Olamide Famuwagun

Federal government loans for small businesses you can apply for in 2024

The government of any nation plays a very important role in its development.

Primarily in charge of funds, the government controls regulations affecting businesses that indirectly control the market.

However, more importantly, they provide loans for small businesses that help them thrive in the market.

In addition, a country like Nigeria has its SMEs employing a majority of the workforce, which is why federal government loans for small businesses are very important. If you’re a small business owner, this article is particularly useful for you.

CBN Loan

Which institutions handle federal government loans for small businesses?

The federal government of Nigeria primarily helps businesses develop. precisely small to medium-sized enterprises through the following established institutions:

  1. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
  2. Bank of Industry (BOI)
  3. Bank of Agriculture (BOA)
  4. Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)
  5. Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN)
  6. Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM)

What are the types of federal government loans for small businesses?

The loan requirements and interest rates depend on the organization and the specific loan type in question. However, the current federal government loans for small businesses in the country at the time of this writing are:  

AGSMEIS Loan for SMEs and Agricultural businesses 

the government specially designed this loan for SMEs in the country.

However, it was birthed from a partnership between the government, through CBN, and the Bankers’ Committee.

Also, the loan promotes agricultural businesses too, and is primarily disbursed through NIRSAL Microfinance bank, and some other banks. It offers business owners up to 10 million upfront, at an interest rate of 9% per annum.    

Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI Loan) 

the creative industry currently employs a large portion of youths in the country. They made this loan available to employ even more. Furthermore, the CIFI loan focuses on providing funds to the most active business owners in the creative industry. Its low-cost financing helps the rapid development of the industry and other sub-sectors, growing the economy at large.

Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) Intervention for Agriculture 

this program is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and is majorly for the agricultural sector. Furthermore, the loan targets small-scale farmers engaged in producing certain commodities who are part of an approved group. However, it’s not only for farmers, as businesses related to agriculture can also apply for the loan.

CBN Healthcare Research and Development Grants 

this loan is for SMEs on the front line of research and development in the country. Therefore, it provides funding for candidates to access funds that is used for different purposes, including new and improved drugs, diagnostics of infectious diseases, and vaccines. Also, it is accessible to institutions, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnological companies, etc.

MSMEDF Loan – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund 

this fund is part of the CBN’s effort to place emphasis on promoting small businesses in the country. It simply has a task of identifying financing gaps and plugging it for accelerated development. Also, the loan covers a verity of businesses including trade and commerce, artisans, cottage industry, agricultural value chain, etc.

Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS Loan)  

agriculture has long been the focus of the government, which is why they receive lots of funding. Therefore, this loan also applies to the agricultural sector and aims to engage a good number of youths in agricultural production. Furthermore, it hopes to reduce the rate of unemployment and encourage economic diversification. This loan is only available to youths of age 18 to 35.

How do I apply for federal government loans for small businesses?

The application process for each loan differs and are stated by the government. Follow the process below to apply for a loan of your choice:

  1. Proceed to the official online portal as provided by the body handling the loan
  2. Read the loan requirements and ensure you qualify for the one you want
  3. Proceed to follow the application process as stated by the official release of the government about the loan

Also, note that you can apply for some loans online, but would have to proceed to their physical office for others. It varies from one fund to another.

Conclusion

The presence of diverse funds and interventions means that SMEs are not alone. However, they are limited to the sectors described above and not conventional businesses like daycare or petty trading. If you are an SME owner, you can take advantage of these great opportunities to expand your business. In reality, SMEs are the bedrock of the economy, and the government is focused on growing them. Lagos state government also has an initiative called the LSETF for business owners to benefit from.

Loans for unemployed in Nigeria – What you should know

You would agree that being unemployed can be very harsh on your finances. In this situation, it is very important that you are prudent with the little you have. However, no matter how careful you are with spending, there are some unprecedented events that will require you to spend some cash. In this situation, you might not be able to cater to these needs because you are out of work. The good news is, you can access some loans for unemployed in Nigeria. This article provides you with details about loan options you can leverage and everything you need to know.

loans-for-unemployed-in-nigeria

Can you get a loan if you have no income?

