FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Southern River Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the Southern River Small Business Loans
Southern River unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is this Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary company loan?
Apply for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or over the phone, receive an answer within the same day and funds may be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans refer to an annual rate of interest plus other fees and charges. The company loan is a pre-paid loan so you will be aware in advance of the amount you will have to pay, including the interest, fees and charges. This is then broken down into either weekly or daily repayment figure.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly every business use, including cash flow management, business remodels and marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About the Larger Southern River Business Loans
What is the Larger Southern River Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 over a fixed term up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly to work with your cash flow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is calculated at 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Can I get the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan of this size the company needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years with an annual turnover of at least $700,000. You must 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 minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can the funding be used for?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost all business use, including company renovations, purchase of new equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s as a result of an charge on assets, and may include registering this through the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a commitment to pay back a loan that is general in nature rather than stating the security of a specific asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally liable if the business borrower is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central registry run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are that are registered for personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants priority over personal property to be assigned depending on the date that a security interest that is registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document filed to provide notice of a legal claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval that will help make the process. We might be able to make this decision without a credit check, and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial evaluation that involves the answer to a series of financial well-being checks. This is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of funds. Unconditional approval is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer that you may receive may be on different conditions.
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 18 years or older, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months worth of trade (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and easy. Just fill out the online application within a couple minutes, and a dedicated business expert in lending will be in touch to help you.
To apply for up to $100,000, you’ll need ID details (valid Driver’s Licence), a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months worth of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K – $250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if loan above $150K).
$250K – $500K: Application details including credit consent twelve month bank accounts, the IRD statements as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, and interim financials for the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables Summary.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we typically offer an answer within one hour – as long as you submit your request at quality company hours and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to submit copies of your bank statements we can provide an answer in as little as the span of one company day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we could be likely to provide you with conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however it could be faster based upon the circumstances for each application. Certain agreements have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard company hours, and permit us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statements it will take a little longer.
How quickly will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we typically provide an answer in just one hour if you apply at normal business time and allow us to use the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide an answer in just the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be likely to offer the conditional pre-approval in about six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours. Also, allow us to use the modern bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statement, it can take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount, we take into consideration a range of aspects to determine what is the well-being of your business and the level of repayments your business can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics for your company.
When you make an application for a specific amount we take into consideration a variety of elements to determine how much we can lend you such as health of your company as well as the amount of the repayments your company can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specifics for your company.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for the cost of a business loan?
When you request the company financing, we will assess the risk assessment that you have for your business and offer you with a customised offer, including the amount of the loan, the duration and the interest rates. This company loan is an upfront cost loan and you’ll know in advance the total amount to be paid, including any costs, fees, or interest rates.
What is the basis for the rate I’m charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of factors like the amount of money that is borrowed, what business assets the funds are used to purchase and the sector the business is operating in, how long the company has been running for, what percentage of the company has sufficient cash flow to fund the loan, as well as the overall health or financial standing of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden fees with our company loans, and you’ll be aware of the amount it is that you be required to pay and when, from day one. There’s not any compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as as you make your payments punctually).
We do not 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 is the cost associated with the setting up and management of the loan. You are only charged this cost if you take out the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the amount of loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You can decide to repay all of your loan at any point in time.
If you do decide to take this route, please speak to our friendly business credit specialists. They will provide you with details on repayment and an early payment figure. This will be calculated as the sum of the principal balance plus any accrued interest as of the time of the early payout and 1.5% of the principal remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To ensure you do not miss payment dates and to align your cash flow cycle we offer repayments either weekly or daily. They will be automatically deducted from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Protecting your information, and knowing how we collect data, process, exchange and safeguard your data, is vital and a vital aspect of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption standards to protect your personal, sensitive financial and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We employ a highly sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify the bank account details online. This allows us to provide rapid response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an company owner utilises the assets they have to obtain the loan. The asset can be an individual property, such as the family home or a company asset such as a vehicle or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lending institutions, including the banks with the biggest size, prefer to guarantee loans against an asset. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan then your asset may be taken over by the lender. In essence it’s means of securing new funding using the value of what you already own.
Are I require security to get an business loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, the requirement for asset security is not required in advance to gain access to the funds, however we do require a personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan obligations (as detailed in the loan contract) the security of assets is not needed. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally there is the option of a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of charges on assets.