Guides
Credit, Documents & Approval
Credit scores, documents, DSCR, lender meetings and what to do after approval or denial.
What Credit Score Do You Need for an SBA Loan?
The credit scores SBA lenders usually look for in 2026, the FICO SBSS business score, what else matters, and what to do if your score is low.
How to Raise Your Credit Before Applying for a Loan
A 90-day plan to improve your credit before a business loan application: check reports, dispute errors, lower utilization and avoid new inquiries.
SBA Loan Document Checklist
The complete checklist of documents most SBA lenders request: business and personal financials, ownership records, plans, forms and extras.
Why Your Tax Returns Matter for a Business Loan
Why lenders rely on your tax returns, how deductions affect the profit they see, add-backs, IRS transcripts and how to fix filing problems before applying.
Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) Made Simple
What DSCR is, how lenders calculate it, the 1.25x and 1.15x SBA thresholds under the 2026 rules, a worked example and how to improve yours.
How to Prepare Financial Statements a Lender Will Accept
How to prepare a profit and loss statement, balance sheet and debt schedule for a loan application, with simple templates and common mistakes.
What the Bank Looks At: The 5 C’s of Credit
Character, capacity, capital, collateral and conditions: how lenders evaluate small business loans and how to strengthen each one.
Denied for a Business Loan? What to Do Next
Steps to take after a business loan denial: get the reason in writing, fix the specific problem, try the right next lender and avoid desperate expensive money.
Business Credit vs Personal Credit
How business credit and personal credit differ, which bureaus track each, how lenders use both for small business loans, and how to build business credit.
How to Prepare for Your Bank Meeting
What to bring, what lenders will ask and how to present your business in a first meeting with a business lender, with a one-page summary template.