FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Bertram Small Business Loans
Let me know about the Bertram Small Business Loans
Bertram unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
You can apply to your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes by phone. You will receive an answer within the same day and have the funds in your account in 24 hours. Traditional business loans reference an annual interest rate together with additional fees and charges. This company loan is a cash-based loan which means you be aware of the total amount to be paid, including any fees, interest or charges. This is then broken down into weekly or daily payment amount.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly every business purpose including the management of cash flow, business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, or as general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Concerning Larger Bertram Business Loans
What is the Larger Bertram Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support business growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term with a maximum of 36 months. Repayments are either weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan of this size, your company needs to be operating for at least three years, and have an annual income of at least $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at the least 12 months of operating.
What can I use the funds for?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for nearly all business use, including company renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed to access funding over $150,000. This can be done in the form of a charge on assets, which could also be registered in the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a commitment to pay back a loan that is general in nature rather than defining the security for a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable if the business lender is not able to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are granted to individuals who own personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR gives the priority of personal property granted in accordance with the date on which a security interest that is registered.
A caveat is a legal document filed to provide the public notice of a legal claim against a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan of $250,000 or more we can offer an initial pre-approval that will help smooth out the process. We may be able to make this decision without a credit check and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial evaluation that involves the answer to a series of financial well-being questions. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of finance. A conditional approval is subject an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you might receive could be subject to different terms.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for an business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of trading (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Complete the online form in just a few minutes, and a dedicated business expert in lending will call you to guide you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s License) along with an active NZBN/IRD, and at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K to $250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Information on the application including credit consent, 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, as well as interim financial statements for the current year, Aged Payables and Aged Receivables summaries.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer within one hour, provided you submit your request within standard company hours and allow us to utilise the bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you choose to upload copies of your banking statements , we are able to provide an answer within just the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we could be likely to offer you with conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are about 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain transactions have received approval in the space of 24 hours.
The most effective method for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard company hours and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us the copies of bank statements it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide a response in one hour – provided you apply during normal business hours and you allow us to use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to upload copies of your banking statements, we are able to offer an answer in as little as 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we could be able to provide you with a conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will need to wait approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain deals have been approved in 24 hours.
The fastest method would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours. Also, allow us to use our sophisticated bank verification to confirm your bank details online. If you opt to send us duplicates of your banking accounts, it may take a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount, we consider a variety of elements in order to assess what is the well-being for your business and the amount of payments your company will be able to support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances for your business.
When you submit an application for a particular amount, we will consider a number of variables to determine the well-being of your business as well as the amount of the repayments your company is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be determined by the specifics of your company.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for a company loan?
If you decide to make an application for the business loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment of your business and offer an individualised proposal that includes loan amount, term and the interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront cost loan therefore you will be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including charges or interest.
What is the basis for the rate I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on several factors including the amount of money borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase and the sector the business is in, how long the business has been running, how long the company has sufficient cash flow to fund the loan, and also the overall health or financial standing of the company.
What are the costs?
There are no hidden costs for our company loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you be required to pay and when, from the very first day. There’s no compounding and no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments in time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can apply for a loan with no upfront cost or the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with the setting up and management of the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You may choose to pay back the entire amount of the loan in full at any time.
If you do decide to pursue this option, please call our helpful company loans specialists. The specialists will offer you with the details of your repayment and an early payment 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 balance as well as any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To ensure that you don’t miss repayments and to fit in with your cash flow routine, we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. They are automatically deducted from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Protecting your information, and making it clear how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as safeguard your data, is of huge importance and an integral part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption standards to secure your personal, sensitive financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to protecting the security of clients and privacy. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify the bank account details online so we can provide rapid response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when the business owner utilises assets they own to secure the funding. The asset can be either an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home or a company asset like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of lending institutions, not just the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, then the asset might be taken over by the lender. In essence, it is means of securing additional financing using the worth of the asset you already have.
What do I require security to get an business loan?
For loans up to $150K it is not necessary to secure assets prior to the loan’s access but we require a personal guarantee. need an individual guarantee. If you adhere to your loan commitments (as detailed in the loan contract) Asset security is not required. If you take out loans in excess of $150K typically, you will need an individual ensure and security in the form of an asset charge.