FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Seddon Small Business Loans
Let me know about the Seddon Small Business Loans
Seddon unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What makes how is the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary business loan?
Apply to the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get a same day response and the funds could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an annual interest rate together with additional fees and charges. Our company loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll know ahead of time the total amount payable including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any business use, including cash flow management, business remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About Larger Seddon Business Loans
What is the Larger Seddon Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business expansion opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 over a fixed term that can last up to 36 months. Repayments are scheduled weekly or fortnightly, depending on you cashflow.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
This Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee that is determined at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To qualify for a loan that is this large, your business needs to have been in operation for at least 3 years, and have an annual income of $700K. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at the least 12 months of operating.
What can I use the funding for?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for almost every company reason, such as business renovations, purchase of new equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is required to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s in the form of a charge on assets and can include registration in the PPSR or registering as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is general in nature, rather than stating the security for a particular asset. The person signing the guarantee is personally accountable if the business creditor is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been registered in respect of personal property (including goods or assets). The PPSR gives preference over private property granted in accordance with the date on which a registration of a security interest.
A caveat is a legal document lodged to provide an official notice of a claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan that exceeds $250K we can offer an initial pre-approval that will help ease 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 is based upon an initial assessment, which involves you answering a few financial health questions. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of financing. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer you might receive could have different terms.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You can apply for a 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)
- you must prove at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Simply complete the online form in just a few minutes, and a dedicated business loan specialist will be in touch to guide you.
For a loan of up to $100,000, you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s License), an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll also 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 – $500K: Application details including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank records, IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, and interim current financial year financials such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summaries.
How quickly will I receive an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually offer an answer in just one hour if you make your application during standard company times and you allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statement, we’ll provide a decision within just one business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be able to offer the conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however it could be faster based on the specifics of each application. Some transactions have received approval in just 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply is to make sure you apply during normal company hours, and let us use the advance bank verification link to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you opt to send us duplicates of your banking accounts, it can take a bit longer.
How fast will I get the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer within one hour – as long as you make your application at standard business times and let us use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements we can provide a decision in as little as an business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) We may be likely to offer you with conditional pre-approval within about 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Certain agreements have been approved within just 24 hours.
The fastest method would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use the sophisticated bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank accounts, it will take a little longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount, we take into consideration a range of aspects for determining the health that is your business and the level of repayments your company can afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances for your business.
If you apply for a set amount, we look at a range of variables to determine the well-being for your company and the level of the repayments your company can afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the particulars for your business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for an business loan?
When you request our business credit, we’ll assess the risk assessment the business and offer an individualised offer including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront priced loan which means you be aware of the total amount to be paid, including any interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the amount I am charged?
Interest rates for company loans rates depend on several factors including the amount borrowed, what company assets the money are used to purchase as well as the field the business operates in, the long the business has been running and in the event that the company has sufficient cash flow to cover the loan, and overall health and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden costs for our company loans, and you’ll be aware of the amount you need to pay and when, starting from day one. There’s no compounding and no additional fees (as as you make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You are able to request a credit loan absolutely no upfront cost and no the obligation to take action.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with establishing and managing the loan. It is only charged for this fee if you decide to take the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Can I pay out the loan earlier?
You can decide to repay all of your loan early at any time.
If you do decide to pursue this option, please contact our helpful company credit experts. They’ll provide you with repayment details along with an early payout estimate. This is calculated as the total of the principal remaining and accrued interest to the time of early payment and 1.5 percent of the principal balance and any fees that remain unpaid.
What is the process for repayments?
To ensure you do not miss due dates and also to be in line your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from the nominated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Security of your data, and being clear about how we collect the information we collect, use, share and protect your information, is crucial 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 as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We use an advanced banking verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online, allowing us to offer an immediate response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an business owner borrows from an asset they own to secure a loan. The asset may be an individual asset, such as the family home, or a company asset such as a truck or piece or equipment.
The majority of lending institutions, including the major banks, prefer to make loans secured by an asset. If you have trouble paying back the loan then your asset may be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s means of securing new financing by taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
What do I require security to secure an company loan?
For loans that exceed $150K, no asset security is required in advance to gain access to the funds, however we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. In the event that you fulfill your loan commitments (as stipulated in your loan contract), asset security will never be required. For loans over $150,000 typically, you will need personal guarantee and security in the form an asset charge.