As we have earlier mentioned, it is very possible to get a loan if you are unemployed. However, to qualify for a loan with any lender, you will need to have an excellent credit history. In addition to this, you must have a good credit score and an alternate source of income. In the case of an alternate source of income, they want to use this to determine if you can meet up with the loan repayment or not.

How to get Loans for unemployed in Nigeria

If you are unemployed, one of the easiest ways to secure a loan is through quick loans. We also know this loan option as short terms loan. With the advancement in Technology, there are many Fintech companies that offer loans you can leverage. This loan option offers flexible repayment options and you can access them at most 24 hours after application. To access these loan options you can choose any of these financial institutions. Furthermore, these loan options require no paperwork or collateral before you can access them.

Aella Credit:

This is an app-only platform that you can use to access quick loan options. They design this loan offering for Nigerians to access more funds. This ranges between #1,500 to 700,000. The repayment option is flexible, with an interest rate of 4%-29% monthly. Aella credit loan has a maximum tenor of 2 months.

Carbon

Since its inception, Carbon has grown to be one of the most reliable when it comes to accessing quick loans in Nigeria. Once you meet up with all their requirements, you will be able to access the loan you request in minutes. All you will need is to provide your Bank verification code and other details for them to determine your loan worth. Their app. Is available for Android and iOS. The repayment for loans with carbon is flexible and the interest rate ranges from 5%-10%.

Branch

As an unemployed, branch is also another platform with which you can access quick loans. You can access loans from #100,000 to #200,000 within 24 hours of application. Their interest ranges from 15% to 34% depending on the amount they offer you. To access this loan option you do not need any collateral or any source of income.

QuickCheck

This financial organization provides you with loans ranging from #10,000 to #500,000. For a start, they will offer you #10,000 if they approve your application. They do this to test your trustworthiness and also to see if you can meet up with repayment. After your first loan, if you meet up with their expectations, they will then increase the amount you can access. One good thing with them is that the earlier you pay back the lower your interest rates.

FairMoney

Fairmoney is a lending organization that is licensed to provide its customers with short-term loans ranging from #2,500 – #150,000. To access their loan offerings, you will need to provide them with your Bank Verification Number and your debit card. In addition, you will also need to provide them with other details such as your residential address and phone number,. After this, they will determine if you qualify for their loan or not. FairMoney interest rate ranges from about 5% – 28% with a tenor of a month to 26 weeks.

Conclusion

Unemployment is a big problem all over the world. The competition in the job market is as fierce as ever. Irrespective of this, as an unemployed you need to survive. This is why there are several financial organizations offering several loan options to cater to your needs. Their loans are lightning-fast and they will disburse into your account once you meet up with their requirements.

Sokoloan Review – Is It Real? The App, Interest Rate, and Requirements

Sokoloan is a loan app in Nigeria that provides short-term loans to help you cover unexpected expenses.

The sudden rise of pressing needs is a situation we are all familiar with and is mostly accompanied by difficult loan processes. This difficulty is especially true with commercial banks because of their endless paperwork and collateral requirements. In this situation, one forerunner of an easy loan to turn to is Sokoloan.

Sokoloan App

The Sokoloan app is only available on the Google Play Store. It requires an Android OS version 4.2 and above to install.

With 1Million+ downloads and an average rating of 4+ stars, it is safe to say that users are generally impressed with the app to a large extent.

Sokoloan app
Sokoloan App

How Sokoloan Works?

  1. Download Sokoloan app from Google Play Store
  2. Open the app and fill out a brief application form
  3. Apply and wait for Approval. Your funds will be sent to your bank account once it’s approved

Note that making loan payments on or before your due date grants you access to a higher credit limit for your next loan.

