New Zealand's business lending market, explained
Shop the business loan market like a local
Banks, non-banks, private lenders, fintechs and brokers all want your business. We show you how the market works, how to compare offers without getting burned, and then help you find the stall that fits.
No credit check to enquire
Browsing costs nothing. Asking us what's possible leaves no enquiry on your credit file — a check only comes up once you choose to go ahead.
No spray-and-pray
Your details are never auctioned off to a crowd of lenders. We pick the right stall for your situation instead of shouting your name across the market.
A real person on your side
A lending specialist reads your enquiry and phones you. Accurate answers on the form mean the first option we bring you is the one that fits.
Walk the stalls
Who lends to New Zealand businesses?
Banks, smaller banks, non-banks, private lenders, fintechs, finance companies, brokers and specialist financiers — what each stall sells, who it suits and what it wants to see from you.
Main banks
What New Zealand's main banks look for in a business loan, where they shine, where they say no, and how to shop them without burning your credit file.
Visit this stall →Smaller banks
How New Zealand's smaller and locally owned banks lend to businesses, what they do differently from the big four, and when they deserve a spot on your list.
Visit this stall →Non-bank lenders
Non-bank lenders in NZ explained for shoppers: who they are, how they're regulated, what they look for, and how to check one out before you sign.
Visit this stall →Private lenders
How private lenders in New Zealand lend to businesses against property, what they focus on, what it costs you, and how to shop them safely.
Visit this stall →Fintech lenders
How online and fintech business lenders in NZ assess you from bank data, what they're good for, what to watch in the fine print, and how to compare them.
Visit this stall →Finance companies
What New Zealand finance companies lend to businesses, how they differ from banks, how to check one out, and the fine print to read before you sign.
Visit this stall →Brokers
What a business loan broker in NZ actually does, how brokers are paid, the questions to ask before you sign up, and when going direct is the better move.
Visit this stall →Asset financiers
How equipment and vehicle financiers in NZ work, who they are, what they want, how PPSR security works, and how to compare asset finance offers properly.
Visit this stall →Invoice financiers
How invoice finance providers in New Zealand work, factoring vs discounting, what they charge, what they need from you, and how to compare providers.
Visit this stall →Not sure where to start? Take the 7-question “Which stall fits me?” quiz
Offer comparer, mini edition
Two offers. Which one really costs less?
Headline numbers hide fees, terms and exit costs. Pop in the dollars from two offers and see the total cost of finance and the cost for every $1,000 you borrow. No rates needed.
Want flexibility scores, risk flags and a third offer? The full offer comparer does the lot.
Get an offer worth comparing →Shopping smart
Your shopping list before you borrow
How to compare offers without rates, protect your credit file while you shop, spot a dodgy deal, read the fine print and negotiate a better package.
All shopping guides →- How to compare loansA shopper's method for comparing NZ business loans: line offers up on total dollars, flexibility, security and risk, not just the headline rate.
- Broker vs bankBusiness loan broker vs going straight to your bank in NZ: cost, speed, choice, credit-file impact and the situations where each approach wins.
- Shopping and your credit fileHow credit enquiries work in NZ when you shop for a business loan, why lots of applications can hurt, and how to compare lenders without damaging your file.
- Questions to ask a lenderA shopper's checklist of questions to ask a New Zealand business lender about costs, security, repayments, early exit, defaults and the lender itself.
- Checking a loan offerA shopper's checklist for a New Zealand business loan offer: the money, the fees, the security, the conditions, the default terms and the way out.
- Total cost of financeHow to work out the total cost of a business loan in dollars, including fees and term, plus cost per $1,000 borrowed, so NZ offers compare fairly.
- Scams and red flagsThe warning signs of business loan scams in New Zealand, how to check a lender is real, and where to report it if something feels wrong.
On the shelf
What's for sale in the business loan aisle
The main business finance products on New Zealand's shelves, seen through a shopper's eyes: what each one is for, what it costs you beyond the price, and what to check before you pick it up.
Business term loans in New Zealand through a shopper's eyes: what they're for, secured vs unsecured, term length, fees and what to check before you buy.
Property-secured loansHow property-secured business loans work in New Zealand, first mortgage vs second mortgage vs caveat, what lenders check and how to shop them safely.
Second mortgage loansHow second mortgage business loans work in New Zealand, when they make sense, what your first lender needs to agree to, and the costs to compare.
