FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Clapham Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Clapham Small Business Loans
Clapham unsecured loans offers the range of $5,000 to $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional company loan?
The application to the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get an answer within the same day and have the funds in your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. The company loan is a loan that is priced upfront and you’ll be aware of the total amount to be paid, including 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 need, such as the management of cash flow, company improvements, advertising to purchase inventory, new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
About Larger Clapham Business Loans
What is the Larger Clapham Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help business expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate the flow of cash.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
It is crucial to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which 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 that is this large the business needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years with an annual turnover of $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years as well as own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of business.
How can the funding be utilised?
A Larger Business Loan can be used to fund almost every company need, including business renovations, purchase of equipment or inventory 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 needed for funding of more than $150,000. This can be done by way of charge against assets and can include registering this on the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a guarantee to pay off a credit line that is general in nature, rather than specifying security over a particular asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally responsible if the company lender is not able to make the repayment.
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 which are registered with respect to personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR gives preference over private property granted according to the date a security interest has been registered.
Caveats are legal document that is filed to provide an official notice of a claim to property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
When you’re applying for the Larger Business Loan of more than $250,000 we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval in order to smooth out the process. We might be able to apply for this without credit checks and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment, which involves the answer to a series of financial well-being checks. It is not an offer or guarantee of finance. Unconditional approval is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer you are offered could be subject to different terms.
Application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for a 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)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of business (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $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 company loan specialist will call you to assist you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s License), a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K to $500K: Application details including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statement and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables summary.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we can often offer an answer in just one hour – as long as you make your application within standard business timings and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision within 1 company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we might be in a position to provide you with a conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved within just 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply can be make sure you apply during normal company hours, and allow us to use our advance bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you opt to send us documents from your account statement, it may take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we typically offer an answer within one hour, provided you make your application at standard business times and let us use the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer a decision in as little as the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we might be likely to provide the conditional pre-approval in about six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based upon the circumstances for each application. Some offers have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours. You can also permit us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statement, it may take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We provide the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a specific amount we consider a variety of factors that determine what is the well-being that is your company as well as the amount of payments your company can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances the business.
When you make an application for a particular amount, we look at a range of variables to determine the well-being that is your company and the amount of payments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the particular circumstances of your business.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for an company loan?
If you decide to request our company loans, we will assess the risk profile that you have for your company and offer you with a customised offer including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. The business loan is an upfront cost loan and you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including costs, fees, or interest rates.
What is the basis for the rate I’m charged?
The interest rates on company loans rates depend on a variety of factors such as the amount that is borrowed, the business assets the money will be used for in addition to the industry that the business operates in, the long the business has been in operation as well as how long the business has enough cash flow to cover the loan, as well as the general health as well as creditworthiness company.
What are the charges?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our business loans, and you’ll know exactly how much you be required to pay, and at what time, from the first day. There’s not any compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as as you make your payments in time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan without any upfront costs or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with establishing and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan early?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of the loan early at any time.
If you are deciding to take this route, please speak to our friendly company credit specialists. We will provide you with details for 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 early payout, plus 1.5% of the principal remaining plus any outstanding fees.
What is the process for repayments?
To make sure you do not miss due dates and also to be in line your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Protecting your information, and knowing the ways we gather data, process, exchange and ensure the security of your information is vital and a vital part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption techniques to protect your personal, sensitive financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to security for our clients and security. We use an advanced banking verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online, allowing us to offer rapid response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a business owner borrows from the assets they have to make the funding. The asset can be either a personal asset like the family home or an company property like a truck or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lenders, even the largest banks, are inclined to make loans secured by assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan then the asset could be sold by the lender. In essence it is a way of securing new financing by using the value of what you already have.
What do I require security for a company loan?
For loans of up to $150K, there is no requirement for asset security upfront to access the money However, we do need an individual guarantee. In the event that you fulfill the terms of your loan (as stipulated in your loan contract) Asset security will never be needed. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 typically, you will need a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of a charge over assets.