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Qualify for SME Loans
For a cash-strapped business, a loan is a financial lifeline that helps it get through a difficult time or grab a good opportunity. The right amount of capital at the right time can help a business to grow, expand its territories and increase revenues through better investments in promising projects. However, companies need to keep themselves financially fit and their books of accounts up-to-date before applying for any loan. While there are many options available to businesses to get credit such as bank loans, lines of credit etc. they should follow the tips mentioned here to qualify for SME loans easily.
 

How to Qualify for SME Loans

1. Maintain a good credit score

A good credit score is an indication of good financial health. Repaying all dues on time and borrowing responsibly can help in increasing the credit score. Remember that lenders look at the credit score to review your financial position, and a good credit score helps you easily qualify for the loan.

2. Anticipate your lender’s criteria and lending process

Anticipate your lender’s lending criteria and their lending process to be better prepared at every stage. Look at things from the lender’s point of view to understand how they will review your loan application. Lenders normally examine your assets in the business, investors in the company, how long the business has been running, financial statements, outstanding loans and cash flow estimations. Meeting the requirements of the lenders will make your application stronger for qualification.

3. Be realistic

If you want to get approved for an SME loan without any hassle, be realistic. Always be sure of the amount of money your company requires. If you take out an unsecured company loan by going over your budget, the interest and EMIs will surely ruin your finances. Similarly, if you are unable to raise sufficient finances, this will also be bad for your firm. You won't be able to meet your fundamental needs, and there is a high probability of your entire production or operating unit getting impacted due to this. It is recommended that you get advice from the heads of the various departments to assess your needs.

4. Proper repayment plan

When asking for an SME loan, be prepared to demonstrate your ability to repay it. This is one of the most crucial pieces of information your lender wants to know. One of the most common reasons why new businesses fail to qualify for a business loan is the lack of proper financial history. But if your business is more than five years old, you can show the lender your business profitability, and different types of sources from where you have raised funding and how you are repaying them. You may also provide evidence of business cash reserves that you are willing to use at the time of a business crisis.

5. Business plan

Always be prepared to offer the lender a clear business strategy. But first, figure out what the most important components of your business are. Examine the debt-to-equity and current ratios in your business. Keep an eye on the state of your company's free cash flow. If your company has any obsolete assets, get rid of them first to improve your liquidity.
 
Prepare a comprehensive marketing and business expansion plan once you have completed the prior tasks. Give the lender an idea of how you will use the revenue and the SME loan to help your business expand. You must also demonstrate to them your company's three to five years sales projections. All of these minor details will advise the lender as to whether or not their funds are safe.

6. Present your financial statements

Financial statements such as a balance sheet, cash flows, and profit and loss statements are key documents for any business. It gives lenders a detailed overview of how your company is performing. If the lender finds that you are into a loss-making business, they will reject your application right away. If possible, get your financials audited by a qualified CA.
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Understand Different Types of SME Loans

Understand different types of SME loans first if you wish to meet the lender's SME loan eligibility. Different types of business loans have different terms, interest rates, and loan amounts. You must also understand which type of loan is ideal in which type of situation. 
 

Arrange for collateral

Many business loans require collateral as a backup. It can be an asset or inventory that can be seized in case of non-repayment of a loan. Some loans require a guarantee from the owners or a guarantor. Also, each lender has different sets of requirements, so, research beforehand about these requirements to make arrangements accordingly.


Documents required

Most loans require you to submit copies of income tax returns, financial statements, registration certificates, bank statements and cash flow estimations. Check the documents required while applying for a loan and prepare them well in advance to prevent any wastage of time during the loan application stage.
 

Analyse key terms of the loan

Prepare a possible list of financial institutions where you qualify for the loan and compare them in terms of rate of interest charged, payment terms, collateral or guarantee requirements and any other fees charged. You may want to look at the loan amortization chart  to get a better idea of how much interest and principal payments can be made from a cash flow perspective.


Conclusion

These days, there are many options available for small and medium enterprises to take loans for funding their businesses. So, you should be aware of the different kinds of loans—short term and long term, and those with and without collaterals and guarantees—to make better informed decisions. Knowing about how lenders will review your loan application and anticipating how they will proceed will increase your chances of getting qualified. So, get ready to boost your business by actively preparing yourself before applying for a loan. 
 
Disclaimer: This post was first published on 15 April 2020 and has been updated for the latest information, freshness, and accuracy.
 


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Did You Know

Disbursement

The act of paying out money for any kind of transaction is known as disbursement. From a lending perspective this usual implies the transfer of the loan amount to the borrower. It may cover paying to operate a business, dividend payments, cash outflow etc. So if disbursements are more than revenues, then cash flow of an entity is negative, and may indicate possible insolvency.

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