FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The West Lakes Small Business Loans
Let me know how you can 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 can be made daily or weekly.
How is this Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
It is imaginable to apply for the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone, receive a same day response and have the funds available in just 24 hours. Traditional business loans reference an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. Our company loan is an upfront priced loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any business use, including cash flow management, business improvements, advertising, to purchase inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
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 business growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 for a fixed period of that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly depending on your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is determined at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan in this amount, your company needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years, and have an annual income of $700K. The applicant must also 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 to prove at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funds be utilised?
A large company loan can be used to fund almost every business purpose including company renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment for general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is required to obtain funding above $150,000. This can be done as a result of an charge against assets, which could also include the registration of this through the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to repay credit that is general in nature rather than stating the security for a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally accountable if the business creditor is unable to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central registry run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted in accordance with the date on which a security interest has been registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document lodged to provide an official notice of a claim against a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking a Larger Business Loan of more than $250,000 we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval to ease the process. We might be able to get this done without a credit check and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial assessment, which involves you answering a few financial well-being checks. It is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of credit. A conditional approval is subject an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you may receive may be subject to different terms.
Application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You may apply for an business 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 worth of trade (for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and simple. Just complete the online application within a couple minutes, and an experienced business credit specialist will call you to guide you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll need ID details (valid Driver’s License) and an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least six months of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent, 12 months of bank records, IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim financials from the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summaries.
How quickly will I receive an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually provide an answer within one hour, provided you apply within standard business times and you allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statements , we’ll be able to offer a decision in as little as the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we might be able to offer you with a conditional pre-approval in about six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Certain deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours. Also, allow us to use the advance bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank accounts, it will take a little longer.
How soon will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we can often provide an answer within an hour – as long as you make your application during normal business times and allow 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 statements, we are able to provide a decision within 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be able to provide the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved within the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way is to make sure you apply during normal business hours, and let us use the advance bank verification link to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you decide to send us the copies of bank statements, it will take a little longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a particular amount, we take into consideration a range of aspects for determining what is the well-being for your business and the amount of payments your company can support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your business.
When you submit an application for a specific amount we look at a range of variables to determine the well-being for your business as well as the amount of the repayments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the specific circumstances for your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a company loan?
If you decide to request business loans with us business loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment the company and offer you with a customised offer including the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. A business loan is an upfront-priced loan so you will know in advance the total amount payable including any interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the rate that I am charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates depend on a variety of factors like the amount of money borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the business operates in, the long the business has been running, whether the company has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, and overall health or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the cost?
There are no hidden costs for our company loans, and you’ll know precisely how much it is that you be required to pay, and when, starting from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding and the loan comes with no additional fees (as as long as you pay your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can request a credit loan with no cost upfront or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of the advance loan at any time.
If you decide to do this please speak to our friendly company credit professionals. They will offer you with details on repayment and an early payout figure. This is calculated as the total of the principal amount remaining and the accrued interest up to the time of the early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal remaining and any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To ensure you do not miss due dates and also to be in line your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
The security of your personal information, as well as being transparent about the ways we gather the information we collect, use, share and safeguard your data, is vital and an integral element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption standards to secure your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their security. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online, allowing us to provide rapid response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when a business owner utilises assets they own to obtain the funds for a loan. The asset can be a personal asset like the family home, or a company asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of the lenders even the largest banks, are inclined to guarantee loans against an asset. If you have trouble paying back the loan, then the asset might be sold by the lender. In essence, it is a way of securing new financing by taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
What do I require security to secure an business loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, the requirement for asset security is not required before you are able to access the money, however we do require an individual guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan commitments (as detailed in your loan contract document) the security of assets will never be required. For loans of over $150K typically, you will need an individual ensure and security is provided in the form of the charge of assets.