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Loan Readiness Navigator borrower fit memo for Borrower
Independence disclaimer: Independent educational tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by the SBA, any government agency, or any lender. SBA information is based on public guidance and should be verified against current SBA rules, forms, and lender policy.
Recommended review path: SBA Microloan / microlender
Status: Answer the questions to see whether SBA may be worth considering.
Funding amount screen: Not provided
Estimated project cost: Not entered (Not entered)
Borrower injection: Not provided
Use-of-funds budget: Not provided
Seller financing: Not provided
Purpose/stage: Not selected / Not selected
Business type: Not provided
Legal organization: Not provided
Credit score estimate: Not provided
Cash-flow status: Not provided
Calculated DSCR: Not calculated
SBA size screen: Not provided
SBA loan fit score: 1/100
Lender readiness score: 1/100
Snapshot confidence: Low (0 of 19 key readiness questions answered)
SBA loan route check status: Not SBA-ready until program blockers are fixed
SBA loan route check detail: The strongest available route is currently blocked; fix or disprove the listed blockers before any SBA loan discussion.
Potential SBA loan amount to discuss: Not entered
Recommended referral: SBDC/SCORE or resource partner first
Discussion note: Discussion estimate only. Not an approval, commitment, quote, eligibility determination, or SBA/lender decision.
SBA loan routes to check: None beyond current program comparison
Referral routes: SBDC/SCORE or resource partner first: Use this route when the borrower is not document-ready or still needs help clarifying the deal.
Rules last reviewed: August 2026
Input guardrails: Missing loan purpose: choose at least one use of funds before relying on the result.
Equity gap: No equity screen calculated
Likely lender discussion topics: Possible hard stop: None || The lender must verify: Missing loan purpose: choose at least one use of funds before relying on the result. | Funding amount range is missing; program limits and lender appetite cannot be fully screened. | For-profit status is unanswered and must be verified for SBA review. | U.S. location/operations is unanswered and must be verified for SBA review. | Operating/ready-to-operate status is unanswered and must be verified. | SBA size status is unknown; lender must verify NAICS size standard and affiliation. | Ownership, citizenship/national status, principal residence, entity formation, sanctions status, and SBA-required guarantors must be verified before SBA packaging. | Owner character/legal status is unknown and needs lender review. | Federal debt and tax status are unknown and should be checked. | Prior government financing/default history is unknown and should be checked. | Credit-elsewhere status is unknown; lender should document whether reasonable conventional credit is available. | Cash-flow status is unknown; repayment ability must be verified from financials. | Legal organization is unknown; lender should verify formation type and required entity documents. || Fixable before submission: Use of funds is not selected yet; program fit cannot be final until the need is clear. | Use of funds is not selected yet. || Lender policy question: None
Hard stops: None from this screen
Warnings: Use of funds is not selected yet; program fit cannot be final until the need is clear. | Funding amount range is missing; program limits and lender appetite cannot be fully screened. | For-profit status is unanswered and must be verified for SBA review. | U.S. location/operations is unanswered and must be verified for SBA review. | Operating/ready-to-operate status is unanswered and must be verified. | SBA size status is unknown; lender must verify NAICS size standard and affiliation. | Ownership, citizenship/national status, principal residence, entity formation, sanctions status, and SBA-required guarantors must be verified before SBA packaging. | Owner character/legal status is unknown and needs lender review. | Federal debt and tax status are unknown and should be checked. | Prior government financing/default history is unknown and should be checked. | Credit-elsewhere status is unknown; lender should document whether reasonable conventional credit is available. | Cash-flow status is unknown; repayment ability must be verified from financials. | Legal organization is unknown; lender should verify formation type and required entity documents.
Needs discovered: Cash-flow support is a key need. Verify financials, add-backs, projections, debt capacity, and whether the request should be reduced or restructured.
Project watchouts: None flagged from this screen
Action plan: Route borrower to an SBA microlender, CDFI, or technical-assistance partner for small-dollar capital and coaching. | Move to document collection after this readiness screen looks clear enough for lender review.
Important notes: Independent educational tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by the SBA, any government agency, or any lender. SBA information is based on public guidance and should be verified against current SBA rules, forms, and lender policy. | This is a fast independent loan-readiness screen, not a prequalification, quote, application, approval, denial, or lender decision. | For SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, personal guaranties may be required, especially for 20%+ owners. Optional repayment-capacity self-check Annual cash flow available for debt service Enter cash flow only if you know it from financials or projections. Leave blank if unknown.
How the SBA routes compare for this request Best general SBA loan route for many acquisitions, startups, expansions, equipment, working capital, refinance, and mixed-use requests.
Best for Broad business-purpose term financing when reasonable conventional credit is not available.
Blockers Use of funds is not selected yet. Fixes Choose a funding amount range to check program limits. Confirm whether the borrower can obtain reasonable conventional credit before SBA submission. Credit score estimate is missing; lender will need owner credit review before relying on this result. Cash-flow status is missing; lender needs repayment ability before SBA loan review. Best for fixed-asset projects where a bank and Certified Development Company can structure the project together.
Best for Owner-occupied real estate, construction, modernization, and long-life equipment.
Blockers Use of funds is not selected yet. 504 is mainly for major fixed assets, not general working capital, inventory, or most soft costs. Fixes Choose a funding amount range to check program limits. Review 7(a), SBA WCP/CAPLines, SBA Express, or Microloan for working capital/inventory needs. Confirm whether the borrower can obtain reasonable conventional credit before SBA submission. Credit score estimate is missing; lender will need owner credit review before relying on this result. Cash-flow status is missing; lender needs repayment ability before SBA loan review. 3 SBA WCP / CAPLines / Express Line Not a fit
1/100 Review when the borrower needs a reusable line instead of only a fixed term loan.
