Free tool
Document checklist builder
Answer seven quick questions. You'll get a list of the documents a lender is likely to want, grouped so you can tick them off, and the paperwork level you probably fit. Nothing is sent or stored.
Likely paperwork level
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Fix these first
General information only. Not an offer of finance or financial advice. Lenders set their own document requirements. We never publish rates.
Why the right documents matter
Most business loan applications in New Zealand don't stall because the lender says no. They stall because a document is missing, out of date or in the wrong name, and each round of back and forth adds days. Knowing what to gather before the first conversation is the simplest way to keep things moving, and it often shows you which kind of lending fits before you apply.
How it picks a paperwork level
- Full doc when returns are filed, GST is current and the business has traded for two years or more. This usually opens the widest choice of lenders.
- Bank statement lending when GST is current and trading is steady but the latest accounts aren't ready. See bank statement business loans.
- Low doc for self-employed owners and small companies with a year or more of GST returns but no recent accounts. See low doc business loans.
- Property-backed when returns are well behind, credit has recent marks or IRD debt is involved, and property is available. See using property when your books are behind.
- Asset-backed when the money is for equipment, because the item itself does much of the work. See equipment finance.
An illustrative example
A Blenheim vineyard contractor runs a limited company, has traded for six years and wants a new tractor. GST is current but last year's accounts are still with the accountant, and there's no property involved. The builder suggests an asset-backed route and lists ID for each director, the NZBN, six months of bank statements, recent GST returns and a dealer quote, and flags that the IRD statement of account from myIR is worth downloading too. Illustrative only.
After the checklist
Gather what you can, then start your enquiry. For more detail, read our business loan checklist, the guide to getting GST returns up to date and how to get a business loan in New Zealand.
Want a person to look at it?
Tell us what you have and what's missing. Asking won't mark your file, your details aren't passed down a list of lenders, and a real person reads your enquiry and calls you back. Accurate answers help us point you to the right lender first time. Start your enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
How does the checklist builder work?
It takes your business structure, what the money is for, how long you've traded, where your GST and income tax returns are up to, whether property is involved and your credit history. From those answers it lists the documents a New Zealand lender is likely to ask for and suggests which paperwork level you probably fit.
Is the list exactly what a lender will ask for?
No. Every lender has its own rules, and some will ask for more or less. The list covers what's commonly requested, so you can gather most of it before your first conversation.
Does using it affect my credit file?
No. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or stored. It runs entirely in your browser.
What do the paperwork levels mean?
Full doc means filed financial statements and tax returns. Bank statement lending relies mainly on business bank statements. Low doc uses a signed income declaration backed by GST returns and statements. Property-backed lending relies on the property and an exit plan more than business paperwork.
Can I print the list?
Yes. Use the print button under the list, or your browser's print option, and tick items off as you go.
My returns are behind. Should I wait before enquiring?
Not necessarily. Start filing the overdue returns, and enquire at the same time if the need is urgent. Some routes, especially property-backed ones, can work while you catch up.
Got most of the list?
Send us what you've got. A real person will tell you what's still needed, with nothing on your credit file to ask.
Asking won't mark your file
Not passed down a list
Read by a real person