FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Lota Small Business Loans
Tell me what you think of the Lota Small Business Loans
Lota unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is this Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
The application for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or on the phone. You’ll receive an answer within the same day and the money could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an interest rate per annum along with other charges and fees. Our business loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will know ahead of time the total amount payable including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for almost every company reason, such as the management of cash flow, business remodeling, marketing to purchase inventory, new equipment, or as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
About Larger Lota Business Loans
What is the Larger Lota Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business growth opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly, depending on you cashflow.
How’s the Origination Fee calculated?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount the business needs to have been trading for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700,000. Your business must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 as well as own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funds for?
A Business Loan of a larger size can be used for almost all company use, including company renovations, purchase of inventory or new equipment as well as for general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually in the form of a charge on assets, and may include registering this with the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a promise to repay credit that is general in nature, rather than stating the security for a particular asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally liable if the business the borrower fails to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants preference over private property granted according to the date the registration of a security interest.
An affidavit is an official document that is filed to provide an official notice of a claim against a property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan of $250K or more it’s possible to offer a preliminary pre-approval to help simplify the process. We may be able to do this without a credit check and within 6 hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment, which involves you answering a few financial health questions. It’s in no way an offer, nor is it a guarantee of financing. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer you may receive may be based on different conditions.
Application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You are eligible to apply for an company 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)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months of business (for you to qualify for unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trading (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 a dedicated company expert in lending will call you to assist you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s Licence), an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll require:
$100K – $250K: Information about the application including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details for application including credit consent twelve months of bank records, IRD statement, last 2 years finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financial statements for the current year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables summary.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we can often offer an answer within an hour, provided you make your application at quality business times and you allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you want to submit copies of your bank statements , we’ll be able to offer an answer in as little as one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K and up) we may be in a position to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application within 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved in just 24 hours.
The most efficient method for you to apply is ensure you apply during normal company hours, and permit us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you choose to upload the copies of bank statements , it will take a little longer.
What is the time frame to receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically offer an answer within one hour – as long as you apply during standard business timings and permit us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to submit copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision in just the span of one business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we might be in a position to offer the conditional pre-approval in about 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Some deals have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The fastest way can be make sure you apply during standard business hours and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you choose to send us duplicates of your banking accounts, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide 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 that determine your health of your business and the level of the repayments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will depend on the specific circumstances for your business.
When you make an application for a particular amount, we take into consideration a variety of variables to determine your well-being for your company as well as the amount of repayments your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a company loan?
When you request one of our company loan, we’ll assess the risk profile for your company and offer you with a customised offer including loan amount, term and interest rates. This business loan is an upfront cost loan which means you be aware of the total amount due, which includes any charges or interest.
What determines the amount I pay?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on several factors such as the amount that is borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company operates in, the long the company has been running for, in the event that the business has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and overall health and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the fees?
There aren’t any hidden costs with our business loans, and you’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay, and at what time, from the very first day. There’s not any compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you make your payments on time).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You can get a cash loan with no upfront cost or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with establishing and managing the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan in advance?
You may choose to pay back the total amount of your advance loan at any time.
If you do decide to do this please speak to our friendly company credit specialists. They will provide you with the details of your repayment as well as an early payout amount. The figure will be calculated as the sum of the principal remaining and accrued interest to the time of early payment, plus 1.5% of the principal balance and any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow routine, we offer repayments that are either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Security of your data, and being clear about how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as secure your information, is of huge importance and is a crucial part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption standards to protect your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to the security of our clients as well as their security. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to immediately verify your bank account details online to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What exactly is an asset-based loan (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where the company owner makes use of the assets they have to make the funding. The asset could be an individual property, such as the family home or a business asset such as a vehicle or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lenders, even the largest banks, are inclined to guarantee loans against assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, your assets could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence, it’s the process of securing additional financing taking advantage of the value of what you already have.
Should I need security to get an business loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans the requirement for asset security is not required upfront to access the money, however we do need an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with the loan terms (as stated in your loan contract) the security of assets is not required. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 typically, you will need the option of a personal ensure and security is provided in the form of charges on assets.