Don't be clickbait by fancy loan types that don't exist!
Have you ever seen ads for loan types like?Tech Startup Loan, Nail Salon loans, Medical loans, Fashion Boutique loans and Aquarium Shop loans?
These are just clickbaits.
Just like investors diversify their portfolios by investing in various industries, lenders need to diversify their customer base and do not want to attract borrowers from only a particular sector lest something happens to the sector and all the borrowers default.
Take, for example, Fashion Boutique Loan. Can you remember during Covid many non-essential services were required to be closed? How are they going to then bring in the customer and service their loans during that many months?
Loan brokers and small lenders use these fancy names to appeal to different business owners. What’s marketed as a "Nail Salon Loan" or "Aquarium Shop Loan" is, in reality, usually a working capital loan or business term loan designed to meet general business needs. However, these catchy names are crafted to make loans sound more specialized and tailored to certain industries.
A “Pet Shop Loan” might seem like it’s specially designed for someone who owns a pet store, but in essence, it’s no different from a generic business loan that could be used for any type of business—whether it’s for inventory, renovations, or payroll.
Even as an industry player, once an RM from a lender reached out to partner with us and tried to give us the BS that they have this new medical loan meant for our customers that run clinics, aesthetic centres etc.
When I asked him, what are documents required, it was exactly the same as a Working capital loan. I then asked, is the assessment going to be different just because the borrower is a clinic? No, he replied. And if he or she also applies for a working capital loan, will it be more expensive or cheaper? It will be the same, he replied.
Starting to see the problem? I called out on his BS and hung up the phone.
These industry-specific names can make potential borrowers feel like the loan is tailored to their unique needs. It's a psychological tactic that can lead to higher click-through rates on ads and websites because business owners naturally gravitate toward something that appears customized for them, where in truth, many of these "specialized" loans are just working capital loans with a fresh coat of paint.
But they can be very harmful when a borrower thinks that this is a specialised loan and does not go on to compare his or her options with other lenders that offer working capital loans and can end up paying thousands of dollars extra.
领英推荐
Reach multiple lenders in one single application and compare easily with Singapore's 1st loan marketplace. To learn more about us, click here.
To read about the other ways lenders and brokers clickbait you? Check out another article of ours here.
And if you want to know just how ridiculous they can go? Here is a list of?fancy loan types that doesn't exist, that we have seen on some brokers' websites.
Food Truck Loan Craftsman Loan? Bicycle Shop Loan Coffee Shop Loan Tattoo Parlor Loan Home Bakery Loan Yoga Studio Loan Photographer's Loan Juice Bar Loan Freelancer’s Equipment Loan Luxury Spa Loan Boutique Hotel Loan? Music Studio Loan Art Gallery Loan Gaming Cafe Loan Sustainable Fashion Loan Wedding Planner Loan
And these are the ones that perplex us. Dog Daycare Loan - because it can also seem like it can be marketed to dog owners to get a loan to send their dogs to daycare.
Vegan Cafe Loan - what about the non-vegan? And does the business have to be vegan or the borrower?
Car Wash Loan - I need to borrow money to wash my car!
Seen some ridiculous loan-type names yourself? Share it with us on social media and tag us!
--
If you enjoyed this article, we’d love for you to share it with others who might find it valuable. Our goal is to bring you insights that Big Finance doesn't want you to know, but they often get overshadowed by Big Finance's content due to the large budget they have. Every share helps amplify our work and reach more readers like you!
Subscribe?here?for more!?To get started, sign up/apply?here.