Grayson emphasizes three key factors that lenders prioritize before making lending decisions: Ability to repay the loan, the need for the money and how it will assist with a critical business need or growth, and the business and business owner’s overall creditworthiness.

“The number of employees the business has, or the amount of gross revenue (revenue received before expenses) doesn’t matter as much as the net income of the business (revenue after expenses) and the amount of time a business has been in operation,” Grayson says. “The higher the net income of the business and the longer the business has been in operation, the more financing options the business will have, and the more favorable terms will be available.”