Guide 4 min read

What Documents Do You Actually Need to Apply for Business Funding?

No guesswork, no back-and-forth. Here's the exact checklist, so you can gather everything once and apply with a complete file the first time.

TL;DR

Core requirement: last 3–6 months of business bank statements (PDF, not screenshots)
Basic business info: EIN, business formation docs, time in business
ID: driver's license or passport for the owner(s)
For larger or asset-backed requests: tax returns, financial statements, collateral details
Have it all ready? → You can typically apply in under 10 minutes.

1The core document: bank statements

This is the single most important item for revenue-based products. Most lenders want your last 3–6 months of business bank statements, downloaded directly as PDFs from your bank's online portal, not screenshots or photos, since those slow down verification.

💡 Tip: Log into your bank's website, go to statements or documents, and download each month directly. It takes about 5 minutes and avoids delays later.

2Basic business information

Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Business formation documents (Articles of Incorporation/Organization)
Business address and time in business
Industry/business type

Most of this is information you already know off the top of your head, no digging required.

3Identification

A government-issued driver's license or passport for the business owner(s), used to verify identity as part of standard compliance. If there are multiple owners with significant equity, each may need to provide this.

4What larger or asset-backed requests may also need

📌 The bigger and more collateral-dependent the request, the more documentation supports a stronger, faster approval.

Last 1–2 years of business tax returns
Profit & loss statement and balance sheet
Details on collateral, equipment, inventory, receivables, or property, being offered
Existing debt schedule, if you carry other financing

For a full breakdown of how collateral changes the process, see asset-based lending 101.

5What slows an application down

⚠️ Heads up: Partial statements, missing months, or screenshots instead of PDFs are the most common reasons a fast application turns into a slow one. Complete files move faster, every time.

6Quick-reference checklist

Document	Needed for
3–6 months bank statements (PDF)	All applications
EIN + formation docs	All applications
Owner ID	All applications
Tax returns (1–2 years)	Larger requests, term loans
P&L and balance sheet	Larger or asset-backed requests
Collateral details	Asset-backed requests only

Now that you have your file ready, see what actually happens after you submit.

Have your statements ready?

Submit them and we'll walk your file through underwriting, usually with an answer the same day.

Start Your Application