FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Herdsman Small Business Loans
Let me know how you can avail the Herdsman Small Business Loans
Herdsman unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 month and cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
Apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone, receive an instant response and have the funds available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. The business loan is an upfront priced loan so you will know in advance the total amount due, which includes the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into either a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What could you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any company purpose including cash flow management, business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
About the Larger Herdsman Business Loans
What is the Larger Herdsman Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 for a fixed period of up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with you cashflow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan in this amount, your business needs to be operating for at least three years with an annual turnover of $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old as well as own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funds be used for?
A large company loan can be used for almost all company purpose including company remodeling, buying inventory or new equipment, as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is required for accessing funds over $150,000. It is usually in the form of a charge over assets, and may include the registration of this in the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a promise to pay off a credit line that is generally based rather than defining the security for a particular asset. The person signing the ensure is personally accountable if the business lender is not able to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been that are registered for personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR allows prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned depending on the date that a registration of a security interest.
An affidavit is an official document that is filed to offer an official notice of a claim to property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250,000 we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval in order to make the process. It is possible to apply for this without a credit check, and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial assessment that includes the answer to a series of financial health checks. It is neither an offer nor a guarantee of finance. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you receive could be based on different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for an company loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months worth of trade (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Just complete the online application within a few minutes and a dedicated business expert in lending will contact you to assist you.
For a loan of up to $100,000, you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as an active NZBN/IRD, and at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$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: Information on the application including credit consent, 12 months of bank records, IRD statements as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financials for the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide an answer within one hour if you apply within quality company timings and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision within just an company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we may be able to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this may be quicker depending upon the circumstances for each application. Some agreements have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use our advanced bank verification system link to check your bank’s information online. If you opt to send us documents from your account statements it takes a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we usually provide an answer within an hour – provided you apply within standard business time and you allow us to use the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements, we’ll be able to offer an answer in just one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be able to provide you with a conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this can be faster depending on the circumstances of each application. Certain agreements have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The fastest method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use our advanced bank verification system link to check your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload duplicates of your banking accounts, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount, we look at a variety of factors for determining how much we can lend you health of the company and the level of repayments that your company will be able to support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances for your company.
When you make an application for a particular amount, we consider a variety of elements to assess the health that is your company and the level of the repayments your company can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specifics that are unique to your company.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for a business loan?
If you decide to make an application for business loans with us business loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment that you have for your company and provide an individualised offer that includes the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. This business loan is an upfront priced loan which means you know the exact amount to be paid, including any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the amount I pay?
Interest rates for company loans rates depend on several variables like the amount to be that is borrowed, what business assets the funds are used to purchase, the industry the business operates in, how long the business has been operating and what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to support the loan, and the general health and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the fees?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans. You’ll know exactly how much you need to pay, and when, right from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and no additional fees (as long as you make your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can apply for a loan with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with the setting up and management of the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I repay the loan in advance?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you choose to take this route, please contact our helpful business loan experts. The experts will provide you with the details of your repayment and an early payment figure. It will be calculated using the sum of the remaining principal amount and any accrued interest at the time of early payout plus 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining and any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To make sure you do not miss payment dates and to align with your cash flow standard, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Making sure that your information is secure, and making it clear the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and safeguard your data, 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 use industry recognised encryption standards to secure your personal, sensitive as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to security for our clients and security. We use an advanced bank verification system link to instantly confirm your bank account information online so we can provide a fast response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an business owner uses an asset that they own to make the funds for a loan. The asset could be a personal asset like the family home, or an business property like a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of lending institutions, including the big banks, tend to make loans secured by assets. If you have trouble paying back the loan, then your asset may be transferred to the lender. In essence it is the process of securing new funding using the value of what you already own.
Do I require security to get an business loan?
Up to $150K in loans the requirement for asset security is not required prior to the loan’s access however, we require a personal guarantee. require the personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill the loan terms (as detailed in the loan contract), asset security is not needed. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, you are able to get the option of a personal guarantee and security that is in the form charges on assets.