When applying for a loan or some form of business credit, lenders tend to focus on five primary factors—what are known as the five c's of credit. So what exactly are these 5 C's…Keep reading to find out more.
Capital
In simplest terms, your capital is your net worth. When it comes to the five c's of credit however, capital involves the money you have to put down on a commercial loan. Kind of like a down payment on a mortgage, the capital represents your down payment. The more you have to put toward the loan, the better the lender will be to consider financing you.
Collateral
When applying for a business loan you may be required to pledge certain assets. If then you default or fail to pay, the lender has the right to seize such assets. Loans that are backed by collateral are considered secured loans—again, this equates to less risk for the lender, so if you can show that you have collateral, you have a better chance of receiving the loan.
Character
There is no hard and fast formula for assessing character. But lenders will check out things such as company history, reviews, transparency. Ultimately, they want to know they're going into business with a credible and trustworthy company. They will also take into consideration here factors such as FICO, any past liens and/or judgments, as well as years in business.
Conditions
This has to do with the loan itself; in other words, it looks at the amount financed, interest rate and duration of repayment. Essentially, the lender is evaluating your ability to repay given the terms of the actual loan in question.
Capacity
In terms of your capacity to repay, you want to take a close look and honestly decide whether or not your business is in a position to take on a loan. Check out your debt-to-income ratio. Given the current amount of debt you have, can your company tolerate even more? Again, be honest in your assessment.
First Union Lending is in the business of helping small companies get the funds they need for whatever project they may have in mind. Call today and let's get started!