Get Your Business Lender-Ready
Most loan applications fail not because the business isn't viable — but because the financials aren't presented the way lenders think. We fix that. Carrie spent years on the lender side — reviewing spreads, analyzing credits, and structuring SBA participation loans. She knows exactly what underwriters are looking for, because she used to be one. We've helped businesses across the Mountain West improve their DSCR, clean up their books, and walk into lender meetings with confidence.
Already been turned down by a bank?A rejection isn't the end — it's a diagnosis. Lenders decline applications for specific, fixable reasons: DSCR below threshold, inconsistent financials, missing documentation, or a weak business narrative. We've helped clients who were initially declined come back with a clean package and get funded. If you've been turned down, that conversation is exactly where we start.
This is structured preparation work — not general financial advice. You leave with lender-ready financials, a clear DSCR picture, and a package built the way underwriters actually evaluate it.
The Numbers Are Fine.
The Presentation Isn't.
A lender's underwriter doesn't see your business the way you do. They see a DSCR ratio, a debt schedule, and a set of financial statements. If those documents are inconsistent, incomplete, or formatted in a way that raises questions — the deal slows down or dies.
For self-employed borrowers, the problem is compounded. Your tax returns show the lowest possible income (because that's what your CPA optimized for), but lenders use tax return income to qualify you. The same strategy that saved you $40,000 in taxes may have cost you the loan.
We bridge that gap. We know what lenders want to see, how to present your financials in the strongest possible light within the rules, and how to structure the deal so it clears underwriting the first time.
Why We're Different
We've Reviewed Commercial Loans from the Lender's Side
Our principal has served as a contracted commercial loan analyst for a Montana community bank for over 10 years — spreading financials, building loan packages, and providing recommendations the bank president relies on. She has analyzed and packaged 300+ commercial loans and supports the bank through FDIC examinations and regulatory reviews.
Our principal has reviewed commercial loan packages from the lender's side. We know what gets approved because we've been the ones doing the analysis. When we prepare your loan package, we're not guessing at what the bank wants — we know.
Loan Readiness Services
Every engagement is scoped to your specific situation — whether you're 6 months out from a loan application or sitting across from a banker next week.
DSCR Improvement Planning
We analyze your current NOI, identify operating expense leaks, and model specific scenarios that move your DSCR above the 1.25x conventional threshold — or the 1.15x SBA floor. Every point of improvement is mapped to a concrete action.
Lender-Ready Financial Package
Banks and SBA lenders want clean, consistent financials — not a shoebox of receipts. We prepare your P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements in the format lenders actually use for underwriting, reducing back-and-forth and accelerating approval.
Commercial Loan Structuring
We help you understand the trade-offs between loan amount, down payment, amortization period, and balloon terms before you sit across from a banker. Knowing your numbers cold changes the dynamic of every lender conversation.
Residential & Owner-Occupied Financing
For business owners pursuing residential or owner-occupied commercial real estate, we prepare the self-employed income documentation lenders require — including two-year averages, add-backs, and Schedule C / K-1 analysis — to maximize your qualifying income.
Lender Relationship Navigation
We've worked with conventional banks, community lenders, SBA 7(a) and 504 programs, USDA business loans, and credit unions across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and the Mountain West. We know which lenders are active, what they're looking for, and how to position your deal.
Post-Approval Financial Infrastructure
Getting funded is the beginning, not the end. We set up the reporting systems, covenant tracking, and cash flow monitoring that keep you in compliance with loan covenants and positioned to refinance on favorable terms when the balloon comes due.
From Where You Are to Funded
Baseline Assessment
We run your current financials through the same DSCR and DTI analysis lenders use. You see exactly where you stand — and exactly what needs to move.
Gap Analysis & Action Plan
We identify the specific levers — expense reduction, revenue recognition, debt restructuring, or timing — that close the gap between your current position and lender thresholds.
Financial Package Preparation
We prepare and organize every document a lender will request: clean financial statements, tax return summaries, debt schedules, rent rolls (if applicable), and a business narrative that tells your story.
Lender Introduction & Support
We help you identify the right lender for your deal type, prepare you for the underwriting conversation, and stay available to answer lender questions throughout the process.
Know the Thresholds Before You Apply
Different loan programs have different qualification standards. Understanding which program fits your situation — and what your numbers need to look like — is the first step.
| Loan Program | Key Threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | DSCR ≥ 1.25 | Up to $5M. Most flexible use of proceeds. Requires personal guarantee. |
| SBA 504 | DSCR ≥ 1.15–1.25 | Fixed assets and real estate. Lower down payment. Two-lender structure. |
| Conventional Commercial | DSCR ≥ 1.25 | Faster than SBA. Shorter terms, higher rates. Strong borrower profile required. |
| USDA Business & Industry | DSCR ≥ 1.25 | Rural businesses. Competitive rates. Geographic restrictions apply. |
| Community Bank / Credit Union | DSCR ≥ 1.15 | Relationship-driven. More flexibility on structure. Slower process. |
| FHA / Conforming Residential | DTI ≤ 45% | Owner-occupied residential. Self-employed income documentation critical. |
Thresholds are general guidelines. Actual requirements vary by lender, deal size, collateral, and borrower profile. Consult a qualified advisor before making financing decisions.
Real Result
When the First CPA's Forecasts Failed, We Got the Loan.
A five-location auto body group needed a $7 million SBA loan to restructure debt across multiple entities. Their existing CPA had already tried — and the bank rejected the forecasts as not meeting SBA underwriting standards.
Carrie rebuilt the books from scratch, produced bank-grade multi-entity projections, and assembled the complete lender package. The loan closed. The group is now saving $20,000 per month in debt service.
“The bank had already rejected our CPA's forecasts. 406 rebuilt everything from scratch — the books, the projections, the whole package. The loan closed and we're saving $20,000 a month.”
Multi-Location Auto Body Group