Documents You Will Need to Apply for a Business Loan

Businesses require the right type of funding to progress and expand. There are various ways to avail financing for your business such as trade finance, credit for business expansion, working capital loans, etc. 

While the government has launched multiple initiatives to boost the MSME sector, lenders have also adopted a modern loan processing system. This has made availing of business loans hassle-free and seamless. 

The lender will approve the loan to eligible candidates only after the necessary verification and authentication of the required documents. This blog offers a detailed rundown of the crucial documents a business entity has to provide while applying for a loan. Let’s find out more about them!

Documents Required to Apply for a Business Loan

Regardless of the requirements of your business, you will have to provide a set of documents to the financial institution. The list of documents might vary depending on the lenders, the loan applicant type, the profile, and other major factors. 

These are 6 primary documents that you have to provide to the lending institution to get a loan for your business organisation: 

1. Identity Proof

As identity proof, you have to furnish any of the following: 

• Aadhaar card
• Voter’s ID card
• Driving licence
• PAN card
• Passport

You have to also provide the PAN card of the company or firm.

2. Address Proof

As proof of address, you can furnish any of these documents: 

• Passport
• Voter’s ID card
• Driving licence
• Aadhaar card

The lender may ask you to furnish these documents for both the company and all its owners. 

3. Income Proof

As income proof, you need to provide:

• The latest ITR filings denoting the computation of income
• Profit and loss account statement for the last 2 years
• Balance Sheet

Do note that these documents have to be certified or audited by a Chartered Accountant before you submit them.

4. Bank Statements

To avail of a loan for your business, you will also need to provide the previous 6 months’ bank statement for the company and as an individual, if required. 

5. Proof of Continuation of business

As proof of continuation, any of the following documents will suffice: 

• ITR
• Sales Tax Certificate
• Trade License 

6. Other Necessary Documents

Some of the other mandatory documents that financial institutions may require to approve a business loan are: 

• Certified Copy of Partnership Deed or Sole Proprietorship Declaration
• Board Resolution
• Certified true copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association as approved by Company Directors

In addition to this, the financial institution might ask for other documents. Please note that lenders may ask for other Documents Required for Specific Applicant Types

As mentioned earlier, the documents needed for business loan applications will vary for different applicant types. Let’s know the various other documents applicable to each type of applicant: 

1. Self-employed (Partnership Firms and Private Ltd. Co.)

If you are an owner of a private limited company or a partnership firm, you have to submit these particular documents for getting a business loan: 

• Proof of Identity for the Company: To provide proof of identity for the private company, you can provide any of the following documents – Income Tax return, Excise registration, Water or Electricity bill, Registration under Shops and Establishment Act or Memorandum and Articles of Association. 
• Proof of the Individual’s Identity: Proof of identity of the authorised signatories along with two directors of the firm has to be submitted. This should include the Managing Director. You can provide the Driving licence, Passport or PAN card, etc. 

2. Self-employed Non-professionals 

Self-employed non-professionals need to provide these specific documents for business loans: 

• Proof of individual identity
• Income tax returns for the past 3  years
• GST returns for 3 years
• Proof of identity of sole proprietorship
• Last 6 months’ bank statement 
• Copy of creditors statement and age-wise book-debt of last 3 months

3. Self-employed Professionals

As a self-employed professional, you have to submit these particular documents: 

• Identity Proof Document of Sole Proprietary: Driving licence or PAN card or Passport
• Residential Address Proof of the Sole Proprietor: Voter’s ID card or Ration card 
• ID Proof Document of the Sole Proprietorship: PAN card, IT returns, Water bill or Municipal Tax bill

Final Word

As a business owner looking for funding, you need to keep the above-mentioned documents handy. This will help to save your time, avoid unnecessary hassle and reduce the chances of loan rejection. 

Frequently Asked Questions