Amazon has quickly become the go-to platform for entrepreneurs looking to start an online retail business – and many serious FBA sellers put a huge focus towards securing Amazon FBA loans and financing to grow their operation.
With Amazon handling much of the logistical burden of warehousing & fulfillment, this convenience comes at a cost – and many new businesses find themselves overwhelmed by the upfront investment required to get started (along with funding growth at a fast rate, while maintaining steady cash flow).
Fortunately, there are a number of funding options available to help cover the costs of starting an Amazon FBA business. Loans and lines of credit can provide the capital needed to purchase inventory – along with Amazon offering its own financing program for eligible sellers. By taking advantage of these financing options, you can ease the financial burden of growing & scaling an ecommerce business.
In this article, we’ll cover the requirements and steps to secure Amazon FBA loans and financing. Use this outline to skip to any section of this page:
- Requirements
- Financing and loan options
- Steps to prepare
Financial records
Before approaching any potential investors, you need to have your financials in order. This means creating accurate records of your income and expenses, as well as preparing projections for future growth.
Having this information will give you a much better chance of securing the funds you need to grow your Amazon FBA business – along with helping you to negotiate better terms with lenders or investors (as they will have a clear understanding of your financial situation). So if you’re serious about growing your online retail store, take the time to get your financial records in order. It will pay off in the long run.
Tax returns
In addition to financial statements, you may also need to show tax returns – since they’re often used by lenders to evaluate your overall financial standing. By having your tax returns in order, you’ll be able to demonstrate your financial history and show that you’re a responsible business owner (and keep in mind – lenders may also want to review your personal tax returns, so it’s important to make sure you have these up-to-date as well).
If you’re like many Amazon sellers who don’t know how to prepare their tax returns, there are many resources available online or you can speak to an accountant. Taking the time to get your finances in order before applying will help increase your chances of being approved.
Credit score + history
As we all know, your credit score and history will have a sizable impact on your funding options. A good credit score opens up opportunities for securing funding, financing, and loans for your Amazon FBA business. A strong credit history demonstrates to potential lenders that you’re a responsible borrower who is likely to repay any money they lend you.
At minimum, you typically need a score of 60 out of 100 to receive favorable terms. For a personal credit score, you need at least 650 – and ideally between 700-850.
Lenders use your credit score and credit history to determine whether or not to approve your loan application and how much interest to charge you. As you already know, a high credit score means you’re a low-risk borrower – which can result in a lower interest rate on your loan. A low credit score could lead to a higher interest rate and could make it more difficult to get approved for a loan.
If you’re dealing with a low credit score and poor credit history, you can improve it by paying your bills on time, maintaining a good credit utilization ratio, establishing credit accounts with suppliers and limiting the number of hard inquiries on your credit report. By showing lenders that you & your business are responsible borrowers, you’ll be more likely to get approved for the funding you need to grow your FBA store.
Bank statements
Your bank statements can tell lenders a lot about your business – including how much money you’re making and how well-managed your finances are. By taking the time to prepare your statements in advance, you can make sure that you’re presenting your business in the best possible light.
There are a few key factors to keep in mind when preparing your bank statements for financing:
- Make sure that all of your transactions are accurately reflected. This means going through your statements line by line to ensure that there are no errors or discrepancies.
- Put together a brief explanation of any large or unusual transactions. Lenders will want to understand what these transactions were for, and how they fit into your overall business plan.
- Ensure your statements are organized and easy to read. Lenders will appreciate being able to see a clear picture of your business finances, and this will increase the chances of receiving approval and favorable terms.
Profit/loss reports
Your profit and loss (P&L) reports help outline your business’s income, expenses, and profits over a certain period of time – typically on a monthly or yearly basis. Lenders will want to see your P&L report in order to get an understanding of your business’s financial health and viability. Having a P&L report can also help you to identify areas where your business may be struggling – so that you can make necessary changes. If you’re looking to finance your ecommerce business on a low interest rate, make sure you have a strong P&L report to show potential lenders.
Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)
As any Amazon entrepreneur knows, obtaining financing or loans for your business can be essential for growth. However, in order to qualify for financing, you may need to have a good Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR).
