Everything to learn about SME loans for new business
SME finance is providing loans to Small and Medium Enterprises. Here is a complete guide about SME loans. Who are eligible? What documents should be produced? What are the eligibility criteria?
Who are eligible to get SME loans?
Different countries have fixed the SME threshold in different ways. Till
2020, India defined SMEs as follows:
A small enterprise is an enterprise whose investment
is between Rs 25 lakhs and Rs 5 crores. A medium-sized enterprise is that
enterprise whose investment is between Rs 5 crores and Rs 10 crores.
After COVID, the definition was changed in order to increase the
benefits availed by the SMEs. It is as follows:
·
Small
Enterprise: Investment up to
Rs 10 crore and turnover up to Rs 50 crore
·
Medium
enterprise: Investment up to
Rs 50 crore and turnover up to Rs 250 crore.
Is it beneficial to take SME loans?
The Government of India is on the path of bringing self-reliance to the
country. In order to achieve this, it is focusing on developing the SME sector.
This is done by availing more loans to SMEs through private financial
firms. The bottom line, right now the SME loan interest rate is at its
lowest. Thus, this is the right time to take SME loans and get benefitted. And
this will go on till post-COVID economic recovery.
Eligibility criteria
Purpose: the
purpose of the SME loan for new business in India should meet the
business requirements. This includes availing working capital, machinery, raw
materials, marketing products, entering a new location, and expanding product
line or employment base.
Age of the applicant: Should be between 25 years and 55 years
Experience: Minimum
of three years of experience in business
Proof: To
prove the business experience, the borrower should provide the last year's
business IT returns.
Documents required to apply for SME loans India
The following documents are required when applying for SME loans:
Bank account details, parent company details, existing loan details,
annual accounting report, personal guarantee letters, business registration
documents, copy of sales tax returns, sector-specific licenses (in case of
pharmaceuticals), copy of income tax filings documents, Sales tax receipts,
Business registration documents, Registration certificate, annual accounting
report, liquidity – oriented details.
Questions to ask before taking an SME loan
How is my loan repaying ability calculated?
The SME finance companies in India prefer to keep the debt-to-service
ratio at 25%. It is the ratio between EMI and income. This means that the
borrower can use 75% of the income for other commitments.
Can I close the loan before its tenure? Yes.
What is the market value of the property? It is the value of the property that the borrower
intends to use as collateral
What is a loan to value ratio? It is the amount of loan provided as compared to the
market value of the security.
Tips to select the right SME loan
·
The borrower
should be upfront about his financial condition.
·
Be realistic about
how much one needs to borrow
·
Realize the
lenders cannot help in creating the business plan
·
Learn the basic
financial terms before visiting the financial firm
·
Always guarantee
the loans personally
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