Promissory Note

What is a Promissory Note?

A Promissory Note is a contractual agreement or a debt instrument that acts as a binding, written promise from a borrower to repay a certain amount of money to a lender.

It is an essential financial instrument for individuals seeking personal loans and companies requiring short-term financing and is typically between a borrower needing financial assistance and a willing lender.

For businesses, a promissory note is a method of short-term financing. It is subject to review by regulators, who evaluate if a company can meet the mentioned promise of return.

The lender must conduct their analysis and have trust that the company is capable of servicing the debt. Promissory notes are transferable and can be sold to another party.

Commercial and personal distinctions in a Promissory Note

In a commercial sample promissory note, a company acts as the borrower.

Conversely, a personal loan is often secured by the income and assets of the individual requesting a loan, and in all cases, lenders will want assurance of repayment.

Promissory Note format

A promissory note must encompass details about the borrower and lender, the principal or borrowing amount, loan term, interest rate, payment details, late fees, default conditions, and collateral requirements, where applicable.

Importantly, payment details need to be explicit, and the note should be clear about the conditions under which the loan will be in default.

Types of Promissory Notes

Promissory notes can be classified as either secured or unsecured. A secured note requires collateral, while an unsecured note does not.

Subtypes Include:

1. Informal IOU: Often between friends or family members, it guarantees that borrowed money will be returned but does not detail the loan’s purpose or repayment schedule.
2. Commercial IOU: Involved in high-value business transactions, these often require loan repayment with interest.
3. Student IOU: Interest may be deferred from accruing on the loans until after graduation.
4. Investment IOU: Issued by companies raising capital from investors, it ensures that the investors receive their return on investment over a specified period.

Operational mechanism of a Promissory Note

Once a promissory note is agreed upon between parties, the borrower has several avenues to fulfil their obligations, each addressing the principal and interest components:

Lump-sum Repayment

Involving a single comprehensive payment, this method is prevalent in smaller or informal loans, where the lender dictates the repayment timeline without necessitating periodic payments.

Installment Repayment

This widespread repayment modality allows for the fractionation of high-value loans over a stipulated duration, typically through equal monthly instalments inclusive of interest, until the principal is completely settled.

Due on Demand Repayment

This model, associated with informal loan agreements, mandates repayment upon the lender’s request and is typically executed between acquaintances or relatives. The absence of payment terms within the document renders the loan due on demand.

It’s pivotal to acknowledge that these repayment structures can be amalgamated, leading to scenarios where a lump sum is coupled with instalments or initial instalments are devoid of interest, followed by interest-appended payments for the remaining tenure of the loan.

Considerations and legalities of a Promissory Note

Investors usually undertake significant risk with promissory notes as these often bypass traditional forms of lending and formal institutions like banks.

Hence, they are critical for parties needing help to secure loans from traditional lenders.

While a promissory note is useful, it comes with associated risks. It can lead to messy and confusing legal issues for both the payee and the issuer if a default occurs, necessitating the importance of notarising such notes.

Customisation and collection

Promissory notes should be tailored to fit the requirements of specific transactions, including aspects like interest rates, amortisation schedules, and other specifics relevant to the type of note.

When the terms of a note are not met, written requests for repayment can be made, or discussions about partial payment or an extended payment plan can be initiated.

Using a debt collector or selling the note to a collector are options, and legal action can always be pursued against the borrower.

Promissory Note template

A promissory note is an integral instrument in defining the specifics of a loan, creating a clear and legally binding agreement between the lender and the borrower. Given the significance and the potential complexities surrounding these documents, utilising a reliable and professionally structured template is essential.

Zegal’s templates can serve as an invaluable resource in these instances, ensuring that all the relevant and necessary details are accounted for and that the agreement complies with legal standards.

By using a Zegal template, parties can navigate the complexities of crafting a promissory note with a higher degree of confidence and accuracy, thereby minimising the risks of disputes and misunderstandings over the terms of the loan.

You might also like

Along with this document, make sure you see these other templates in our library:

• Shareholder Agreement
• Option Agreement
• Employee Option Repurchase Agreement
• Share Appreciation Rights Plan
• Share Option Plan

The Zegal template library

Zegal's legal template library is a list of essential business documents for your everyday needs.

Whether you're a startup, SME, or a larger enterprise, Zegal contract management will automate and speed up your legal processes.

Using Zegal will reduce risk, save money, and improve efficiency. Let us take care of the paperwork so you can focus on running your business.