What Documents Are Required for A Sokoloan?

There is no paperwork required before you can get a loan from Sokoloan. It is strictly online. All you need is a valid means of identification and valid bank details.

quick loans from loanspot

Sokoloan Interest Rate and Repayment

Sokoloan interest rate range from 4.5% to 35%. Once your loan is due, the repayable sum will be debited from the bank account linked to your Sokoloan account. You can also choose to repay the loan before its due date through the app.

However, you should know that your repayment date cannot be rescheduled. Therefore, we advise that you only get a loan if you will repay at the scheduled date. They report defaulters to the National Credit Bureau, which ultimately affects your credit score.

Sokoloan Review: Is It Real?

Sokoloan is real. However, their interest rates can be outrageous. Some users have reported being made to pay up to 45% on interest for loans as low as ₦10,000.

Union Bank Loan Review – What you should know

Union bank is a household name in the banking industry of Nigeria. For your financial progress, they offer a wide range of loans to make your plans and visions a reality. Their loan process is straightforward and caters to the needs of all categories of individuals, including salary earners, pensioners, and entrepreneurs. Read on to find out about their loan services in detail.

Union Bank Loan

What union bank loan services are available?

They categorized Union bank loans into three major categories, they are:

Payroll loans:

 payroll loans are for those whose salary account is domiciled with union bank. As a deal sweetener, you even get a cash reward for paying back in time. However, this only holds for loans with a tenor within 2 to 5 years. The available packages under payroll loans are:

Personal loan: 

this loan provides up to N15 million for you to settle your personal needs. It has a maximum tenor of 5 years and is only available to employees whose salary accounts are domiciled with the bank.  

Salary advance

this provides up to 50% of your salary up front and has a maximum tenor of 12 months. To qualify, your salary account must have been domiciled for at least a month with union bank.

Back to school finance: 

Every parent needs to send their child to school, and salary advance ensures that is possible. It offers up to N15 million in tuition loans for you to pay your child’s school fees, with a maximum tenor of 12 months.   

Senior citizen loan: 

As retired personnel, you can get up to N10 million to finance your personal project and pay back over a period of 5 years.  

Union flexi loans: 

lastly, this loan is available only to those who earn up to N30 million per annum. If you do, you can obtain up to N50 million, and pay within 60 months.

Digital loans: 

they put digital loans in place in case you need quick cash. Therefore, it saves you the stress of hurrying around for money when tight. It is basically a payday loan where you can access up to 50% of your salary and pay it back in a month.

Features

  • Maximum tenor of 30 days
  • Minimum monthly salary of N15,000
  • Maximum loan amount of N100,000
  • Your salary account must have been domiciled for at least 3 months
  • Loan limit of 50% of your total salary 

You can access the loan through the following means:

  • Union bank ATMs
  • USSD dialling of *826*41#
  • Union bank mobile application

Non payroll loans: 

This is for self-employed individuals and SME owners. There are different services under non-payroll loans that help you meet your financial needs. The services are:

  • Self-employed loans
  • Self-employed revolving overdraft
  • Cash backed loans

How do I apply for a Union bank loan?

To apply, simply follow the process below:

  1. Visit their official loan page at https://www.unionbankng.com/loans/#here-are-ways-to-access-the-payday-loan
  2. Select your preferred loan and take note of the details and documents required
  3. Click the apply for a loan button at the bottom of your preferred loan
  4. Fill out the online form that follows next and click submit

Conclusion

Union bank remains one giant in the industry and boasts numerous years of offering excellent customer services. Their loans are easy, quick, and accessible to anyone. It also caters to the needs of employees, SMEs, and tech-oriented customers. 

Self Employed Loan in Nigeria

Many are choosing the self-employed path in Nigeria today, especially since is one of the best ways to financial freedom. The emergence of freelancers, and the existence of tradespeople, and investors point to the fact that being self-employed is becoming dominant. However, in such a category, getting a Self-employed loan in Nigeria might be inevitable because of the unstable guarantee in your income.

