Trueleaf Finance, a small-business funding service in Saginaw, Michigan, explains each step of a funding request here: the first call or form, the documents partners may ask for, how a partner reviews and decides, and what affects how long approval takes. It also sets out plainly who makes the credit decision and what Trueleaf does and does not do.
First, Name the Bill
Call (989) 265-5907, or use the online request form. The form asks for your full name, phone, email, company name if you have one, and three picks: time in business, an annual revenue range and a requested amount range. On the call that follows we ask what the money pays for, when it is due and roughly how much, then say which structures fit.
Second, Documents Needed for a Business Loan
Partners read different records for different structures, so we ask only for what the likely partner needs. A typical list:
- Business bank statements for recent months
- The most recent business tax return, and earlier years if a partner asks
- A profit-and-loss statement covering this year to date
- A schedule of existing loans, leases and advances
- Quotes or invoices for equipment, inventory or a project
- For an acquisition, the purchase agreement and the seller's records
A partner may also ask for a government-issued ID and basic ownership information.
Third, a Partner's Review and Decision
Trueleaf Finance is a broker, not a lender. It does not lend money, approve requests or set terms. We send your file to funding partners whose programs fit the purpose; each partner reviews it and makes its own decision. A partner may approve, offer different terms, ask for more records or decline. Trueleaf Finance connects you with lending partners; partners make credit decisions and set rates and terms.
Fourth, Your Comparison and Your Call
If an offer arrives, read the total amount repaid, the payment schedule, any fees, collateral, any personal-guarantee clauses and what happens if you pay early. Ask questions before signing. Turning down every offer is always an option.
Time to a Business Loan Approval Depends on the File
It depends on the partner, the structure, the amount and how quickly records arrive. An equipment request with a clean quote leaves less to gather than an acquisition that needs the seller's records. We do not quote timeframes, because the partner controls the review. The part you control is having the documents ready: a complete file leaves less to chase.
Applying for a Business Loan Takes Minutes; Gathering Records Takes Longer
The form is short: contact details and three picks. The first call can cover the purpose and the records in one conversation. Gathering statements and returns can take longer than the form, so it helps to download them before you call.
Business Loans From a Bank Run on the Bank's Own Clock
Banks and credit unions set their own timelines and requirements, and they vary widely. An owner can apply to their own bank and, separately, ask Trueleaf about other structures. Nothing here prevents you from doing both.
Compare the structures on the funding options page, read the short answers, start with working capital if the need is a payroll gap, or see Saginaw County business data.
By Trueleaf Finance · Updated
