. This is then divided into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any business need, such as control of cash flow company improvements, advertising, to purchase inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About larger Bertram Business Loans
What is the Larger Bertram Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan of this size, your business needs to have been operating for a minimum of 3 years with 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 demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
What can I use the funding for?
A large company loan can be used to fund almost every business need, including company improvements, purchasing equipment or inventory or as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is required to access funding over $150,000. It is usually as a result of an charge against assets, and may include the registration of this through the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to repay credit that is general in nature, rather than stating security over a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally accountable if the business lender is not able to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are which are registered with respect to personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR gives preference over private property granted according to the date a registration of a security interest.
An affidavit is an official form of document to offer notice of a legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan of more than $250,000, we may offer a preliminary pre-approval to help simplify the process. We may be able to apply for this without credit checks and within 6 hours of the initial application. The pre-approval process is based on a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial health checks. It’s neither an offer nor a guarantee of credit. Unconditional approval is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you may receive may be subject to different conditions.
Application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may apply for a company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and simple. Just fill out the online application in few minutes and a dedicated business credit specialist will contact you to assist you.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll require ID details (valid Driver’s License) along with an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least 6 months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K to $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K-$500K: Information on the application including credit consent as well as 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, plus interim financial statements for the current year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) We can usually provide an answer within an hour if you submit your request during standard business hours and permit us to utilise the bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements , we are able to offer an answer within one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we may be able to offer you with a conditional pre-approval within 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 offers have been approved in 24 hours.
The most efficient method is to ensure you apply during normal company hours. Also, permit us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us the copies of bank accounts, it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually offer an answer in just one hour, provided you apply at normal business time and permit us to use the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you choose to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide the decision in as little as 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be in a position to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours, and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you choose to send us duplicates of your banking accounts, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount we take into consideration a range of elements to determine your health of the company as well as the amount of the repayments your company can support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specific circumstances that are unique to your business.
When you submit an application for a certain amount, we look at a range of variables to determine how much we can lend you such as health for your business and the amount of repayments that your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specific circumstances for your business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a business loan?
If you decide to apply for one of our business financing, we’ll assess the risk profile of your business and offer you with a customised offer that includes the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. A company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will be aware of the total amount due, which includes any interest rates, fees or charges.
What is the basis for the rate I pay?
The interest rates on business loans rates vary due to factors like the amount of money that is borrowed, what business assets the money will be used for in addition to the industry that the company operates in, how long the company is in operation and how long the business has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and the overall health and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the cost?
There are no hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll know exactly how much you’ll be required to pay, and when, right from the first day. There’s not any compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as as you make your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can apply for a loan without any upfront costs or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with the setting up and management of the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay out the loan early?
You can repay the total amount of your advance loan at any time.
If you do decide to pursue this option, please talk to one of our helpful company lending specialists. The specialists will offer you with the details of your repayment and an early payment figure. This will be calculated as the total of the principal remaining plus any accrued interest as of the time of early payment and 1.5% of the principal remaining and any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To ensure that you don’t miss payments and to work with your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either weekly or daily. They will be automatically deducted from the nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being clear about how we collect, use, exchange and safeguard your data, is of huge importance and is an essential 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 and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated banking verification system to immediately confirm your bank account information online. This allows us to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when a company owner borrows from an asset that they own to make the funding. The asset can be either an individual property, such as the family home or it could be a business asset such as a vehicle or piece of equipment.
The majority of banks, not just the big banks, tend to secure loans against an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your assets could be sold by the lender. In essence it’s a way of securing new funding using the worth of the asset you already have.
Do I need security to get an company loan?
For loans up to $150K the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds, however we do require a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as stated in your loan contract) Asset security is not needed. For loans over $150,000 generally, you can get the option of a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of the charge of assets.