FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Underwood Small Business Loans
Let me know about the Underwood Small Business Loans
Underwood unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months, cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What makes the Unsecured Loan different from an traditional business loan?
Apply to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes by phone. You will receive a same day response and the money could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans refer to an annual rate of interest as well as other fees and charges. This business 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 amount to be paid back.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every company need, such as cash flow management, company remodeling, marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
About Larger Underwood Business Loans
What is the Larger Underwood Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term for up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate the flow of cash.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is determined at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Do I qualify 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 $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 or have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funding for?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for almost all company purpose including business renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment or as general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is needed to access funding over $150,000. This is in the form of a charge on assets, and may include registration through the PPSR or making a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a promise to repay credit that is generally based rather than stating security over a particular asset. The person who signs the guarantee is personally liable if the company borrower is unable to make the repayment.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register operated by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been which are registered with respect to personal property (including items or assets). The PPSR permits preference over private property assigned according to the date the security interest has been registered.
A caveat is a legal document lodged to provide notice of a legal claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250,000 we may be able to provide a preliminary pre-approval to help smooth out the process. We may be able to get this done without credit checks and within six hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial evaluation that involves you answering a few financial well-being checks. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of financing. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer that you are offered could be on different terms.
Application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You are eligible to apply for an company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months’ worth of transactions (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and easy. Just fill out the online application within a few minutes and an experienced company expert in lending will contact you to help you.
To apply for up to $100,000, you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s License) as well as an active NZBN/IRD, and at least six months worth of bank statements.
For larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if loan above $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details for application including credit consent as well as 12 months bank statement, an IRD statements as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, as well as interim financials for the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables Summary.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we usually provide an answer in just one hour if you submit your request during quality business time and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide an answer within just 1 company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K to $500K) we may be in a position to provide you with pre-approval conditional to your application within about six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the specifics of each application. Some offers have been approved in the space of 24 hours.
The fastest way would be to ensure you apply during standard business hours. You can also allow us to use the advance bank verification to verify your bank information online. If you upload duplicates of your banking statements it will take a little longer.
How quickly will I receive the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we typically provide an answer within an hour – provided you make your application at standard business timings and let us utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements, we are able to provide the decision in just an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we could be in a position to offer the conditional pre-approval in around six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take around 2-3 days for final approval, however it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is ensure you apply during standard business hours and let us use the modern bank verification to instantly verify your bank information online. If you decide to send us copies of your bank statements, it may take a bit longer.
How much can I 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 variables for determining the well-being for your business and the level of repayments your business is able to afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances the business.
When you make an application for a certain amount, we will consider a number of elements to determine how much we can lend you such as well-being of your company as well as the amount of payments your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the particular circumstances for your company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for a company loan?
When you request one of our company financing, we’ll assess the risk profile that you have for your business and provide you with a customised offer, including the amount of loan, the term and the interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront priced loan so you will be aware of the total amount payable including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What is the basis for the rate I am charged?
The interest rates on company loans rates vary due to variables like the amount to be that is borrowed, what business assets the funds will be used for and the sector the business operates in, the long the company has been in operation, in the event that the business has enough cash flow to pay for the loan, as well as the overall health and creditworthiness of the company.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden costs with our company loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you’ll need to pay, and when, from the day you sign up. There’s not any compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as long as you are able to make your payments punctually).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can request a credit loan with absolutely no upfront cost and no any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with the setting up and management of the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You may choose to pay back the total amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you do decide to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly business credit specialists. The professionals will provide you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. This will be calculated as the total of the principal amount remaining and accrued interest to the time of the early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the principal 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 with your cash flow cycle we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. They will be automatically deducted from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Security of your data, and knowing how we collect data, process, exchange and secure your information, 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 employ industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our dedication to the security of our customers as well as their privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system that allows you to instantly verify the bank account details online. This allows us to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a company owner utilises assets they own to obtain the loan. The asset could be a personal asset like the family home or it could be a business asset such as a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of banks, including the big banks, tend to make loans secured by assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your asset may be taken over by the lender. In essence it’s the process of securing new funding using the value of what you already have.
What do I require security to secure a business loan?
For loans up to $150,000 the requirement for asset security is not required prior to the loan’s access however, we require a personal guarantee. require an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan obligations (as stated in your loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security is not required. For loans that exceed $150,000, generally, you are able to get personal ensure and security is provided in the form of the charge of assets.