FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Smithfield Small Business Loans
Tell me more about Smithfield Small Business Loans
Smithfield unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
The application to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the phone. You’ll receive a same day response and have the funds on your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an annual rate of interest along with other charges and fees. Our business loan is an upfront priced loan which means you know ahead of time the total amount payable including any interest, fees or charges. This is then broken down into either a daily or weekly payment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for almost any business purpose including cash flow management, company renovations, marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
About the Larger Smithfield Business Loans
What is the Larger Smithfield Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company growth opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly, depending on your situation.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
It is crucial to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan of this size the business needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years, and have an annual income of $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 or have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at the least 12 months of operating.
How can the funds be utilised?
A larger business loan is a great option for almost any company purpose including company improvements, purchasing inventory or new equipment as well as for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary for accessing funds over $150,000. This can be done by taking a charge against assets, which could also be registered with the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A director’s or personal ensure is a promise to pay back a loan that is general in nature rather than stipulating the security of a specific asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally accountable if the business creditor 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 lists security interests that are that are registered for personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR permits priority over personal property to be granted according to the date the security interest that is registered.
An affidavit is an official document filed to offer the legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting larger company loans that is greater than $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We might be able to make this decision without a credit verification and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial assessment, which involves the answer to a series of financial health questions. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of financing. Unconditional approval is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer that you receive could be on different terms.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for an company loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of trading (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and simple. Just fill out the online application within a few minutes and an experienced business loan specialist will contact you to help you.
For a loan of up to $100,000, you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months bank statement, an IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, and interim current financial year financials, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we can often offer an answer in just one hour, provided you make your application within standard business timings and allow us to utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statements , we’ll be able to offer a decision in just one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be in a position to offer the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this can be quicker based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain deals have been approved in 24 hours.
The fastest way can be ensure you apply during normal company hours, and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system to confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statement, it takes a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we can often provide a response in one hour if you make your application within normal business times and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to send us copies of your bank statements we can provide the decision in just an business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be in a position to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application within about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this could be shorter based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain deals have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The most efficient method would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours and permit us to use the modern bank verification link to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload duplicates of your banking statements, it will take a little longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount, we take into consideration a range of variables in order to assess the well-being of the business and the extent of the repayments your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances the business.
When you make an application for a set amount, we consider a variety of aspects to assess how much we can lend you such as health for your business and the amount of repayments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the particulars of your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for a business loan?
When you apply for our company loan, we’ll assess the risk assessment for your company and offer an individualised offer including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. A company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you will be aware of the total amount to be paid, including any interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the rate that I pay?
Business loan interest rates differ based on various factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what company assets the funds are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company is operating in, how long the company has been in operation for, 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 charges?
There are no hidden costs with our company loans. You’ll know precisely how much it is that you need to pay and when, starting from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest 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 are able to apply for a loan no cost upfront or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan earlier?
You may choose to pay back all of your loan at any point in time.
If you are deciding to take this route, please speak to our friendly business lending specialists. They will offer you with repayment details and an early payment figure. It will be calculated using the total of the remaining principal amount and the accrued interest up to the time of the early payout and 1.5% of the principal remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
What are the repayment methods?
To make sure you do not miss payments and to work with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
The security of your personal information, as well as being upfront about how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as protect your information, is vital and a vital part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system that allows you to instantly confirm your bank account information online. This allows us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when a company owner borrows from assets they own to secure the funding. The asset can be an individual property, such as the family home or it could be a company asset such as a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of banks, including the big banks, tend to guarantee loans against assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, then your assets could be sold by the lender. In essence it’s an opportunity to secure new funding using the worth of the asset you already have.
Are I require security for an company loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans no asset security is required before you are able to access the money however, we require a personal guarantee. need an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as stipulated in the loan contract), asset security will never be required. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 typically, you will need an individual guarantee and security in the form charges on assets.