FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Caufield Small Business Loans
Tell me how you are able to avail the Caufield Small Business Loans
Caufield unsecured loans offers the range of $5,000 to $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
How is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from the 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 funds may be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans refer to an interest rate per annum together with additional fees and charges. This business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll be aware of the total amount payable including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for virtually every company reason, such as cash flow management, business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, as general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
About Larger Caufield Business Loans
What is the Larger Caufield Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support company expansion 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 depending on you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, calculated at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount the business needs to be trading for at least 3 years with an annual turnover of $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
How can the funding be utilised?
A larger company loan can be used for almost any company purpose including company remodeling, buying equipment or inventory, as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is required for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually in the form of a charge against assets, and could include the registration of this on 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 stipulating the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally accountable if the business borrower is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR allows prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted in accordance with the date on which a registration of a security interest.
The caveat can be described as a formal document that is filed to offer the legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K we can offer an initial pre-approval to ease the process. We may be able to do this without credit checks and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment that includes the answer to a series of financial well-being questions. This is not an offer or guarantee of financing. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you might receive could have different conditions.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You can apply for an business loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over the age of 18 and own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months worth of trade (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and easy. Just complete the online application within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company 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 Licence) as well as an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K to $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent twelve months of bank statements, IRD statement Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim financial statements for the current year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer an answer in just one hour – as long as you apply during standard company timings and allow us to utilise the bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statements , we are able to provide an answer within one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we might be capable of provide you with a conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved in just 24 hours.
The most effective method is to make sure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use our modern bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload duplicates of your banking statements it may take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we can often offer a response in one hour, provided you submit your request during normal business times and let us use the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements we can offer the decision in just 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we may be likely to offer you with conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this can be faster depending on the specifics of each application. Some deals have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The fastest method is to ensure you apply during standard business hours. You can also let us use the modern bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload documents from your account statements, it will take a little longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 to $500,000. When you make an application for a particular amount, we take into consideration a range of factors to determine what is the health that is your business and the extent of payments your business can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specifics for your company.
If you apply for a specific amount we consider a variety of variables to assess how much we can lend you such as health for your business as well as the amount of repayments that your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will be contingent on the specifics the business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for an company loan?
When you request one of our business loan, we’ll assess the risk profile of your company and provide you with a tailored proposal that includes the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. This company loan is an upfront-priced loan which means you know in advance the total amount payable including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the factor that determines the price I will be charged?
The interest rates on business loans rates differ based on various factors like the amount of money that is borrowed, what company assets the funds will be used for and the sector the business is operating in, how long the business is in operation and in the event that the business has enough cash flow to support the loan, and also the overall health or financial standing of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden fees for our business loans, and you’ll know exactly how much it is that you be required to pay and when, starting from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest, and there are no additional charges (as long as you make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can apply for a loan with no upfront cost or any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with setting up and managing the loan. This is only a fee if you proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can repay the entire amount of the loan in full at any time.
If you do decide to take this route, please call our helpful business lending professionals. They will offer you with repayment details and an early payment figure. This will be calculated as the total of the remaining principal amount and accrued interest to the date of early payout and 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
What are the repayment methods?
To help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Security of your data, and knowing how we collect, use, exchange and ensure the security of your information is of paramount importance and is an essential element of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to security for our customers and privacy. We employ an exceptionally sophisticated bank verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when an business owner uses assets they own to secure the funding. The asset could be an individual property, such as the family home or an company asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of banks, not just the largest banks, are inclined to make loans secured by assets. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence, it’s the process of securing new financing by taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Are I need security to get an business loan?
For loans up to $150K it is not necessary to secure assets upfront to access the money however, we do require the personal guarantee. If you adhere to your loan obligations (as specified in your loan contract) Asset security is not required. If you take out loans in excess of $150K generally, there is the option of a personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of the charge of assets.