Last updated: October 14, 2026. SBA and IRS pages checked on October 14, 2026. General information; your lender sets the exact list.
In 2026, most business-loan files start with the same core set: recent business bank statements, business and personal tax returns, entity and EIN papers, owner ID, a debt schedule, and year-to-date financials. Build that folder once. Your lender sets the exact list; SBA loans add Form 1919 and Form 413. Don't send the file to a cold-call broker.
| Document | What it shows the lender | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Business bank statements | Cash coming in and going out | Every page of the accounts the lender asks for, in one PDF folder |
| Business tax returns | How the company earns and reports | Complete returns with schedules; ask your CPA if a year is on extension |
| Personal tax returns | How owners draw income and whether taxes are current | For each owner the lender lists as a guarantor or significant owner |
| Year-to-date P&L and balance sheet | Current revenue, expenses, assets and debts | Dated; update before you reapply |
| Entity papers and EIN confirmation | The business exists and has a federal tax ID | Articles, operating agreement or bylaws, and the IRS EIN notice |
| Photo ID | Who the owners are | For each owner the lender names |
| Business debt schedule | Every loan, advance, lease or line | Balance, payment, and whether it is secured |
| Use-of-funds note | What the money is for | One short paragraph; attach quotes or invoices for gear |
Build the core file once
Put those eight items in one folder before you talk to any lender. Reuse it for your bank, a credit union, a CDFI or an SBA lender. Then you are not rebuilding the packet under deadline pressure.
Step by step
- Download recent business bank statements as full PDFs.
- Gather the latest filed business and personal tax returns.
- Export a current P&L and balance sheet, or ask your bookkeeper.
- Collect entity papers and your EIN confirmation. Lost it? See the IRS EIN page.
- List every existing business debt.
- Write one paragraph on how you will use the money.
- Ask the lender for its exact checklist before you apply.
- If prequalification is offered, ask whether it uses a soft credit check. Your personal reports are at annualcreditreport.com.
Extra items SBA lenders often add
SBA Form 1919, the Borrower Information Form, is completed by the applicant and given to the participating lender. SBA Form 413, the Personal Financial Statement, helps assess repayment ability for 7(a) and related programs. SBA says the contents of a 7(a) application vary and your lender helps decide which documents you need. You apply through a lender, not SBA; Lender Match can connect you. See how to qualify for an SBA loan.
Product-specific add-ons
- Equipment financing: an itemized vendor quote or invoice. See equipment financing.
- Invoice factoring: an accounts-receivable aging report and sample invoices. See invoice factoring.
- Real estate: a purchase agreement, lease or rent roll, as the lender asks.
- Startups: a short plan and projections when asked. See startup funding.
If an incomplete file got you denied
Ask for the reasons in writing, fix the paperwork, and don't reapply with the same file. See business loan denied, bad credit business loans and no credit history.
Don't hand the packet to a cold-call broker
A complete folder is valuable. Drop it into a quick-quote form or send it to an unknown caller, and your number and statements can get shopped. Apply directly instead. Read funding without a broker, why brokers call you and how to stop MCA broker calls. Report scams to the FTC.
Should an MCA replace a loan because paperwork is heavy?
Usually not. An MCA is repaid from daily sales over a few months. Here is the site's example, not a quote: $50,000 at a 1.35 factor rate means paying back $67,500 over about six months, roughly 126% APR. Ask for total payback in dollars and try the cost of capital calculator. Read MCA alternatives and is an MCA a good idea.
Other options
Start with where to get business funding. Also see how much funding you can get, the fastest business funding and line of credit vs. MCA.
Sources
- SBA Form 1919: https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form-1919-borrower-information-form
- SBA Form 413: https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form-413-personal-financial-statement
- SBA 7(a) loans: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/7a-loans
- SBA Lender Match: https://www.sba.gov/loans/lender-match/
- IRS EIN: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/employer-identification-number
- Annual credit reports: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/
- FTC fraud reports: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/