FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Merrimac Small Business Loans
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Merrimac unsecured loans provides the range of $5,000 to $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from an ordinary company loan?
You can apply for this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone, receive a same day response and funds may be available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual rate of interest together with additional fees and charges. This business loan is a pre-paid loan and you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount payable including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What could the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly every business need, such as the management of cash flow, company remodels and marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, for general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About the Larger Merrimac Business Loans
What is the Larger Merrimac 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 scheduled weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your situation.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A 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 credit in this amount the business needs to have been operating for at least three years and have an annual turnover of at least $700,000. Your company must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
How can the funds be used for?
A large business loan can be used for nearly any company need, including company renovations, purchase of inventory or new equipment for general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually by taking a charge over assets, and could be registered through the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a commitment to pay off a credit line that is generally in nature rather than specifying security over a particular asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally liable if the company lender is not able to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests registered in respect of personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR gives prioritisation over property that is personal to be granted depending on the date that a security interest was registered.
An affidavit is an official document that is filed to offer the public notice of a legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval minus Credit Check?
If you’re seeking larger business loans that exceeds $250K it is possible to offer an initial pre-approval that will help smooth out the process. It is possible to do this without a credit check and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial assessment that includes answering a couple of financial health checks. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of credit. Unconditional approval is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer you might receive could be on different conditions.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may apply for a business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of business (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 quick and easy. Just fill out the online application in few minutes and an experienced business credit specialist will call you to assist you.
For a loan of up to $100,000, you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) along with an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least 6 months’ worth of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also require:
$100K-$250K: Application details including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if credit is over $150K).
$250K – $500K: Application details including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank records, IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim financials from the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables Summary.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we usually provide an answer in just one hour – as long as you apply at quality business time and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer a decision in as little as one company day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be able to offer you with a conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval document, you will need to wait between 2 and 3 days for the final approval. However, this can be quicker based on the specifics of each application. Some deals have been approved within just 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply for you to apply is ensure you apply during normal company hours and permit us to use the advance bank verification link to confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload duplicates of your banking accounts, it will take a little longer.
What is the time frame to receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) we typically provide an answer within an hour – as long as you submit your request at normal business timings and you allow us to use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statements, we are able to provide a decision in just the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) We may be able to offer the conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, turnaround times are approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Certain transactions have received approval within just 24 hours.
The quickest method can be ensure you apply during standard business hours. Also, allow us to use our modern bank verification link to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements it may take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a particular amount, we look at a variety of aspects for determining what is the health that is your business as well as the amount of repayments your company can afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specifics for your business.
When you apply for a set amount, we will consider a number of elements to assess how much we can lend you such as well-being of the business and the extent of repayments your business can afford. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particular circumstances for your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a company loan?
When you make an application for the business loans, we’ll assess the risk profile the company and provide you with a customised offer including the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. It is a company loan is an upfront-priced loan so you will be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the amount I am charged?
Interest rates for business loans rates depend on several factors including the amount of money borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase in addition to the industry that the company operates in, the long the business has been operating as well as whether the business has enough cash flow to support the loan, and general health or creditworthiness of the company.
What are the costs?
There are no hidden fees for our company loans. You’ll know exactly how much it is that you need to pay and at what time, from the day you sign up. There’s no compounding interest and no additional fees (as as long as you pay your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an application fee. You can make an application for loans absolutely no upfront cost and no obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with setting up and managing the loan. The only way to pay this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You may choose to pay back the entire amount of the loan at any point in time.
If you choose to do this please talk to one of our helpful company credit professionals. The experts will provide you with details for repayment and an early payment figure. It will be calculated using the sum of the principal remaining and any accrued interest at the time of early payout and 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining and any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in with your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either weekly or daily. These are automatically withdrawn from your business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Security of your data, and being transparent about the ways we gather data, process, exchange and secure your information, is of paramount importance and a vital part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We use industry recognised encryption techniques to protect your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our commitment to the security of our customers as well as their security. We make use of an advanced banking verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online to offer quick responses.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when a business owner borrows from the assets they have to make the funds for a loan. The asset could be an individual property, such as the family home, or it could be a business asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The majority of lending institutions, even the big banks, tend to secure loans against an asset. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, your assets could be taken over by the lender. In essence, it is an opportunity to secure new financing by taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Do I require security for a business loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, no asset security is required prior to the loan’s access but we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as detailed in your loan contract) and you are able to meet your obligations, asset security will never be needed. For loans that exceed $150K, generally there is the option of a personal ensure and security that is in the form a charge over assets.