FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Details of The Houghton Small Business Loans
Let me know about the Houghton Small Business Loans
Houghton unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 month and cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
You can apply for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get an instant response and have the funds available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual interest rate as well as other fees and charges. This company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily installment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company reason, such as managing cash flows, company renovations, marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
About the Larger Houghton Business Loans
What is the Larger Houghton Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support company growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a term fixed up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount, your business needs to be trading for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at the least 12 months of operating.
What can the funding be used for?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost all company need, including business remodeling, buying new equipment or inventory, as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is needed for funding of more than $150,000. It’s 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 guarantee is a promise to repay a loan which is general in nature rather than stating security over an asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the company lender is not able to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central registry run by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR permits preference over private property assigned depending on the date that a security interest that is registered.
A caveat is a legal form of document to offer notice of a legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re seeking a Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval that will help smooth out the process. We could be able to make this decision without a credit check, and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes the answer to a series of financial well-being checks. It’s neither an offer nor a guarantee of financing. Unconditional approval is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you may receive may be based on different terms.
The application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You may apply for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, own 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 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 within a few minutes and an experienced company expert in lending will call 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.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K to $250K: Application details including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financials from the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summary.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we usually provide an answer within an hour – as long as you submit your request at standard company time and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements , we are able to provide the decision within just one business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we might be likely to provide you with conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Some offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The most effective method is to make sure you apply during standard business hours. Also, permit us to use the modern bank verification link to verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statements , it takes a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically offer an answer in just one hour, provided you submit your request during normal business timings and allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statements, we are able to provide the decision in just 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we might be in a position to offer the 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. Some transactions have received approval in less than 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours. Also, let us use the modern bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you upload documents from your account statements it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We provide loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount we take into consideration a range of aspects to determine your well-being for your company as well as the amount of repayments that your company is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics of your company.
When you submit an application for a particular amount, we will consider a number of factors to determine how much we can lend you such as well-being for your company and the amount of repayments your company is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specifics of your company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a business loan?
If you decide to apply for our business credit, we’ll assess the risk assessment the business and provide you with a tailored offer that includes loan amount, term and the interest rates. It is a business loan is an upfront cost loan which means you be aware in advance of the total amount to be paid, including any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What is the basis for the rate I am charged?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on a variety of factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what company assets the money will be used for and the sector the business operates in, the long the business has been in operation as well as in the event that the business has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, as well as the overall well-being or financial standing of the company.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges for our company loans. You’ll know precisely how much it is that you be required to pay and when, starting from the first day. There’s no compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as as you make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can get a cash loan with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You may choose to pay back the total amount of your loan early at any time.
If you choose to pursue this option, please talk to one of our helpful business credit professionals. The experts will provide you with details for repayment and an early payout figure. The figure will be calculated as the sum 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 you make repayments work?
To help you avoid missing payment dates and to align with your cash flow routine, we provide repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from the nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and making it clear the ways we gather information, use it, and exchange it, as well as safeguard your data, is of paramount importance and an integral part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption standards to secure your personal, sensitive financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to protecting the security of clients and privacy. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated bank verification system to immediately verify the bank account details online to offer quick responses.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the business owner uses an asset that they own to make the funds for a loan. The asset can be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home, or an business asset such as a truck or piece or equipment.
The vast majority of the lenders including the big banks, tend to make loans secured by an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then the asset could be taken over by the lender. In essence, it’s an opportunity to secure new funding using the worth of the asset you already have.
What do I need security to get a company loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans no asset security is required before you are able to access the money however, we do require a personal guarantee. As long as you follow your loan commitments (as stipulated in the loan contract) Asset security is not required. For loans over $150K generally there is an individual ensure and security that is in the form charges on assets.