FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Mermaid Waters Small Business Loans
Let me know more about Mermaid Waters Small Business Loans
Mermaid Waters unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What is the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional business loan?
It is imaginable to apply to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes over the phone, receive an instant response and have the funds available in just 24 hours. Traditional business loans are based on an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. Our business loan is a pre-paid loan so you will know in advance the total amount to be paid, including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What can be the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for almost any business reason, such as the management of cash flow, business renovations, marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About larger Mermaid Waters Business Loans
What is the Larger Mermaid Waters Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in business growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed with a maximum of 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with the flow of cash.
How is the Origination Fee calculated?
It is crucial to note that the Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5% of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit that is this large, your company needs to have been operating for a minimum of 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. Your company must belong to a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old, own a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
How can the funding be utilised?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for nearly all company need, including business improvements, purchasing equipment or inventory or as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is needed to obtain funding above $150,000. It’s in the form of a charge over assets, and could include registration in the PPSR or filing as a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to repay credit that is general in nature rather than stipulating the security for a particular asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally responsible if the business borrower is unable 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 which are registered with respect to personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR gives the priority of personal property granted in accordance with the date on which a security interest was registered.
A caveat is a legal document lodged to offer the legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re applying for larger company loans that exceeds $250K we may be able to provide a preliminary pre-approval to help ease the process. We could be able to make this decision without a credit check and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval process is based on an initial evaluation that involves you answering a few financial health questions. It is neither an offer nor a guarantee of finance. The approval of a conditional loan is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you might receive could have different terms.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You are eligible to apply for an business loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- can demonstrate at least 6 months worth of trade (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and simple. Simply complete the online form within a couple minutes, and an experienced company credit specialist will contact you to guide you through the process.
To apply for up $100,000 you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least 6 months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent and 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statement Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, and interim financials from the current financial year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables reports.
What speed will I be able to get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K to $100K) we can often provide an answer in just one hour if you make your application in quality company hours and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer the decision within just an business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be capable of provide the conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within just 24 hours.
The most effective method would be to make sure you apply during standard company hours. You can also permit us to use the modern bank verification link to verify your bank account information online. If you opt to send us the copies of bank statements , it takes a bit longer.
How soon will I receive the funds?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer in just one hour, provided you make your application within standard business times and allow us to use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank 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.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we may be in a position to provide you with a 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 particular circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within 24 hours.
The most effective method would be to ensure you apply during normal business hours. You can also let us use the modern bank verification link to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you choose to send us copies of your bank statements it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loans that range from $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a particular amount, we take into consideration a range of elements for determining what is the well-being of the business as well as the amount of repayments your company can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances that are unique to your business.
When you apply for a particular amount, we will consider a number of elements to determine the well-being that is your business and the amount of repayments that your company is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will be determined by the specific circumstances that are unique to your business.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for a company loan?
When you request one of our company credit, we will assess the risk assessment of your business and offer you with a customised proposal that includes the amount of the loan, the duration and interest rates. This company loan is a loan that is priced upfront so you will be aware in advance of the total amount to be paid, including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates vary due to factors like the amount of money borrowed, the company assets the money are used to purchase and the sector the company is in, how long the company has been running for, how long the company has enough cash flow to support the loan, as well as the overall well-being or financial standing of the company.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden costs for our company loans, and you’ll know precisely what it is that you need to pay and at what time, from the first day. There’s not any compounding interest and no additional fees (as as long as you pay your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You can get a cash loan with with no upfront cost or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated with setting up and managing the loan. This is only a 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 in advance?
You can decide to repay the entire amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you are deciding to do this please talk to one of our helpful business loan specialists. They’ll provide you with the details of your repayment as well as an early payout amount. It will be calculated using the total of the principal balance and accrued interest to the date of early payout in addition to 1.5 percent of the principal remaining plus any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
To help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be protected?
Protecting your information, and being clear about the ways we gather information, use it, and exchange it, as well as protect your information, is of paramount importance and an integral part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to security for our clients and security. We utilise a sophisticated banking verification system to instantly confirm your bank account information online to provide an immediate response.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when the company owner utilises assets they own to make the funding. The asset could be an individual asset, such as the family home, or it could be a company asset like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The vast majority of lenders, not just the major banks, prefer to guarantee loans against an asset. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, your assets could be transferred to the lender. In essence it’s means of securing additional financing taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
What do I need security to get a company loan?
For loans that exceed $150K, there is no requirement for asset security prior to the loan’s access but we do need an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as stated in your loan contract) the security of assets is not required. For loans of over $150,000 generally, there is personal ensure and security in the form an asset charge.