Step 1: Confirm Qualification
- California-registered operating business
- 6+ months in business
- $10K+ monthly revenue (verifiable in bank statements)
- FICO 500+ preferred
- No active bankruptcy
Step 2: Pick the Right Product
- Need money fast → Working capital / MCA
- Buying equipment → Equipment financing
- Ongoing cash needs → Line of credit
- Largest amount, lowest rate → SBA 7(a)
- Bad credit or new business → Revenue-based financing
- Real estate → Commercial real estate loan
Step 3: Gather Documents
- 3 months business bank statements (PDF)
- Driver license
- Voided check
- 5-min application
No tax returns, no business plan, no collateral.
Step 4: Apply Sequentially
One direct lender at a time. Stacking creates underwriting noise and hurts approval odds.
Step 5: Demand Total Dollar Cost
Reject any lender refusing to disclose total dollar cost upfront.
Step 6: Use Funds, Refinance
Deploy capital toward measurable ROI. After 6-12 months clean repayment, refinance into better terms.