Preparing Your Financial Statements and Tax Returns for Bank Financing

This in-person workshop covers how to prepare both your financial statements and tax returns to strengthen your application for business funding. Dijon, a finance broker, will discuss common mistakes business owners make when pursuing financing and what lenders typically look for when reviewing applications.

This workshop will cover how to account for and present:

• Profitability over the last two years – demonstrating consistent and promising returns
• Revenue growth – highlighting positive business direction
• Balance sheet preparation – required for underwriting
• Debt service coverage ratio – assessing loan repayment ability
• Use of funds – clearly outlining purpose and detail

Participants will have the opportunity to speak with Dijon at the end of the session, ask questions, and discuss their business in relation to potential funding opportunities.

Understanding how lenders evaluate financial information is essential for any business owner seeking capital. Even strong businesses can face challenges securing funding if financial documents are incomplete or not presented clearly. For example, a tax return that shows no profit and financials that show profit, while serving their individual purposes, need to be reconciled to qualify for funding at a bank. This workshop will help participants better understand these requirements and improve how they prepare and organize their financial information.