Business loan types in New Zealand
Every NZ business loan product, side by side. Use the hub to find the right structure for your need, then drill into the loan-type page for detail.
Business Term Loans
Fixed-amount loan repaid over 1–7 years. The standard NZ business loan structure.
Best for: General business funding, expansion, or equipment.
Equipment Finance
Loan or lease secured against the asset — vehicles, machinery, IT, kitchen.
Best for: Buying productive business assets.
Working Capital Loans
Short-term funding (3–24 months) to bridge cash-flow gaps.
Best for: Predictable, recurring cash-flow needs.
Invoice Finance
Cash advanced against unpaid B2B invoices. Scales with your debtor book.
Best for: B2B businesses on credit terms.
Commercial Property Loans
Owner-occupied or investment commercial property. 15–30 year terms.
Best for: Buying or refinancing business premises.
Startup Business Loans
Pre-revenue or early-stage funding. Usually personal-asset secured.
Best for: Pre-revenue + early-stage businesses.
Unsecured Business Loans
No asset security required. Personal guarantee almost always still applies.
Best for: Working capital where you can't pledge security.
Quick Business Loans
Same-day or 24–48 hour settlement from alternative lenders.
Best for: When speed matters more than rate.
Business Acquisition Loans
Funding to buy an existing business. Share or asset purchase.
Best for: Buying an established business.
Franchise Loans
Funding for franchise fee, fit-out, equipment, working capital.
Best for: Buying a franchise — accredited or not.
Low-Interest Business Loans
Below-market pricing through security, scheme eligibility, or relationship.
Best for: When rate is the priority and you have security.
Government Business Loans
Callaghan Innovation, Regional Business Partner, NZTE — typically supplements commercial lending.
Best for: R&D-intensive or regional businesses.
How to choose
Most NZ businesses end up with a small mix of facilities, not a single loan. A common pattern: a bank-secured term loan or commercial property mortgage as the long-dated anchor, plus a quick-access alternative-lender working-capital facility for short-term cash flow, plus equipment finance against specific asset purchases.
- Match term to use: long-life asset = long term; short-term gap = short term.
- Use security where it helps: asset-secured lending is materially cheaper than unsecured for the same amount.
- Don't over-extend: the least-costly facility is the one you don't take. Every extra facility reduces capacity for the next one.