Tips for Getting Funded

 A business plan that fails to clearly outline operations and address common underwriter questions can undermine confidence in the project and raise doubts about the applicant's ability to execute their strategy successfully. A lack of clarity may suggest insufficient planning, causing underwriters to question the applicant's capability to follow through on essential steps for success.  

 Projections that are too optimistic, overly conservative, or lack key details (like revenue sources, COGS, or industry-standard expenses) can signal red flags to lenders. Omitting taxes, credit card fees, or failing to account for realistic costs may cause unnecessary back-and-forth with underwriters and raise concerns about financial accuracy. Clear, well-detailed projections are essential for a smoother approval process. 

 Mismatched details between applications, the business plan narrative, and financial projections are major red flags for lenders. Common inconsistencies include differences in salary and wage information, product pricing, sales volume, and other key figures. These discrepancies can lead lenders to question the accuracy of the application and the applicant's understanding of their own business. 

 Failing to provide a detailed breakdown of how loan proceeds will be used makes it difficult for underwriters to support a request. Spoiler alert: "Working capital" alone isn’t specific enough. Lenders need a clear allocation of funds, such as inventory, equipment, or marketing expenses, to understand the investment's purpose and how it will drive business growth. Providing a comprehensive breakdown helps establish transparency and builds confidence in the application. 

 Personal or business credit issues and undisclosed debts can be major obstacles to loan approval. Lenders need a full picture of the applicant’s financial history and liabilities. Unaddressed credit problems or hidden debts can raise serious concerns about repayment ability, potentially delaying or even derailing the loan process. Transparent credit disclosure and proactive management of financial issues can strengthen lender confidence. 

  Mistakes in documents like personal financial statements or business debt schedules can significantly slow down or risk loan approval. Errors such as incorrect income figures, debt miscalculations, or omissions not only prompt underwriters to question accuracy but also lead to an extended back-and-forth as corrections are needed. Since forms may become outdated before final approval, you may end up redoing documents entirely. Thoroughly checking all figures and maintaining consistency across forms builds lender trust and keeps your application on track.  SBA forms can be confusing, and even small errors can create days, weeks or even months of delay.  Completing application forms is an investment, not a task!