Always begin your proposal with a cover letter or executive summary. Clearly and briefly explain who you are, your business background, the nature of your business, the amount and purpose of your loan request, your requested terms of repayment, how the funds will benefit your business, and how you will repay the loan. Keep this cover page simple and direct.

Many different loan proposal formats are possible. You may want to contact your commercial lender to determine which format is best for you. When writing your proposal, don't assume the reader is familiar with your industry or your individual business. Always include industry-specific details so your reader can understand how your particular business is run and what industry trends affect it.

Description of Business 
Provide a written description of your business, including the following information:

• Type of organization
• Date of information
• Location
• Product or service
• Brief history
• Proposed Future Operation
• Competition
• Customers
• Suppliers

Management Experience: Include résumés of each owner and key management members.

Personal Financial Statements: Financial statements should not be older than 90 days. Make certain that you attach a copy of last year's federal income tax return to the financial statement. 

Loan Repayment: Provide a brief written statement indicating how the loan will be repaid, including repayment sources and time requirements. Cash-flow schedules, budgets, and other appropriate information should support this statement.

Existing Business: Provide financial statements for at least the last three years, plus a current dated statement (no older than 90 days) including balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and a reconciliation of net worth. Aging of accounts payable and accounts receivables should be included, as well as a schedule of term debt. Other balance sheet items of significant value contained in the most recent statement should be explained.    

Proposed Business: Provide a pro-forma balance sheet reflecting sources and uses of both equity and borrowed funds.

Projections: Provide a projection of future operations for at least one year or until positive cash flow can be shown. Include earnings, expenses, and reasoning for these estimates. The projections should be in profit and loss format. Explain assumptions used if different from trend or industry standards and support your projected figures with clear, documentable explanations.

Other Items As They Apply: 

• Lease (copies of proposal)
• Franchise Agreement
• Purchase Agreement
• Articles of Incorporation
• Plans, Specifications
• Copies of Licenses
• Letters of Reference
• Letters of Intent
• Contracts
• Partnership Agreement

Collateral: List real property and other assets to be held as collateral. Few financial institutions will provide non-collateral based loans. All loans should have at least two identifiable sources of repayment. The first source is ordinarily cash flow generated from profitable operations of the business. The second source is usually collateral pledged to secure the loan.

References:
• Small Business Administration

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