What Information Will You Need for Small Business Financing?
More than 30% of American small businesses are?not approved?for at least some of the loans, lines of credit, and/or cash advance funding they apply for.
Reasons for this can range from a poor business plan to an unrealistic valuation to a questionable founder. But what really shouldn’t be a concern is flubbing the preapproval process by not having the required documentation.
If you’re concerned that you might fall into that category, read on—these are the answers we give to the most frequently asked questions about the documents you’ll need to apply for a small business loan or other financing.
Which documents will you need to apply for business financing?
The first thing you’re going to do when you apply for financing at Lendio Miami gives us enough information to help our lender network assess your risk.?When you click?“Apply now,” you’ll start our 15-minute online application.
You’ll need the following documents:
You’ll also be asked to provide the following:
BTW, Lendio Miami will conduct a soft credit pull, but that won’t impact your credit score.
What documents will you need for the next stage?
After we receive your application, our financing network will review your application, and we’ll let you know what you’re eligible for. Depending on the types of loans or other financing you’re being offered, you may need to provide some of the following documents before your financing funds. And you won’t be asked to guess at anything: your Lendio funding manager will walk you through all of this.
You may be asked to provide the following:
Tax returns?
These will objectively show lenders how much money your company makes, how much you draw from the business, and how much money you personally have in the bank.
Some lenders will want to see?a profit?on your business tax return—and a clear path to profitability if not profit. They’ll want to know that you pay your taxes in full and on time.?
Business bank statements
You will have already uploaded three months’ worth, but some types of financing can require additional bank info. These documents are used to show lenders your?cash flow?patterns. BTW, these will need to be business bank accounts, not personal accounts.
A business plan
Some lenders will request a copy of your?business plan, which they may review from two angles.?
First,?they’ll be looking at the legitimacy of both the problem your business solves and your solution to it, as well as how you plan to bring your solution to market and how you plan to make money from it.?
And don’t make the mistake of thinking that only apps and tech platforms solve problems. A hair salon could be solving the simple problem of there not being another hair salon closer than six blocks away, and it’s a perfectly sound solution to a perfectly reasonable problem.
Second,?they’re looking for a good fit, both from your business and from you, and this could mean different things. You may not be a good fit if:
Also, don’t worry about not being a good fit, however. Lendio works with 75+ lenders, which opens up many options.
P&L statement
A lender may ask to see your profit and loss statement or other documents that indicate your cash flow, like a balance sheet or a debt schedule. Your?accounting software?can help you gather these documents.
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Business license and related documents
If you didn’t previously upload your business license, you may be asked to by some lenders to provide it now. You could also be asked for a copy of your LLC or articles of incorporation, if relevant.
Will Different Lenders Want Different Documents?
Different loans and financing have different requirements as do some lenders. For example, if you’re working on financing with a more traditional bank, you could be asked for as many as two years of tax returns, both business and personal; profit and loss (P&L) and?balance sheets; a debt schedule; and sometimes more.
If you have your heart set on a?Small Business Association (SBA) loan, you’ll be asked for the following information:
If any of these seem confusing, don’t worry. If you apply for financing through Lendio’s marketplace, your funding manager will explain any additional documentation required, and you’ll upload everything in your online document center, so you’ll have a record of what you’ve submitted and what’s still missing.
FAQs about applying for small business financing with Lendio Miami
Q: Will it be difficult to get financing if I haven’t been in business very long?
A:?“Amount of time in business” can be important to obtaining financing, but how important and long you need to be in business will depend on the lender’s preferences and the financing option you’re being offered. A startup, for example, may qualify for a merchant cash advance with minimal time in business, provided their receipts fit the lender’s requirements. Your best bet is often to apply for financing (remember, it only takes 15 minutes and doesn’t impact your credit score) to see what’s needed.?
Q: Do some lenders have different requirements for the same type of loan?
A:?Yes, some lenders have different requirements for the same type of loan. Your Lendio funding manager will walk you through all of this and can help you determine which documents you’ll need after you submit your online application and if there are other options available.
Q: Can I offer a substitute if I don’t have a specific document?
A:?If you don’t have a specific document, whether you can offer a substitute will most likely be up to the lender’s?underwriter. Your Lendio funding manager can help you determine if there’s a suitable substitute or even how you can access the documents you need.
Q: Should I still apply for small business financing if I'm missing some documents??
A:?My advice: apply online to see what type of financing is available based on the information you can supply. Our lender network offers more than 10 different types of financing, so the required documentation can vary widely.??
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?ABOUT Lendio Miami
Lendio Miami, America’s largest online lending Marketplace, connects small business owners with more than 75 lending partners and innovated new funding sources, offering 15+ financial products with flexible terms and competitive rates.
Our fast and easy online application process takes 15 minutes, and almost all applications receive funding offers within 72 hours — with money in hand in as fast as five days.
We are small business advocates, helping our clients through the loan process, negotiating on their behalf, and securing the most amount of money as fast as possible, for as cheap as possible.
Available for nearly any business need — equipment purchases, staffing and payroll, merchant services, and much more — funding obtained through Lendio Miami delivers much-needed capital to meet your business needs.
To learn more, call 786-828-6918 or Apply online at?www.LendioMiami.com,?Fueling the American Dream.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post does not, and is not intended to, constitute business, legal, tax, or accounting advice. All information, content, and materials available in this post are for general informational purposes only. For advice specific to their situation, readers should contact their attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor to obtain advice with respect to any particular matter.