Guides
Business finance guides for New Zealand owners
What to understand before you borrow — explained with New Zealand rules, IRD dates and real examples. 16 guides across five topics, updated September 2026.
Property & equity
LVR explained for business owners Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) is the total lending secured on a property divided by the property's value, shown as a percentage. It's the main number a lender uses to decide… Read guide → How equity lending works when there's already a mortgage If your property already has a mortgage, you can usually still borrow against the remaining equity — either by asking your existing bank for a top-up or by taking a… Read guide → Understanding loan-to-value and valuations in NZ For a property-secured business loan, the lender needs a value it can rely on — usually a registered valuation or its own assessment, not the council rating valuation.… Read guide →
Borrowing basics
Secured vs unsecured business loans: which suits you? A secured business loan is backed by an asset — in Loanster's case New Zealand property — so the lender assesses mainly the property and equity. An unsecured business… Read guide → How lenders calculate what you can borrow without property Without property, lenders work out what you can borrow mainly from your business bank statements: average monthly deposits, how consistent they are, what's already… Read guide → What lenders look for in your business bank statements Lenders read business bank statements to see how much money genuinely comes in, how steady it is, how the account is managed and what's already committed to other… Read guide → Business loan application checklist for NZ owners To apply for a New Zealand business loan quickly, have photo ID for every owner or guarantor, your NZBN or company details, recent business bank statements, property… Read guide →
Cash flow
Working out your cash conversion cycle Your cash conversion cycle is the number of days between paying for what you sell and getting paid for it: stock days plus debtor days, minus creditor days. The longer… Read guide → Reducing debtor days: how NZ businesses get paid faster To reduce debtor days, invoice immediately, set clear and short payment terms, make paying easy, take deposits on larger jobs, and follow up the day an invoice becomes… Read guide → Seasonal cash-flow planning for NZ businesses Seasonal cash-flow planning means mapping your income and costs month by month, spotting the trough before it arrives, and deciding in advance how you'll cover it — from… Read guide →
Tax & IRD
GST filing periods and cash planning In New Zealand you file GST monthly, two-monthly or six-monthly (six-monthly only if turnover is under $500,000), and returns and payments are due on the 28th of the… Read guide → Provisional tax options explained: standard, estimation, ratio and AIM You pay provisional tax in New Zealand if your residual income tax for the previous year was more than $5,000. You can calculate it four ways: standard (last year's tax… Read guide → Dealing with IRD debt: your options If your business owes Inland Revenue, act early: keep filing returns on time, contact IRD to discuss an instalment arrangement, and consider whether clearing the debt… Read guide →
Equipment & assets
Depreciation, Investment Boost and buying equipment before 31 March In New Zealand, business equipment is usually depreciated over its useful life, with a deduction for each month you own it. Assets under $1,000 can generally be written… Read guide → Lease vs buy vs borrow: funding equipment and vehicles Buying outright is cheapest if you have spare cash, but it drains working capital. Leasing gives predictable costs and easy upgrades without ownership. Borrowing to buy… Read guide → The PPSR explained: security over equipment and vehicles The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is New Zealand's online register of security interests over personal property such as vehicles, machinery and stock.… Read guide →