Open with the ask
State the amount, the structure, the term and the purpose in the first paragraph. Credit teams read dozens of requests a week and reward clarity immediately.
Vague opening statements about growth ambitions invite scepticism. A precise ask invites analysis.
Use of funds and repayment source
Break the amount into components: stock purchase, equipment, working capital headroom, professional fees. Then state plainly where repayment comes from, whether that is trading cash, customer receipts, asset generated income or a refinance event.
If two repayment sources exist, name the primary one and treat the second as support rather than presenting both as equally likely.
The business and the people
Two pages is enough: what the business sells, to whom, in which markets, with which competitive position, and who runs it. Include tenure and relevant track record for the senior team.
Where there has been a loss, a restructuring or a covenant breach, explain it here rather than leaving it to be discovered in the accounts.
Security and structure
Set out the assets available, existing charges, and any inter company or group considerations. Where personal guarantees are on the table, say what you are prepared to offer rather than waiting to be asked.
This section resolves the question that otherwise generates the longest email chain in the process.
The supporting pack
Attach two years of statutory accounts, year to date management accounts, aged debtors and creditors, six months of bank statements, the cash flow forecast and any contracts or valuations that support the case.
Send it complete. Fragmented information is the most common self inflicted delay in the whole process.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a proposal be?
Six to ten pages of narrative with the financial pack attached. Longer documents are skimmed, shorter ones raise questions.
Should I approach several lenders with the same pack?
Yes. One well prepared pack sent to a shortlist creates comparable offers and competitive tension.
Can you prepare the proposal?
We structure the request and write the presentation before approaching providers, and there are no upfront fees.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-20