What we review before approving a business line of credit

The first question underwriting asks is not how large the business is, but how predictable it is. A business generating steady deposits across many months usually reads more favorably than a larger business with erratic revenue.

We collect estimated annual and monthly revenue in the application to understand scale, not to apply a published minimum. We have not established a minimum annual revenue requirement, and no applicant is rejected automatically for falling below an invented threshold.

Operating history tells an underwriter whether the business has survived a full cycle — a slow season, a rate change, a customer loss. The application asks how long the business has operated under current ownership.

No minimum time in business is advertised. Younger companies may present differently, and the review reflects the file rather than a cutoff.

Both business and personal credit history can be considered, and the owner's estimated FICO score is one input among several. It is self-reported at the inquiry stage and does not trigger a credit inquiry.

A score alone does not decide an application in either direction. It is read alongside cash flow and obligations, which is why a strong score with weak deposits is not automatically approved, and a moderate score with strong deposits is not automatically declined.

Current debt service affects how much additional payment a business can carry. The application asks whether existing business debt exists and, if so, roughly what it costs each month.

The intended use of funds matters too, because it tells an underwriter whether the request is financing a cycle that will repay itself or a permanent cost. Neither is disqualifying on its own — but they lead to different structures.