What Information Is Needed to Submit a Business Financing Referral?
Partners often delay an introduction while they gather paperwork the brokerage would collect anyway. In practice the threshold for a useful submission is low, and over-collecting creates data-handling risk for the partner.
Short Answer
The minimum is the business name, a contact name, a phone number or email, and one line on what the money is for. Anything beyond that is optional and only speeds things up: approximate monthly revenue, time in business, industry, amount sought, and whether existing advances or loans are in place. Recent business bank statements are the single most useful document. Partners should not collect Social Security numbers, full bank credentials, or card details.
The minimum viable submission
- Legal or operating business name.
- Owner or decision-maker name.
- A phone number or an email address — one is enough.
- One sentence on the objective: equipment, payroll gap, expansion, consolidating existing advances.
- Confirmation that the owner knows the introduction is being made.
Do not wait for a perfect file
An introduction with a name and a phone number is workable. A file held for three weeks while documents are chased usually goes cold.
What genuinely accelerates a file
| Detail | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Approximate monthly revenue | Determines which product categories are realistic at all |
| Time in business | Several structures have minimum-history thresholds |
| Industry | Some sectors are restricted by certain providers |
| Amount sought and urgency | Separates a working-capital need from a term-debt need |
| Existing advances or loans | Position and stacking materially change the options |
| Recent business bank statements | The most requested document across nearly every structure |
What a partner should not collect
- Social Security numbers or dates of birth.
- Online banking usernames, passwords, or verification codes.
- Debit or credit card numbers.
- Signed authorizations on behalf of the owner.
Anything sensitive should be provided by the business owner directly through the secure intake, not passed through a partner's inbox or phone. This protects the owner and keeps the partner out of the chain of custody for sensitive data.
How to submit
Affiliate and referral partners are issued a partner link or referral code, which attributes the introduction automatically. Partners who have not finished onboarding can still submit a deal — submission is not approval into the partner program, and the team follows up to complete onboarding separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need bank statements before submitting?
- No. They help, but a submission without them is still workable — the brokerage collects documentation directly from the business owner.
- What if I only have a phone number, not an email?
- That is enough. One reliable contact method is the requirement.
- Can I submit a business that was declined elsewhere?
- Yes. A decline by one provider is not a decline everywhere — different providers weigh revenue, history, and credit differently. No outcome is promised.
Key Takeaways
- Business name, contact name, one contact method, and the objective is enough to submit.
- Revenue, time in business, and existing advances are the highest-value optional details.
- Recent business bank statements speed up almost every structure.
- Never collect SSNs, banking credentials, or card details as a partner.
Programs That May Fit
Interested in partnering with First Capital?
First Capital Funding works with referral partners, affiliates, and ISO partners who introduce businesses seeking commercial financing. Terms are provided in writing during onboarding, and compensation is contingent on a transaction funding. No earnings or approvals are promised.
Related Questions
This information is educational and is not legal, tax, or licensing advice. First Capital Funding is an independent commercial finance brokerage and business consulting firm; it does not issue loans. Partner terms, compensation, and eligibility are set out in a written partner agreement provided during onboarding. Nothing here promises earnings, approvals, or funding outcomes. Licensing requirements for referral activity vary by state and by the professional license you hold — confirm your own obligations before referring.
Educational information only. This page is general commercial-finance education and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. First Capital Funding is an independent commercial finance brokerage and business consulting firm; it does not issue loans or advances. All financing is subject to approval by independent third-party funding and lending providers, and program availability, pricing, and qualification requirements vary by provider and applicant profile.