This article gives a general overview of a self-employed loan in Nigeria and brings to you everything you should know.

loans in nigeria

Who is a self-employed person?

This is an individual who does not hold a job for any specific employer. As a result of this, he or she, therefore, does not get paid on a salary or consistent bases. As a self-employed individual, you trade with businesses directly and earn income from such transactions. Many times, the employer does not withhold taxes, therefore it becomes your responsibility.

As a self-employed individual, it can involve you in different occupations, although highly skilled and major in a particular one.

What are self-employed loans in Nigeria?

Just as the name implies, self-employed loans in Nigeria are loan services available to you as a self-employed individual. The loan scheme and properties vary from one microfinance institution to another.

They design it for self-employed individuals to relieve financial constraints whether in executing a contract or for personal reasons.

Are self-employed individuals the same as Business owners (SMEs)?

Not necessarily. For one, the tax rules that apply to self-employed individuals are not the same as that of a business owner. The owner of a business may hire employees and supersede operations, but technically become an employee and receive a salary. A self-employed person on the other hand is the most times the primary and sole operator of the business.

Where can I obtain a self-employed loan in Nigeria?

Although being self-employed and a business owner differs, the loan service of most financial organizations blurs the line. This is true especially in Nigeria, where self-employed is normally classified with SMEs.

You can obtain a self-employed loan from any financial organization that offers it. This is basically every financial origination in Nigeria. It includes microfinance banks, commercial banks, fintech digital-based companies, individuals, and cooperates investors. 

What are the conditions for obtaining a self-employed loan in Nigeria?

The conditions for obtaining a self-employed loan in Nigeria differ from one financial institution to another. For example, microfinance bank loans are generally easier to access, with lesser paperwork and eligibility criteria too. However, they do not offer as much loan sum as commercial banks who have tedious and lengthy procedures/ requirements.

Individuals and corporate investors are not a reliable way of obtaining a self-employed loan in Nigeria. This is because many would rather invest for a share of equity, rather than offer you a loan like conventional banks.

Fintech digital platforms offer the easiest way to get a self-employed loan in Nigeria, with almost no requirements asides your bank details. However, they offer the lowest sum among all others.

With all that being said and done, getting a self-employed loan in Nigeria includes the following documentation:

  1. A functional bank account and bank verification number (BVN).
  2. A valid means of identification.
  3. Loan request form

And other documents as requested by the institution.

Conclusion

Taking a self-employed loan is a quick way to get out of financial obligations. As a self-employed personnel, you can obtain a loan to fund your business or contracts during a trade. The good thing is that there are more than enough institutions willing to offer one. If you meet the criteria, you can simply apply to get a loan today.  

Xcredit Loan: Everything You Need To Know

Xcredit is a mobile application platform developed by a fintech company based in Lagos. The platform is strictly online, although they do have an office in Lagos Nigeria. You do not have to visit their office to enjoy their services.

Xcredit Loan App

At the time of this publication, the Xcredit loan app is only available for Android devices on Google Play Store. With the app, you can easily access a personal loan. They do this by using the data on your phone including your SMS history to verify your identity and create a credit score.

Xcredit Loan
The Xcredit loan app for Android devices

How To Apply For A Loan

Applying for an Xcredit loan is pretty simple. You just need to follow the steps below:

  • Create an account
  • Apply for a loan
  • Receive your loan straight into your bank account
  • Build your loan limit each time you repay a loan
quick loan from loanspot

Is Xcredit Loan Legit?

Considering the fact that we’ve seen people get loans from them, we can say it is legit. A loan platform should be able to grant loans to be seen as legit right? Well, maybe not

Customer Care

We have seen lots of complaints about the Xcredit customer service. Some customers claim that the customer service personnel have been unprofessional in the way they reach out to them when their loan expired.

You can search for their Facebook page ‘Xcredit’ to contact them. The page has neither a customer care number nor any other Xcredit contact. You’ll need to send them a message on the platform.

Pros and cons of Xcredit Loan

Pros

  1. Quick and easy access to loans.
  2. No collateral.
  3. No paperwork.
  4. Zero service fee charge.

Cons

  1. Xcredit is available for a maximum tenor of 180 days. This makes it suitable for only short-term loans.
  2. They currently only offer loans up to N500,000.

What are the minimum and maximum amounts you can borrow from Xcredit?

The Minimum loan amount Xcredit offers is N5,000, and a maximum of N500,000.

Interest rates

Xcredit offers an interest rate of 12% of the amount borrowed. For example, if you borrow N10,000 for a tenor of 120 days, then at maturity, the total interest would be:

N10,000 * 12% = N1,200.

Are there other charges applicable to Xcredit?

No, there isn’t. Xcredit charges a 0% service fee on every loan you borrow. The loan amount is sent directly to your preferred bank account.

What are the minimum requirements for taking an Xcredit loan and how do I apply?

All you need to obtain a loan from Xcredit is a functional bank account and an account with Xcredit. Follow the steps below to apply for a loan:

  1. Download and install the XCredit mobile application from the google play store.
  2. Create your XCredit account and input all requested information.
  3. Apply for a loan.
  4. They pay the loan directly into your bank account.

Note that your loan limit builds up every time you repay a loan.

How quickly are Xcredit loan funds released?

It only takes a matter of minutes from the application to the disbursement of the loan into your account.

Xcredit Repayment terms

Terms that apply to the repayment of Xcredit loans are:

  1. An interest rate of 12% of the amount borrowed.
  2.  A maximum tenor of 180 days, after which the loan would have to be paid.
quick loans from loanspot

Conclusions

Taking loans is easiest with Xcredit. No collaterals, and no paperwork, and it is accessible to anyone with a bank account. You should take advantage of this easy loan offered by Xcredit to meet emergency and unexpected needs as they arise. You can learn about loan calculators here.

Investment loans for Real Estate – All you need to know

For years and years to come, real estate business will continue to thrive in Nigeria. This is because the population of citizens spurn daily. Regarding this, there is an increase in the demand for affordable houses.

Therefore, it is one of the best investment plans you can opt for. However, considering the downtrodden economic condition and the need to maintain a moral standard of living, funding might be difficult. 

Alas, you can still achieve your dreams with adequate funds simply by going for an investment loan.

What is an investment loan for Real Estate?

Investment loans for Real Estate are the types of loan you take when looking to secure another home apart from your primary home for investment purposes.

The primary purpose of taking this loan is to purchase a real estate property with the expectation of earning a return on investment(ROI) over time. In other words, this means you purchase a real estate property, renovate the property, and either resell or rent it out.

What are the types of investment loans for Real Estate? 

The types of investment loans for real estate include:

1. Commercial loans:

A commercial loan is a debt-based cash agreement between an individual and a commercial bank. These are loans available to lenders for purchase, refinance and cash-out reasons. Investors use this loan to purchase different types of real estate properties worth millions of Naira.

2. Fix and Flip Loans:

We categorise a fix-and-flip loan as a hard money loan. This means that the real estate property is used as security for acquiring the loan.

This loan type is a short-term loan which allows lenders to borrow to complete the renovation of their property so that it can be put back on the market for rent.

3. Home Equity Loans:

A home equity loan is a consumer loan type, which allows a real estate property owner to borrow against the equity of their home. This type of loan financing is an excellent way for real estate owners to purchase another property. This loan type is very advantageous because it allows you to borrow up to 80% of the equity value of your home.

4. Private Money Loans

Also known as owner financing. This loan type is neither from financial institutions nor from your home equity. Instead, they are given out by people in society who are well-to-do and have extra cash. They aim to have a good return on investment in the loan.

What are the minimum requirements for investment real estate loans? 

