Where "startup" ends
We ask for about three months of business bank statements. A business that has been open for a quarter and takes in deposits has something to show. A business that has not opened yet does not, and no application can replace that. If you are still before opening day, the best use of your time is building the account history, not shopping for money.
We do not require tax returns, FICO 500 and above is considered, the credit pull is soft, and sole proprietors can apply. Funding runs from $25,000 to $5,000,000 and can be funded in as little as 24 hours once approved. We do not set a minimum revenue figure in this page.
What new businesses in Bakersfield tend to be
- Support businesses for farm and energy. Bakersfield is a hub for agriculture and energy production, so supply, repair, hauling-adjacent services and field-support work is a natural start.
- Food and distribution. The city has food processing and a growing distribution sector, which opens room for small processors, specialty producers and local delivery.
- Consumer services. As a county seat with a metro area of 909,235 people, there is steady demand for restaurants, salons, auto and home services.
The first ninety days of cash
The danger for a new business is rarely the first month; it is the third and fourth, when early savings are spent and revenue has not yet stabilized. Map that period before you apply.
- List every cost you must pay in the first 120 days, including deposits and licenses.
- List the revenue you can reasonably expect, using your own contracts or orders, not a market study.
- Find the lowest point of cumulative cash. That number, plus a cushion, is the real size of your need.
What to avoid
Do not apply for more than the plan needs. Do not mix personal and business spending, which makes statements hard to read. Do not take funding to cover a business whose costs are higher than sales. For other starting points, see working capital and equipment financing.
A first-year example, for illustration only
A new two-person refrigeration repair company in Bakersfield opens with a used van. Month one brings a few calls, month two brings regular customers from word of mouth, and month three brings a contract with a small food processor. The owner needs parts inventory ahead of that contract and a second technician. Round figures are used only to show the order of events: spend in month three, collect in month four or five. That is the type of timing gap short-term funding can bridge, and it can only be justified when the contract is in hand.
More local context
The Kern County page and the Bakersfield overview show how the other products fit together.