Best for Revolving working capital, receivables, inventory, contract, or seasonal needs.
Blockers Use of funds is not selected yet. Working-capital line products are not the clearest fit for this stated use of funds. Fixes Choose a funding amount range to check program limits. Use a term loan, 504 fixed-asset structure, equipment financing, acquisition financing, or microloan instead. Confirm whether the borrower can obtain reasonable conventional credit before SBA submission. Credit score estimate is missing; lender will need owner credit review before relying on this result. Cash-flow status is missing; lender needs repayment ability before SBA loan review. Good small-loan route when the request is not a true revolving line and fits lender credit policy.
Best for Smaller SBA term-loan requests up to the 7(a) Small screen.
Blockers Use of funds is not selected yet. Fixes Choose a funding amount range to check program limits. Confirm whether the borrower can obtain reasonable conventional credit before SBA submission. Credit score estimate is missing; lender will need owner credit review before relying on this result. Cash-flow status is missing; lender needs repayment ability before SBA loan review. A streamlined SBA-backed route for requests within the Express size screen, subject to lender credit policy.
Best for Smaller requests that may fit delegated SBA handling or a smaller revolving facility.
Blockers Use of funds is not selected yet. Fixes Choose a funding amount range to check program limits. Confirm whether the borrower can obtain reasonable conventional credit before SBA submission. Credit score estimate is missing; lender will need owner credit review before relying on this result. Cash-flow status is missing; lender needs repayment ability before SBA loan review. 6 SBA Microloan / microlender Not a fit
1/100 Good rescue route for small-dollar needs when the borrower needs coaching plus capital.
Best for Very small requests, startup support, hands-on technical assistance, and borrowers not ready for bank underwriting.
Blockers Use of funds is not selected yet. Fixes Choose a funding amount range to check program limits. Credit score estimate is missing; lender will need owner credit review before relying on this result. Cash-flow status is missing; lender needs repayment ability before SBA loan review. 7 SBA Export / International Trade Not a fit
1/100 Review Export Express, Export Working Capital, International Trade, or WCP when domestic financing misses the trade need.
Best for Exporters, cross-border sales, foreign receivables, trade expansion, and international working-capital needs.
Blockers Use of funds is not selected yet. Export-specific SBA routes need an export, international trade, or cross-border sales need. Fixes Choose a funding amount range to check program limits. If there is export or cross-border activity, identify whether the need is a term loan, revolving line, foreign receivable support, or trade expansion. Confirm whether the borrower can obtain reasonable conventional credit before SBA submission. Credit score estimate is missing; lender will need owner credit review before relying on this result. Cash-flow status is missing; lender needs repayment ability before SBA loan review. 8 SBA MARC / Manufacturing Capital Not a fit
1/100 Review when a manufacturer needs a revolving or flexible working-capital path in addition to 7(a) or 504 options.
Best for Manufacturers with working-capital, inventory, order, project, or flexible line needs.
Blockers Use of funds is not selected yet. MARC/manufacturing routing requires the borrower to be an eligible manufacturing business. Fixes Choose a funding amount range to check program limits. If the business is in manufacturing, confirm NAICS/manufacturing status and working-capital need with the lender. MARC is most useful when the manufacturer needs working capital or a flexible line; fixed assets may point to 504 or 7(a). Confirm whether the borrower can obtain reasonable conventional credit before SBA submission. Credit score estimate is missing; lender will need owner credit review before relying on this result. Cash-flow status is missing; lender needs repayment ability before SBA loan review. Possible hard stops — ask about these first No SBA hard stops from this screen.
Items a lender will verify Use of funds is not selected yet; program fit cannot be final until the need is clear. Funding amount range is missing; program limits and lender appetite cannot be fully screened. For-profit status is unanswered and must be verified for SBA review. U.S. location/operations is unanswered and must be verified for SBA review. Operating/ready-to-operate status is unanswered and must be verified. SBA size status is unknown; lender must verify NAICS size standard and affiliation. Ownership, citizenship/national status, principal residence, entity formation, sanctions status, and SBA-required guarantors must be verified before SBA packaging. Owner character/legal status is unknown and needs lender review. Federal debt and tax status are unknown and should be checked. Prior government financing/default history is unknown and should be checked. Credit-elsewhere status is unknown; lender should document whether reasonable conventional credit is available. Cash-flow status is unknown; repayment ability must be verified from financials. Legal organization is unknown; lender should verify formation type and required entity documents. Needs your answers surfaced Cash-flow support is a key need. Verify financials, add-backs, projections, debt capacity, and whether the request should be reduced or restructured. Solutions to ask a lender about Primary route to explore: SBA Microloan / microlender, subject to lender/SBA review. Document solution: if an SBA loan still looks worth considering, collect the checklist items below; missing or unreviewed documents mean this is not a prequalification result. Questions a lender may ask you What exact problem will the loan solve, and what happens if the borrower receives less than requested? Has a bank already offered conventional credit? If yes, what terms were offered and why are they not enough? What is the source of borrower injection, and will the borrower still have liquidity after closing? Do the sources and uses balance: exact loan amount, owner cash, seller financing if any, purchase price, buildout, equipment, inventory, working capital, soft costs, and reserves? What is the exact legal organization, ownership, EIN/tax setup, and authority to borrow? Which documents from the checklist are already available, and who will collect the rest?