Although the requirements for granting an investment real estate loan vary from lender to lender. Here are some basic lending requirements: 

  1. Your Credit score must be above average 
  2. You must have an excellent credit history 
  3. A stable source of income 
  4. You must have 5%-10%  in savings 
  5. Employment History

What are the benefits of investing in real estate?

Some of the benefits of investing in real estate include:

1. Competitive Returns:

 The real estate business offers mouth-watering returns to other forms of investments such as bonds and stocks

2. Portfolio diversification:

The diversification potential of real estate is one major reason you should choose to invest in real estate. The addition of your real estate to various portfolios helps reduce higher return per unit risk.

3. Inflation Hedge:

Investing in real estate gives you a hedge against inflation. This is because as the inflation figures surge high, so also will the rental of real estate property. 

4. Tax benefits:

One pro of investing in real estate is the exemption you receive as an investor from paying taxes. This is because the major source of income is through which is not liable to self-employment tax.

Conclusion

Investment loans are the best way to eradicate the limitation of insufficient funds. It is a solid bedrock upon which you can lay your foundation for the unlimited flow of income through real estate investment. Get this instrument and you will thank yourself in the future. You can read about rent-to-own real estate scheme.

Loan Liquidation Meaning & How to Liquidate Your Loan

Are you drowning in debt? Or feeling like you’re stuck in a financial black hole?

Hold on, there’s light at the end of this tunnel!

This guide will help you understand what loan liquidation is and how you can navigate your way out of debt.

So buckle up, and let’s get you back on solid financial ground!

What is Loan Liquidation?

A liquidated loan is a type of self-liquidating loan, meaning it repays itself through the cash flow generated from selling the financed asset. Loan liquidation involves selling off assets used as collateral to repay the loan if the borrower defaults.

This can also be beneficial for several reasons, such as saving on interest and improving your credit score.

Benefits of Loan Liquidation

  • You’ll save money on interest payments in the long run.
  • Paying off a loan early can improve your credit score by lowering your debt utilization ratio (the amount of credit you’re using compared to your total credit limit).

Self-Liquidating Loans

Self-liquidating loans are a type of short-term loan where the borrowed funds are used to purchase assets that are then sold to repay the loan.

This can be a good option for businesses that need to purchase inventory or other assets that will be quickly sold and generate cash.

How to Liquidate Your Loan

Before you liquidate your loan…

  • Prepayment Penalty: Check your loan agreement for any prepayment penalties. Some lenders may charge a fee for paying off the loan early.
  • Benefits: There are advantages to liquidating a loan early. You’ll save money on interest payments, improve your credit score by lowering your debt utilization ratio, and be free of loan obligations.

Steps to Take in Liquidating Your Loan:

  • Contact Your Lender: Get in touch with your lender and express your intention to liquidate the loan.
  • Calculate the Payoff Amount: Ask for the payoff amount which includes the outstanding principal balance and any accrued interest up to the date of liquidation.
  • Make the Payment: Choose a payment method that works for you and ensure you have sufficient funds to cover the payoff amount.

Here are some tips you must keep in mind to experience a successful loan liquidation process:

  1. Make your repayment or liquidation plan a priority: When your repayment plan is your priority, you get to make a conscious effort toward it. These efforts include saving ahead to cover your EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) even before it becomes due.
  1. Focus on repaying your high-interest loans first: Most people often focus on paying the smaller debts first and gradually move up to the bigger ones. However, research has shown that this would only prolong your repayment period and increase the interest you get to pay. Therefore, try to direct the maximum amount you can afford to pay to your high-rate loans while securing necessary payments on the smaller ones.
  1. The higher your income gets, the higher your repayment percentage: This is another factor that can help you go through a successful liquidation process. Make a conscious effort to increase your repayment percentage each time you obtain an income increase. This would cut short the time that your repayment plan would have lasted and put your mind at ease.
  1. Use bonuses and windfall gains to pay larger debts: Rather than spend your bonuses on the latest gadgets and explore your desires, settle your costly debts.
  1.  You can also use existing investments to repay debt: While it may seem unwise to use your investment for loan liquidation, it goes beyond that in reality. Not only does your indebtedness reduce your total credit worth, but it also ends up making the top of your expenditure list. Therefore, to avoid being clogged by debts, it is better to clear them off when you have what it takes.

