Stats show that most businesses, regardless of their size, have depended on a business loan at least once since they were established. Whether it was a temporary crisis caused by problems in cash flow management or investment in the modernisation and purchase of new equipment, each company had to turn to a bank for help.
The process of getting a loan is not very easy, and getting the first steps right is crucial. They include having a sensible idea about what you would do with the money and a realistic opportunity to achieve your goals, as well as being able to avoid mistakes that some companies have made.
That’s why we are going to have a look at three of the most common problems when it comes to applying for a loan.
What about the collaterals?
There’s no point in asking for a loan if you don’t have the collateral to cover it, since the bank would be reluctant to approve such a transaction. Depending on the number of years your company has been around and the collateral, the loan conditions may vary a lot, which is another thing you should take into consideration.
Make sure you’ve done your homework and correctly calculated whether the cash flow which passes through your company allows you to pay loan instalments in time and without any major negative impact on your business activities.
Not having enough collateral value is the first big mistake that you might make, since it nips the whole thing in the bud. So, think well and make sure you take everything into account.
Credit Score
Another element that your bank will definitely look into is your credit score, which means you need to check it before even submitting a loan request. Since financial institutions such as banks insist on very strict lending requirements and are interested in your business papers, any proof of missed or prolonged payments which might send a message that you are an unreliable borrower. Still, you might turn to companies that are more flexible when it comes to granting various types of loans for businesses.
The problem with being seen as potentially unreliable is that even the things that have little to do with your business may influence the bank’s decision. For example, if you’ve ever skipped a car loan payment, it’s bound to show in your file and you can only hope it won’t affect the bank’s decision too much. Having a less than perfect credit score is another mistake you might have already made. So, adjust your expectations accordingly.
Take everything into account
Apart from knowing the current state of affairs, you should also consider any other influence that has an impact on your business. For example, if you run a transportation company, your business results depend heavily on fuel, i.e. its price.
Each bank will analyse how external factors influence your business before deciding whether to grant you a loan. Based on a detailed analysis, they might offer you more or less favourable conditions. You need to be ready to accept the fact that even though every other aspect of your application might be flawless, such elements may jeopardise the outcome.
This is the third potential problem you need to be aware of in your quest for obtaining funds and many companies have failed to envisage problems that may come from outside.
Being aware of these and similar potential obstacles that might put a loan arrangement at risk is crucial, since you want the whole process to run as smoothly as possible. Not having your expectations adjusted to reality initially creates disappointment, which is soon followed by despair and panic. Such feelings always hinder objective decision making, which might be a huge problem for your company. So, if you want to prevent your company from getting into all sorts of troubles, make sure you don’t make these and similar mistakes.
