Start with what funders see
Our review is based on about three months of business bank statements. That means we need a business with a bank account that shows actual deposits and expenses. A business that has not opened yet, or has no activity, has nothing for a statement-based review to read. A business that is a few months in, with real deposits, can apply. We fund $25,000 to $5,000,000, consider FICO 500 and above, and sole proprietors can apply.
Why Ontario is a reasonable place to start
Ontario sits 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and 23 miles west of downtown San Bernardino, according to Wikipedia, and has Ontario International Airport. Wikipedia reports a population of 175,265 in 2020. A startup here can serve local households and also trade with the logistics, retail and service activity that follows a transport hub close to both Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
A startup's first six months in cash terms
| Stage | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Costs go out; deposits barely begin | Open a business account and run everything through it |
| Months 2-3 | Deposits establish a pattern | Keep statements clean; separate personal spending |
| Months 3-6 | A first real gap appears: stock, a hire, equipment | Apply with three months of statements and a clear use |
For illustration only: an owner who needs $30,000 for a second vehicle, with $12,000 of monthly deposits for three months, has something concrete to show. Round numbers, not our terms.
Which product fits a young business
Many startups look first at working capital for stock and payroll, or at equipment financing when the first big purchase is a machine or a vehicle. A line of credit can come later when the draws are repeated. Be wary of stacking advances early; see merchant cash advance for how daily repayment works and MCA relief if it has gone wrong.
Mistakes new owners make with funding
- Mixing personal and business spending, which muddies the statements a review depends on.
- Asking for far more than the gap, which makes the repayment harder on thin early revenue.
- Stacking short-term products in the first year, so that withdrawals leave nothing for growth.
- Waiting for a perfect month, instead of showing a real one with a note explaining the dips.
What a first application looks like
A first application is usually short: what the business does, how long the account has been active, what you need the money for, and about three months of statements. Say plainly what the money buys and what it should bring in. A new owner who can write two sentences on that has already done most of the work.
Apply
The application takes 5 minutes, uses a soft credit pull and does not require tax returns. Apply here once you have about three months of business statements. Regional pages: Inland Empire business funding.