FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Emerald Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the Emerald Small Business Loans
Emerald unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 months, cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
How is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
Apply to this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or over the phone. You’ll get an answer within the same day and have the funds on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans refer to an interest rate per annum together with additional fees and charges. The company loan is a pre-paid loan which means you know ahead of time the total amount to be paid, including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is divided into weekly or daily payment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for almost any company use, including the management of cash flow, company renovations, marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About Larger Emerald Business Loans
What is the Larger Emerald Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly depending on the flow of cash.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
It is important to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan of this size the company needs to have been in operation for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of at least $700K. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at minimum 12 months of business.
What can the funds be used for?
A large business loan can be used for nearly any business purpose including business renovations, to purchase new equipment or inventory, as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is necessary to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s in the form of a charge against assets, and could include the registration of this with the PPSR or filing a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to repay a loan which is generally in nature rather than specifying the security for a particular asset. The person signing the ensure is personally responsible if the company the borrower fails to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been granted to individuals who own personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR gives the priority of personal property assigned according to the date the registration of a security interest.
Caveats are legal form of document to provide notice of a legal claim on a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250,000 it’s possible to offer an initial pre-approval to smooth out the process. We could be able to apply for this without a credit verification 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 is in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of financing. A conditional approval is subject an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer you are offered could be on different terms.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You can apply for an company loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months’ worth of transactions (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and simple. Just fill out the online application in just a few minutes, and a dedicated company credit specialist will call you to assist you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) and an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K to $250K: Information about the application including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent twelve month bank accounts, the IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, as well as interim financials from the current financial year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables Summary.
How soon will I hear a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically provide a response in one hour, provided you make your application during standard business timings and permit us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statement, we’ll provide an answer within one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we could be capable of offer you with conditional pre-approval in about six hours. Once you have signed the 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. Some transactions have received approval within the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to make sure you apply during normal business hours. You can also permit us to use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statement, it can take a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we usually provide an answer within one hour – as long as you apply within normal business hours and allow us to use the bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statements we can offer a decision in just an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we could be in a position to offer the conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Certain agreements have been approved in 24 hours.
The quickest method is to ensure you apply during normal business hours. Also, permit us to use the advance bank verification to confirm your bank details online. If you upload documents from your account statements, it may take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount we take into consideration a range of variables that determine what is the well-being of the business and the extent of repayments your business will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specific circumstances for your company.
When you submit an application for a particular amount, we will consider a number of elements to assess your health that is your business and the level of the repayments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particular circumstances the business.
Fees & repayments
What is the cost for a company loan?
When you request one of our company loans, we will assess the risk assessment the business and offer an individualised proposal that includes loan amount, term and interest rates. A company loan is an upfront cost loan and you’ll be aware of the total amount you will have to pay, including interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
Interest rates for company loans rates differ based on various factors such as the amount that is that is borrowed, what company assets the money will be used for as well as the field the company is operating in, how long the business has been operating, in the event that the company has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, as well as the general well-being as well as creditworthiness business.
What are the cost?
There aren’t any hidden charges with our company loans. You’ll be aware of the amount it is that you be required to pay and when, starting from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest and no extra fees (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to apply for a loan without any upfront costs or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated in establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you choose to proceed with 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 early?
You can decide to repay all of your loan in full at any time.
If you choose to do this please talk to one of our helpful company loan specialists. We will offer you with repayment details as well as an early payout amount. This will be calculated as the sum of the principal amount remaining and the accrued interest up to the time of the early payout in addition to 1.5% of the principal amount remaining and any fees that remain unpaid.
How do repayments work?
To ensure you do not miss payment dates and to align with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. They are automatically deducted from your nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and knowing how we collect, use, exchange and ensure the security of your information is vital and is an essential aspect of our relationship with 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 and other data. Our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to the security of our clients as well as their security. We employ a highly sophisticated bank verification system to immediately verify the bank account details online so we can provide rapid response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when the business owner borrows from an asset that they own to obtain the loan. The asset could be an asset belonging to the personal, like the family home or an business asset such as a truck or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of banks, even the major banks, prefer to guarantee loans against an asset. If you have trouble paying back the loan, your asset may be transferred to the lender. In essence, it is a way of securing new financing by using the value of what you already have.
Do I require security to secure an business loan?
For loans that exceed $150,000, the requirement for asset security is not required upfront to access the money however, we do need a personal guarantee. If you adhere to your loan obligations (as specified in the loan contract), asset security will never be required. For loans that exceed $150K, generally there is an individual guarantee and security is provided in the form of an asset charge.