PROFITTHEORY

Loan package

Loan package: six steps to a bank-ready loan request

A loan package is the organized file a lender needs to make a credit decision: your numbers, documents and a clear story of how the loan gets repaid. We build it with you in six steps, then help you take it to lenders that fit. Profit Theory is not a lender; lenders decide.

Profit Theory, LLC is not a lender. Lenders and the SBA make all decisions; approval, rates and savings are never guaranteed. Educational only.

Not legal or tax advice. Talk with your attorney and tax advisor before you sign. As of November 2, 2026.

Key takeaways

The checks every package answers

DSCR = cash flow available for debt service ÷ annual debt payments

Equity injection % = owner cash into the deal ÷ total project cost

Funding gap = total uses − (loan + seller note + equity)

Many lenders look for a DSCR comfortably above 1.0×; each lender sets its own minimum.

Worked example (illustrative numbers)

An owner wants $600,000 to buy a competitor (illustrative):

  • Step 1 intake: purpose, amount, timeline and industry captured in one form.
  • Step 2 readiness check: adjusted cash flow $210,000 ÷ estimated debt payments $95,000 ≈ 2.2× DSCR.
  • Step 3 request list: 7(a) acquisition checklist issued — tax returns, interim financials, purchase agreement, debt schedule.
  • Step 4 upload: documents go to the lender's secure portal, never by email.
  • Step 5 package: summary, sources and uses, projections and owner résumés assembled.
  • Step 6 shop: package goes to lenders the owner approves; offers compared side by side.

Illustrative only. Real terms depend on the lender, the SBA and your file.

The six steps

Each step has a clear output, so you always know what is done and what is next.

  • 1. Intake — a short form: who you are, the loan type, amount, purpose and timeline.
  • 2. Readiness check — a financing specialist reviews cash flow, equity, credit factors and collateral to spot gaps early.
  • 3. Banker request list — a checklist tailored to SBA 7(a), 504, acquisition, equipment or working capital.
  • 4. Document upload — you gather documents; sensitive files go only through a lender's secure portal.
  • 5. Bank-ready package — summary, financials, projections and the loan story organized the way underwriters read.
  • 6. Shop lenders — with your approval, the package goes to lenders that fit your deal, and you compare offers.

What it does not do

A package does not guarantee approval, a rate or a timeline. Lenders and, for SBA loans, the SBA make every credit decision. We do not lend money and we do not sell business plans separately.

Official sources (checked November 2, 2026)

  • SBA program rules, caps and fees change; confirm current requirements with a lender and on sba.gov.
  • Document lists vary by lender; the request list here is a starting point, not a lender's final list.

Rates, caps and fees change. Check the official source before you rely on any figure: SBA: 7(a) loans (sba.gov).

Common questions

What is a loan package?

It is the organized set of financial statements, documents, projections and a written summary a lender uses to underwrite your loan request.

How long does it take to build?

It depends mostly on how quickly documents are gathered. Organized owners can move in days; files missing statements take longer.

Do I need a package for an SBA loan?

Every SBA lender needs the same core information. A complete, organized package helps the lender review faster, but the lender still decides.

Does a package guarantee approval?

No. Lenders and the SBA make all decisions. A package makes your request clear and complete; it cannot change your numbers.

Will you share my file with lenders without asking?

No. Nothing is shared until you approve a specific named lender.

Want a second set of eyes on your deal?

A financing specialist can review your numbers, structure and documents and help prepare a lender-ready package.

Request a package review

Estimates only. Results vary. No guarantee of approval, rates or savings.

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