Banks look carefully at borrowers, especially in the tough financial times, before they lend money. What bankers look for can be summarized in the following, termed the "4 C's of Credit":

·        Character
Character refers to the financial history of the borrower; that is, whet kind of "financial citizen" is this person or business? Character is most often determined by looking at the credit history, particularly as it is stated in the credit score (FICO score). Factors that will affect your credit score include:

·         Late payments

·         Delinquent accounts

·         Available credit

·         Total debt

The fewer the problems, the higher the credit score. A high personal credit score (over 700) may be the most important factor in getting a business loan.

·         Capacity
Capacity refers to the ability of the business to generate revenues in order to pay back the loan. Since a new business has no "track record" of profits, it is riskiest for a bank to consider. If you are buying a business, capacity is easier to determine, and a business that can show a positive cash flow (where income exceeds expenses) for a sustained period of time has a good chance of getting a business loan.

·         Capital
Capital refers to the capital assets of the business. Capital assets might include machinery and equipment for a manufacturing company, as well as product inventory, or store or restaurant fixtures. Banks consider capital, but with some hesitation, because if your business folds, they are left with assets that have depreciated and they must find someplace to sell these assets, at liquidation value. You can see why, to a bank, cash is the best asset.

·         Collateral
Collateral is the cash and assets a business owner pledges to secure a loan. In addition to having good credit, a proven ability to make money, and business assets, banks will often require an owner to pledge his or her own personal assets as security for the loan. Banks require collateral because they want the business owner to suffer if the business fails. If an owner didn't have to put up any personal assets, he or she might just walk away from the business failure and let the bank take what it can from the assets. Having collateral at risk makes the business owner more likely to work to keep the business going, as banks reason it.

So before you go for funding make sure your ducks are in a row!