I hope you conquer your debt!

For more information on debt, you should check out my guide on debt consolidation loans in Nigeria and how you can navigate your finances in a tough economy.

Conclusion

Conquering your loans is achievable, especially with the right lenders offering liquidation options (I’m talking banks!).

So, are you ready to kickstart your debt-free future? Get informed, explore your options, and get ready to celebrate!

Loan amortization – Meaning, types, and how it works

Money loaning and repayment system is a complication that comes in different forms, especially when borrowing large sums. This led to the development of loan amortization, which provides a clear set payment amount at stipulated times. These set payments cover both the principal and interests on the loan and help create a clear picture of things. In this article, we have simplified loan amortization for your understanding, as well as including every other thing you should know.

What is loan amortization?

Loan amortization is a type of loan that is designed with a scheduled repayment structure. This structure includes periodic payments in which the borrower is to meet, and it applies to both the loan interest accrued and principal amount. The focus of an amortized loan is to pay off accrued interest for a set period, after which it focuses on the principal or pay off both at the same time.

In simpler terms, it amortizes any loan you take that follows a repayment schedule of the interest and principal itself. Some examples of these are car or auto loans, personal bank loans, home loans, etc.

How does loan amortization work?

The loan amortization system is pretty tricky but easy to understand if you follow it closely.

To calculate the interest rate on an amortized loan, they use the most recent ending balance of the loan. This way, the interest payment varies and depends on your ability to meet the periodic payments. At the expected periods, any excess payments made reduce the principal by the excess on the payment. This reduces the balance left, which is used in calculating subsequent interest.

This system encourages you to make excess payments, which would reduce the principal after covering the interest incurred. This way, you get a lesser interest since the interest is determined periodically based on the most recent ending balance of the loan. The interest and principal have an inverse relationship over the lifespan of an amortized loan.

Why amortize a loan?

The goal of loan amortization is to create a clear picture for the borrower to work with. They design it so you can pay off the loan over an extended period with equal amounts for each payment period. However, you can speed things up by paying more, hence reducing the principal owed. This way, you are both paying off the interest and principal at a go. Should you decide to focus solely on the interest payment, the principal portion increases, and vice versa. This system encourages you to pay off both sides at the same time.

 

What are the types of loan amortization?

Loan amortization can fall into any of the four categories. They are:

Full amortization: 

in this loan, paying the full amortization would result in your outstanding balance being reduced to zero at the end of the loan term. This is the most common loan amortization type.  

Partial amortization: 

this entails you paying a portion of your amortization amount. For every payment made, it would reduce your outstanding principal on the loan for each month. If you only pay partial amounts, you would have an outstanding balance at the end of the loan term.

Interest only: 

for interest only, you would not include any amortization payments during the loan term. It rather focuses on paying only interest, and the principal remains the same as it was initially at the end of the term.

Negative amortization: 

negative amortization is more comfortable to pay in the short term but costly in the long term. This type requires lower monthly payments than interest-only loans; however, that monthly payment increases the outstanding principal on the loan. Any shortfall of payments to the interest amount gets added to the total payable loan amount at each month’s end.

Loan amortization – practical example

Putting the four categories of loan amortization into a practical example – take, for instance, that you borrowed N300,000 with a 20-year repayment plan.

With full amortization, you would have paid off the loan at the end of 20 years. If partial amortization, then you could still owe some amount but far lesser than N300,000 at the end of the term. With interest only, you would have paid off the interest, but the principal of N300,000 remains. Lastly, negative amortization would see you most likely owe more at the end of the loan term.

