FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Northbridge Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Northbridge Small Business Loans
Northbridge unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What makes what makes the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional company loan?
The application to get this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or on the phone. You’ll receive a same day response and funds may be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans have an annual rate of interest as well as other fees and charges. Our company loan is a cash-based loan so you will know ahead of time the total amount due, which includes any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any business purpose including managing cash flows, company remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About larger Northbridge Business Loans
What is the Larger Northbridge Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support company expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly to work with your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount the business needs to have been operating for at least three years with an annual turnover of at least $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of business.
What can I use the funds for?
A larger business loan can be used for nearly every company use, including business remodeling, buying inventory or new equipment or as general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is necessary to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s by taking a charge over assets, and may include registration on the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to repay a loan which is generally based rather than stating the security of a specific asset. The person signing the ensure is personally responsible if the company borrower is unable to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register run by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been granted to individuals who own personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants the priority of personal property assigned in accordance with the date on which a security interest that is registered.
Caveats are legal document that is filed to offer an official notice of a claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re requesting larger company loans of $250K or more it’s possible to offer a preliminary pre-approval to help smooth out the process. It is possible to make this decision without a credit verification and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial well-being checks. It is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of finance. A conditional approval is subject an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you are offered could have different conditions.
Application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You may apply for an 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 prove at least 6 months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and easy. Simply complete the online form in few minutes and a dedicated business credit specialist will contact you to help you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s License), an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if credit is over $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details for application including credit consent as well as 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financial statements for the current year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically provide a response in one hour if you apply during standard company hours and you allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to submit copies of your bank statements , we are able to provide the decision in as little as the span of one business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we may be in a position to provide you with a conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however this can be quicker based upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved within 24 hours.
The most effective method can be ensure you apply during standard business hours. You can also permit us to use the advance bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you send us the copies of bank accounts, it may take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we typically offer a response in one hour – as long as you submit your request during normal business hours and you allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements, we are able to provide an answer within 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) We may be able to offer the conditional pre-approval within six 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 offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The quickest method would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours. Also, allow us to use our advanced bank verification system link to check your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload documents from your account statement, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount we look at a variety of aspects that determine what is the well-being for your company as well as the amount of repayments that your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances that are unique to your company.
If you apply for a certain amount, we consider a variety of aspects to determine your well-being of the business and the extent of repayments your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the particular circumstances the company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for an business loan?
When you make an application for our business loan, we’ll assess the risk profile the business and offer you with a customised offer including loan amount, term and the interest rates. The company loan is an upfront-priced loan which means you be aware in advance 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 company loans rates vary due to factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what business assets the funds are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company is operating in, how long the business has been in operation as well as in the event that the company has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, and also the overall well-being or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the costs?
There aren’t any hidden costs with our company loans. You’ll know precisely what you’ll be required to pay and when, right from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as long as you are able to make your payments in time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan with without any upfront costs or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with establishing and managing the loan. This is only a fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I repay the loan early?
You can choose to repay all of your advance loan at any time.
If you do decide to take this route, please speak to our friendly company lending specialists. They will provide you with the details of your repayment along with an early payout estimate. This will be calculated as the total of the principal balance plus any accrued interest as of the date of early payout and 1.5 percent of the remaining principal and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do repayments work?
To ensure you do not miss repayments and to fit in your cash flow schedule, we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. They are automatically deducted from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and knowing how we collect, use, exchange and safeguard your data, is of huge importance and is an essential aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption techniques to protect your personal, sensitive financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system that allows you to instantly verify the bank account details online so we can provide quick responses.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when the company owner makes use of assets they own to get the funding. The asset can be an individual asset, such as the family home, or it could be a business asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of banks, even the major banks, prefer to make loans secured by assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s a way of securing new funding taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
What do I need security to secure an business loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans it is not necessary to secure assets prior to the loan’s access however, we require a personal guarantee. need the personal guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan commitments (as stated in the loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be required. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, you can get a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of a charge over assets.