Lending
Preparing for an SBA business valuation: a practical checklist
Closing timelines are tight. Having the right documents ready can shave weeks off the process.
By [Founder name], Ph.D. 4 min read
When an SBA loan involves a change of ownership, the lender usually needs an independent business valuation. Lenders run on closing timelines, so the faster we have complete information, the faster you get a report.
Financial documents
- Three years of business federal tax returns
- Three years of profit & loss statements and balance sheets
- Year-to-date interim financials
- Accounts receivable and payable aging (if applicable)
Deal documents
- Letter of intent or purchase agreement
- Allocation of purchase price, if available
- Any seller financing or earn-out terms
Operating documents
- Premises lease or deed
- Franchise or supply agreements
- Equipment list and inventory summary
- Industry-specific reports (e.g. STR reports for hotels, fuel volume reports for stations)
Tips
- Send everything through a secure upload, never by unencrypted email.
- Flag anything unusual upfront: a one-time expense, a lost customer, a pending lawsuit.
- Give the valuer your lender's contact details so questions can be resolved directly.