Conclusion

Loan amortization is a transparent system that gives you a clear plan on how to pay up. It also rewards your diligence to meet the payment schedule through favourable interests and spikes it if you do not pay up. It is recommended that you stay with a full amortization loan as much as you can, as venturing into other types might be risky.

Kickstarter Nigeria – What you should know

There are many entrepreneurs in Nigeria with creative business ideas that really have good potential but no funding. Poor funding is one reason businesses die, and some of the most exciting ideas never kick-off. What is more frustrating is the access to bank loans that could have been a saving grace. Most of these bank loans require that you have certain assets worth more than the money you need. Kickstarter Nigeria solves all that, as it brings together entrepreneurs with the best ideas and sponsors willing to support them.

With the emergence of platforms like Kickstarter Nigeria, it is less difficult for individuals with project ideas to find funding. If your project is good and solves problems, then people are most times more than willing to support it. This article has everything you need to know about Kickstarter; keep reading to find out.

What is Kickstarter Nigeria?

Kickstarter Nigeria is a peer-to-peer money-raising platform that connects the people with the ideas to those with funds. It is a completely free platform to use; therefore, you do not require any registration or running fee. Although free to use, there are fees attached if your project is successful. Kickstarter gets 5% of the money raised, while Amazon, who’s the escrow, gets around 3% to 5%. An escrow is the one who keeps the money till the project tenor is over, then forwards it accordingly, or returns it to the donors. This depends on how successful the project funding was.

What happens to your money if a Kickstarter fails?

Kickstarter Nigeria runs an all-or-nothing model. This means that after you create a project on the platform, the project has to meet or exceed its fund target, or you do not get any money at all.  If this happens, no money would be given to you; rather, it would be returned to each project supporter.

On the other hand, if your project successfully attracts enough pledge as required to get it going, then you get the money.  Therefore, your “so-called” money does not even get to you if the Kickstarter project is unsuccessful.

How does Kickstarter Nigeria work?

The steps to setting up and getting a project on Kickstarter Nigeria are:

  1. Prepare your project idea

The first step to creating a project that would succeed is to develop an excellent idea. This platform is not a way to earn cool cash. If you do not have a tangible idea that can attract and fascinate people enough to fund it, you would be most likely unsuccessful.

Whatever idea it is, it must be a good one. As long as it is creative, you can submit it on the platform. Kickstarter Nigeria covers many areas like technology, movies, art, music, and much more.

  1. Have a good background story

Your background story is what sells your idea. It is what pushes people to believe in and fund your project. What’s the amazing story behind how you got here and why you want to do this? It has to be something that people can connect with.

  1. Create an engaging video

Humans tend to connect more with visuals, hence videos, than other media. This is why most video adverts do way better than their counterpart. Create an engaging video of yourself and tell describe your project. Be original and make people see a reason why they should fund you.

  1. Log on to the website at www.kickstarter.com and create your project

The next step is to visit their official website and create your project. The processes on how to go about it and what you need to submit are stated. Just follow through.

  1. Follow all instructions and submit the necessary documents

After creating your project and supplying all necessary documents, the next step is to submit. Note that important documents like a National ID card, driver’s license, or international passport are required.

  1. Share your project with family, friends, and on social media

Lastly, share your project with friends, family, and everywhere else for people to see it. Even if you have the best ideas, and create the most engaging videos and background stories, if no one sees it, it dooms your project to fail. Reach out to as many people as you can!

Kickstarter for Android

To make things much easier, you can download the Kickstarter app from Google play store and set up and monitor your project from there. To do this, visit the store and search for “Kickstarter.” Download and register, then you are good to go.

Conclusion

Kickstarter Nigeria can help build a bridge between you and your dreams. You have to take this free opportunity to get the funds you need. It is absolutely free to use since the fee only applies on being successful. Just be original, create your awesome idea, sell it on a video, and get it out there for people to see.