Loan & Financial Readiness Cohort Application (Spring 2026)

  • Loan & Financial Readiness Cohort Application (Spring)

  • The Loan & Financial Readiness Cohort Application is a 7-week program designed to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools to become loan-ready. Participants will learn to navigate the lending process, strengthen financial capacity, and prepare lender-ready materials to confidently pursue and secure capital.

    Please complete this application carefully. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

    Deadline to submit your application: Tuesday, April 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST

     

    Program Start Date: May 12, 2026

  • Guidelines, Criteria, and Terms & Conditions

     

    Eligibility Criteria


    Applicants must meet all the following requirements:

    Business must be based and registered in the United States.

    Business owners must be U.S. citizens or lawful residents of a U.S. state or territory and at least 18 years old.

    Business must be legally registered and operating (for-profit or nonprofit) for a minimum of one year and in good standing with the Secretary of State.

    The business must have generated at least $60,000 in revenue in the most recent fiscal year.

    Applicants must have filed federal taxes for the most recent IRS deadline, or if a new business, provide financial statements showing 6–12 months of operations.

    Applicants must maintain separate business and personal bank accounts, or be willing to open a business account before joining the program.

    Applicants should be actively considering applying for business financing within the next 3–6 months.

    Applicants must operate a business located in the United States in an eligible lending state. We do not currently lend in NV, ND, SD, DE, or VT.

     

    Program Guidelines
    Participants accepted into the loan & financial readiness cohort agree to the following:

    Commit fully to the program for the entire 7-week duration.

    Attend all scheduled sessions, workshops, and one-on-one coaching meetings.

    Complete assigned coursework and submit required business information on time.

    Actively participate in discussions, exercises, and peer learning sessions.

    Maintain confidentiality and respect the privacy of other participants.

    Provide accurate, updated business information and documentation as requested.

    Be open to feedback from instructors, coaches, and lending professionals.

    Failure to meet these expectations may affect eligibility to complete the program.


    Terms and Conditions

    Non-Discrimination: The loan & financial readiness cohort is open to all eligible applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

    No Guarantee of Funding: Participation in the cohort does not guarantee loan approval or financing. Loan decisions are made independently by our lending team or partner lenders based on their criteria.

    Program Commitment: Participants must actively engage in and complete all components of the program to gain the full benefit of the training and support provided.

    Confidentiality and Data Use: All participant information will be used solely for program administration, coaching, and evaluation purposes. Aggregate data may be used for reporting and improvement, but individual business information will remain confidential.

    Program Feedback: Participants may be asked to participate in surveys or interviews to help measure program outcomes and enhance future offerings.

    Right to Dismiss: The program team reserves the right to remove participants who fail to meet eligibility, attendance, or engagement expectations, or who exhibit disruptive behavior.

    Changes to Program: We reserve the right to modify session dates, schedules, or content if necessary and will notify participants of any changes in advance.

  • Section 1: Business Information

  • Legal Structure*
  • Industry Type (Select all that applies)*
  • What stage is your business currently in?*

  • Section 2: Owner Demographics

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Race/Ethnicity*
  • Gender*
  • Are you a U.S citizen or lawful resident?*
  • Are you at least 18 years old?*

  • Section 3: Business Financials

  • Is your business currently profitable?*
  • Have you filed your required business and personal Federal, State, and/or Sales & Use tax returns for the current year and the past two to three years (if applicable)?*
  • Are you current on your Federal, State, and Sales & Use tax obligations?*
  • Do you currently maintain a separate business bank account?*
  • How many business operating bank accounts do you have?*
  • Are you currently working with a bookkeeper and/or accountant?*
  • Can NCRC loan specialists and cohort counselors reach out to your bookkeeper and/or accountant during the cohort to assist with loan readiness and document preparation?*
  • Are you currently using any accounting software?*
  • Do you have access to a financial expert, either in-house or through an external advisor?*
  • Do you have readily available access to the following business documents, financial statements and reporting data?*
  • How much personal capital have you invested in the business so far?*

  • Section 4: Credit & Debt Profile

  • What is your approximate personal credit score range?*
  • Do you have business credit established?*
  • Have you or your business ever filed for bankruptcy?*
  • Are there any active legal proceedings against your organization?*
  • Are you more than 90 days delinquent on any existing loans?*
  • Are you prepared to provide the following documents if selected for the cohort?*

  • Section 5: Loan Readiness & Capital Goals

  • What do you plan to use the loan funds for?*
  • When do you realistically plan to apply for funding?*
  • Have you applied for a business loan or other financing before?*
  • Do you have business assets or personal collateral available to support the loan?*

  • Section 6: Program Fit & Commitment

  • Can you commit to attending all scheduled sessions?*
  • What days and times are you generally available to attend sessions?
  • How did you hear about this program?
  • Should be Empty: