• Assemble a complete financial history. In addition to your personal credit information, a lender is going to want to know that your business has a stable financial history. "An accurate and complete financial history is very important to lend credibility to the SBA loan request," Anderson says. "If you are currently in business, lenders will want to see profit and loss statements for three complete fiscal years and the current year to date. In addition they will want a recent balance sheet, within the last 60 days." If you are just starting a business, this step is not required. But keep in mind that it is much more difficult to obtain SBA loans for start-up businesses than existing businesses.
• Prepare financial projections. A lender is going to want to see some evidence that you'll be able to pay back the loan. The most important information you can provide a lender is a cash-flow projection. A monthly cash-flow projection of 12 to 24 months or more may be required by the lender; however, this period may vary by lender and/or type of business. "Cash is the 'life blood' of small business, and you and the lender need to take precautions to be sure that you will not run out of cash," Anderson says. It also may be necessary to provide projections of profit & loss statements and/or balance sheets. Again, this will vary by lender and/or type of business.
• Contact lenders. You need to find a bank or lender that works with the SBA. Most leading commercial banks will offer 7(a) loans, but so do credit unions and other lenders. You can find a list of local SBA lenders by state on the SBA website. "You can contact more than one," Cruz says. "But this should not be the first time you meet the banker. There are three people that every business person should have a relationship with -- an accountant that knows your industry, a lawyer that knows your industry, and a banker that knows your industry." If you have a relationship with a banker, that's who you start with, Cruz says. If you don't know the bankers in your community, try to get around it by having someone you know refer you. Call possible lenders, providing a brief profile of you and your business to see if the lender has an interest in exploring the possibility of a loan. If so, make an appointment to meet the lender(s).
• Meet with lender(s). You (and your advisors) should dress in a professional manner, as it is important for the lender to get an immediate positive impression, Anderson says. After a brief introduction, you should present the lender with two copies of your business plan, including your financial projections. You should discuss your business including the loan you are requesting (a formal written presentation is not required). The lender will ask questions and you should be prepared to provide detailed information in response. "Make the lender feel comfortable doing business with you," Anderson says. If the lender is comfortable with the relationship, s/he will provide you with an SBA Loan Package that includes forms required by the SBA and information the lender requires. (SBA loan applications from different lenders are similar, but can vary.) One such form is authorization for the lender to access your personal credit reports -- it is generally wise to minimize the number of such authorizations, as each time a lender checks your credit it will impact your FICO Score.
• Work with the lender. Cooperate with the lender by providing all information requested, so that the lender can complete the evaluation and, if the lender decides to make a deal, submit materials to the SBA, Anderson says. If the loan is approved, you will be notified and requested to sign final loan papers. The lender will then fund the SBA Loan.
"Follow up and treat a lender like you treated your significant other before you got married," Cruz says. "It's a romance. Ask, 'What can I do? Is there anything else you need?' Always be polite and professional. You can be friendly with them but it's professional. It's a business relationship and keep it as such and it will help you down the line."
Dig Deeper: How to Fill Out a Loan Application
How to Secure an SBA Loan: Recommended Resources
SCORE volunteer counselors (working or retired business owners, executives or corporate leaders) provide free business advice to entrepreneurs.
Small Business Association is a federal government agency that provides assistance to help start, build, and grow businesses.
Small Business Center offers information on government business loans.
Power Homebiz Guides is a publisher of home business and small business information.
