Business Loan Petaluma, California

Local Petaluma Banks

To assist you in finding a small business banker, here's our list of small business banks in Petaluma.

Other Lending Resources for Petaluma Businesses

This is a list of banks outside of Petaluma, California that have provided SBA loans to Petaluma businesses. Some of these may be national banks with local branch locations.

Tips for Getting a Business Loan in Petaluma

Before meeting with banks for a loan, you will need to develop the specifics of your loan request.

You need to be able to clearly introduce your business to the banker, explain how much you want to borrow, describe what the money will finance, and show how you plan to pay the money back to the bank.

A well-defined business plan is an important prerequisite. If the money is to for a company that is already doing business, you should also have financial statements covering the last three years. Bankers will also want to know what collateral you have available to guarantee the loan. Collateral is relevant because banks always want to be prepared for a worst-case scenario in which cash flow from the business does not meet your projections.

If the business has few assets, you will likely be asked to pledge your personal assets, such as your individual retirement account or pension plan. The banks will check on your personal credit history in any case, so hopefully you have good credit history -- you may want to get a copy of your credit history prior to meeting with the banker.

Many of the banks in our list are SBA lenders. Prior to visiting local banks, you may want to read up on on SBA loans programs to see if you qualify. SBA 7(a) loans, SBA 504 loans and SBA disaster assistance loans may be available to you.

Gaebler.com Advice on Raising Money

If you are planning on Raising Money, you need to educate yourself. If you haven't read it already, we recommend you review 504 Loans.