Consultancy Services

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As a lender for business and property, key questions for borrowers include:

• Business background: What does your business do, and how long have you been operating? Who are your key customers and suppliers?
• Business Plan: A comprehensive plan outlining the business model, growth strategies, and how the loan will be utilised.
• Experience and Track Record: Demonstrated expertise and a successful track record in the relevant industry or sector. Track record of similar developments or activities. 
• Financials: Can you provide recent accounts, cash flow statements, forecasts, full cost breakdown and funding structure. Detailed and audited financial records showing stable income, profitability, and sound cash flow.
• Debt-to-Income Ratio: Low levels of existing debt in relation to income, indicating the borrower can manage additional repayments.
• Obligations: What existing debts or financial obligations does your business have?
• Loan purpose: Is the loan for working capital, expansion, or property acquisition?
• Project details – location, type of development, planning permissions, and expected timelines.
• Property details: Where is the property located, and what is its current use and market value?
• Market analysis – evidence of demand, valuation reports, and potential risks.
• Security: What collateral can you offer, and is there existing debt on it? Personal guarantees?
• Collateral: Assets to secure the loan, such as property, equipment, or accounts receivable.
• Repayment plan: How do you plan to service the loan?
• Legal and Compliance Documents: Proof of legal standing, such as business licences, tax filings, and compliance with industry regulations.
• Credit history: Do you have any outstanding loans or adverse credit events.
• Creditworthiness: A strong credit history and high credit score to demonstrate financial reliability.
• Exit strategy: If the loan is short-term or bridging, what is your plan for full repayment?
• For Developers: They may also request planning documents, builder contracts, and proof of insurance before approval.
• Covenants: Agreement to certain conditions, like maintaining specific financial ratios or restrictions on additional borrowing.

These give insight into risk, repayment ability, and asset value.

In order to properly assess the case to see what can be offered, we will require our enclosed forms to be completed and returned.

Typically we would like to get an understanding of:

• The deal - type, size, location, costs.
• What the net profit margin is - JV we like to work with 25% net as a minimum.
• Would you profit share if you cannot input enough capital? If so, how much would you offer?
• The experience of the developer with a CV showing similar projects to the one that funding is required.
• The amount of 'cash' deposit that can be submitted - If you have sufficient funds we can avoid profit sharing.
• Is a Site plan or Schedule of Works available?
• Has Planning been granted?
• If a Day 1 Loan is required?
• Exit / how the loan will be paid back.

• Borrowers CV & list of previous completed projects
• Confirmation of how much cash the borrower can put in the project (skin in the game).
• Copy Planning Permission.
• Development Appraisal.
• Comment from an estate agent concerning the end valuation of the properties.
• Copy drawings for site layout.
• Exit strategy refined (details of selling agent and amount or details of refinance lender and their reasoning).
• Security details – Historic valuation reports preferred or full spec of the asset i.e. amount of bedrooms, bathrooms, total square footage etc (details and copies of any tenancies where applicable.) Links to asset or sales particulars welcomed.

• How fresh is the deal?
• Have you approached any other lenders and if so who?
• Has this project been previously declined and if so for what reason (s)?
• Are other brokers working on this opportunity?
• Also it would be good to understand if and what the main challenge has been for getting terms agreed. E.g. Rates, Speed, Term etc.