FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Semaphore South Small Business Loans
Let me know what you think of the Semaphore South Small Business Loans
Semaphore South unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What makes what makes the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
It is possible to apply to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone, receive an immediate response, and the funds could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an annual interest rate together with additional fees and charges. We offer a business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes any interest, fees or charges. This is then divided into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly every business use, including managing cash flows, business improvements, advertising to purchase inventory, new equipment, or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
About larger Semaphore South Business Loans
What is the Larger Semaphore South Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support company expansion opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a fixed-term for up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly depending on your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is 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 that is this large the business needs to be operating for at least three years and generate an annual revenue of at least $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funds for?
A larger company loan can be used to fund almost all company need, including company renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s as a result of an charge on assets and can include registering this through the PPSR or making a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a promise to pay off a credit line that is generally in nature rather than stating security over a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally responsible if the company the borrower fails to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR permits priority over personal property to be assigned depending on the date that a security interest was registered.
An affidavit is an official document that is filed to provide an official notice of a claim to property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking a Larger Business Loan of more than $250K we can offer a preliminary pre-approval to help ease the process. We may be able to make this decision without credit checks and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon a preliminary assessment which includes you answering some financial well-being questions. This is not an offer or guarantee of financing. Acceptance without condition is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you receive could be subject to different conditions.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for a company 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)
- you must prove at least 6 months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Simply complete the online form within a few minutes and a dedicated business expert in lending will contact you to guide you through the process.
To be eligible for up to $100,000 you’ll need proof of identity (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if credit is over $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent, 12 months bank statement, an IRD statements as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables Summary.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we usually provide an answer in just one hour if you submit your request at standard business times and let us make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements , we’ll be able to provide an answer within just the span of one business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we might be able to provide you with a conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Some offers have been approved in just 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal company hours, and permit us to use the modern bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statements , it may take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually offer an answer within one hour – provided you apply in standard business hours and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements, we are able to offer a decision in just 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) We may be able to provide you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain deals have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The fastest method can be make sure you apply during standard business hours and permit us to use the modern bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload duplicates of your banking statements, it will take a little longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loans that range from $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount, we look at a variety of aspects to determine how much we can lend you health of the business and the extent of the repayments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particular circumstances of your business.
When you apply for a certain amount, we take into consideration a variety of factors to determine the health of the company as well as the amount of repayments your business can afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specifics of your company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for an company loan?
If you decide to make an application for our company financing, we’ll assess the risk assessment of your company and provide an individualised offer including the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. This company loan is a loan that is priced upfront and you’ll know the exact amount to be paid, including any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What is the factor that determines the price I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates vary due to factors such as the amount that is borrowed, what business assets the money are used to purchase, the industry the business operates in, how long the business has been operating for, how long the business has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and the general well-being and creditworthiness of the company.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden costs with our business loans, and you’ll know precisely what you’ll need to pay and when, starting from day one. There’s not any compounding interest and no additional fees (as long as you make your payments in time).
We don’t charge an application fee. You are able to request a credit loan with with no upfront cost or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated with establishing and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I repay the loan earlier?
You may choose to pay back all of your advance loan at any time.
If you decide to do this please speak to our friendly company lending specialists. They’ll offer you with the details of your repayment as well as an early payout amount. This is calculated as the total of the principal amount remaining and any accrued interest at the time of the early payout and 1.5 percent of the principal balance and any fees that remain unpaid.
What are the repayment methods?
In order to help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in your cash flow schedule, we provide repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Protecting your information, and knowing the ways we gather information, use it, and exchange it, as well as ensure the security of your information is vital and an integral part 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 protect your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to protecting the security of clients and privacy. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated banking verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online, allowing us to offer a fast response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when an business owner uses an asset that they own to get the loan. The asset can be either an individual asset, such as the family home or it could be a business property like a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of lenders, even the largest banks, are inclined to make loans secured by assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, your assets could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s an opportunity to secure additional financing using the worth of the asset you already own.
Do I need security for a business loan?
For loans up to $150K it is not necessary to secure assets before you can access the money However, we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. As long as you follow your loan obligations (as stated in your loan contract) the security of assets is not needed. For loans of over $150K typically, you will need an individual ensure and security in the form of a charge over assets.