One of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make is applying for business funding before their profile is actually ready. They get denied, take hard inquiry hits on their credit, and wonder what went wrong. This checklist exists to prevent that. Before you apply for any kind of business funding go through this list first. The more boxes you can check off the better your chances of getting approved. Personal Credit: ☐ Personal credit score of 680 or above ☐ Credit utilization below 30% across all accounts ☐ No late payments in the last 12 months ☐ No recent collections or charge-offs ☐ No excessive hard inquiries in the last 6 months ☐ No bankruptcies or public records open Business Setup: ☐ Active LLC or business entity registered in your state ☐ EIN registered with the IRS ☐ Business bank account open for at least 3 months ☐ Business address on file — not a PO box ☐ Business phone number and email set up ☐ Business listed on Google and other directories Financial Profile: ☐ Some proof of income or business revenue ☐ Business bank account showing consistent deposits ☐ No negative banking history or overdrafts Business Credit: ☐ At least one net-30 vendor account reporting ☐ No negative marks on business credit reports ☐ Business credit profile established with Dun and Bradstreet, Experian Business, and Equifax Business Why this matters: Lenders do not just look at your credit score. They look at the full picture your personal credit, your business structure, your banking history, and your business credit profile. If any of these areas are weak your application is at risk even if your score looks decent. The good news is every single item on this list can be worked on. That is exactly what Funding to Freedom is here to help you do. If you went through this list and realized you have some gaps comment FUNDING below and we will help you figure out where to focus first.