Unsecured loansUnsecured business loans in New Zealand through a shopper's eyes: who offers them, how they're sized, what they really cost and the fine print to check.
Credit lines and overdraftsHow business overdrafts and lines of credit work in New Zealand, what they cost when you're not using them, and how to shop for a limit that fits.
Short-term and bridgingHow short-term and bridging business loans work in NZ, when they make sense, the exit plan lenders want, and the costs to compare before you commit.
Funding an IRD debtShould a New Zealand business borrow to pay IRD debt or set up an instalment arrangement? How lenders view tax debt and how to compare the real costs.
Buying a businessHow to finance buying a business in New Zealand: which lenders fund acquisitions, what they want to see, vendor finance, security and the costs to compare.
Market myths
Things people get wrong at the loan market
“Every enquiry wrecks my credit score.”
Asking questions doesn't have to touch your file. It's formal applications, made in a cluster, that leave a trail lenders notice. Shop with enquiries first, apply once.
“The bank that holds my accounts will give me the best deal.”
Loyalty helps, but it isn't a discount. Your main bank is one stall in a busy market, and its appetite for your deal might be small this year.
“The lowest rate is the cheapest loan.”
Fees, term, security and exit costs all change what you pay. Compare the total dollars it costs to borrow, not a single headline number.
“A broker just adds another fee.”
Some do charge, many are paid by the lender, and a good one saves you from applying in the wrong places. Ask how they're paid before you start.
How it works
Market day with us, in four steps
- 1
Tell us what you're shopping for
Amount, purpose, region and a few details about the business. About 60 seconds, and no credit check.
- 2
A real person reads it
A lending specialist looks at your situation and works out which stall in the market actually fits.
- 3
We talk it through
You hear what's realistic: secured or unsecured, the likely shape of the deal, and what the lender will want to see.
- 4
You decide
Only if you choose to go ahead do documents and a credit check come into it. No pressure, no auction of your details.
Fresh from the guides
Read before you shop
Shopping for a Business Loan in NZ: A 7-Step Plan
A practical seven-step plan for shopping New Zealand's business loan market: from defining the need to signing an offer you've compared and negotiated.
Why Lenders Quote Differently for the Same Business Loan
Why New Zealand lenders give different business loan offers for the same deal: funding costs, risk appetite, security, fees and structure, explained simply.
Business Loan Glossary NZ: Lending Jargon Decoded
Plain-English definitions of the business lending terms New Zealand owners meet: LVR, GSA, PPSR, caveat, covenant, balloon, break cost and many more.
Questions
Before you browse
What is Biz Loan Marketplace?
We're a shopper's guide to New Zealand's business lending market. Our guides explain the different kinds of lenders, how to compare their offers and what to watch for. When you're ready, a real person helps you find finance that fits, from property-secured loans of $20,000 to $5,000,000 to unsecured options for trading businesses.
Does enquiring with you affect my credit score?
No. There's no credit check when you first enquire, so nothing lands on your credit file. A check only happens later, with your permission, once you've decided to go ahead with a specific option.
Will my details be sent to lots of lenders?
No. We don't sell or broadcast enquiries. A specialist reads your details and approaches only the lender that suits your situation, after talking it through with you first.
Why don't you show interest rates?
Because every business loan is priced on the borrower's own circumstances: security, trading history, purpose, term and credit profile. A headline rate on a website tells you very little, so our tools compare offers on total dollar cost instead.
Can you help if the bank has already said no?
Often, yes. A bank decline usually means the deal didn't fit that bank's appetite at that moment. Other stalls in the market, such as non-bank or private lenders, look at deals differently. Bad credit and IRD debt are considered case by case.
What can I borrow?
Property-secured business loans from $20,000 to $5,000,000 — first mortgages, second mortgages and caveat-style security over residential or commercial property. Unsecured and cash-flow options for trading businesses, typically $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements. Business purposes only.
Do you work with businesses outside Auckland?
Yes. We help business owners right across New Zealand, from Northland to Southland. Everything can be done by phone and online.
Ready when you are: see if your business qualifies — no credit check to ask.
Found the stall you want? Let's talk.
One short enquiry, no credit check to ask, and a real person who works out which lender in the market actually fits your business. Please answer the form accurately so the first match is the right one.
No credit check to enquire
No spray-and-pray
A real person on your side