The DSCR is a measure of a company’s ability to repay its debt obligations from its operating income. A DSCR of 1.0 or higher is generally considered to be good, and a DSCR of 2.0 or higher is considered to be excellent. Therefore, if you are hoping to obtain financing for your Amazon business, put some focus on developing a strong DSCR.
Is your DSCR low? One way to improve your ratio includes boosting your operating income and lowering your debt obligations. By upping your DSCR, you can increase your chances of qualifying for the financing you need to grow your Amazon business.
Amazon FBA business plan
If you’re just launching your Amazon FBA operation, be prepared to have a solid business plan for lenders. Your business plan should include a detailed description of your business, your target market, your competitive advantage, and your financial projections. Lenders and creditors will use your business plan to assess the risk of investing in your business, so it is important to make sure that it is well-written and realistic.
If you are not familiar with writing business plans, there are many resources available to help you get started. The Small Business Administration, for example, offers a free online course on how to write a business plan. Once you have created a strong business plan, you will be in a much better position to secure the financing you need to start or grow your retail business.
Financial projections
Any business owner looking to secure financing or a loan knows that financial projections are a necessity. This is especially true for Amazon FBA businesses – which can be extremely profitable, but also come with a unique set of costs and risks.
As a result, lenders will want to see detailed financial projections before agreeing to provide financing. These projections should include estimates for startup costs, operating expenses, and expected revenue. They should also incorporate a realistic assessment of the risks involved in the business.
By providing thorough and accurate financial projections, business owners can increase their chances of securing the financing they need to start their Amazon FBA business.
What are the best financing and loan options for my Amazon FBA business?
If you want a detailed rundown of the top funding options for most Amazon sellers, take a look at this article here:
Best Amazon FBA Financing and Loans to Grow Your Business
This webpage covers each option at your disposal – including Amazon’s in-house financing options, merchant cash advances, crowdfunding opportunities, banks & traditional loans, private funding options and more. Before getting started with the financing process, you may want to get an idea of what options you’re aiming at – in order to prepare your docs and statements accordingly. Your credit score/history will also determine which loans and financing avenues are available to you.
Steps to secure Amazon FBA funding
Evaluate financial standing
Before you seek out funding, financing or loans for your Amazon FBA business… it’s important to take a close look at your financial standing. This will give you a clear idea of how much money you need and what kind of financial assistance you can realistically expect to obtain.
As mentioned above, gather all of your financial documents – including tax returns, bank statements and credit reports. Once you have everything in one place, take some time to review your income and expenses. This will help you get a better understanding of your cash flow and where your money is going each month.
If you find that you’re spending more than you’re bringing in, it’s time to make some changes. Evaluating your financial standing before seeking funding can help ensure that you get the money you need to grow your business and avoid taking on more debt than you can handle.
Determine how much capital you need
Remember, when it comes to financing, you want to know how much capital you actually need. There are a number of factors to consider when making this calculation – including the cost of inventory, shipping and handling fees, and any other associated costs.
You also need to factor in the cost of driving traffic to your listings (whether it’s paid advertising, SEO, or any other marketing efforts). Once you have a clear understanding of how much money you will need to grow and scale your FBA store, you’re now one step closer to exploring your financing and loan options.
Prepare statements, documents & requirements
Any business owner seeking funding knows that organization and presentation are key. You need to be able to clearly present your financial situation and show potential funders that you are a responsible steward of their money. This means preparing and organizing all of your financial statements and documents so that they can get a clear picture of your business finances.
This can be a daunting task, but it is essential if you want to improve your chances of securing the funding you need to grow your Amazon FBA business. By taking the time to prepare and organize your financial information, you will send a strong message that you are serious about growing your business and that you are capable of handling their money responsibly. In the end, this will increase your chances of getting the funding you need to reach your goals.
Explore each funding, financing & loan option
When it comes to financing, there are a number of factors to consider. The amount of credit you need will likely play a role in your decision making, as will the terms of the loan and the interest rate. You’ll also want to be aware of any additional fees that may be associated with the loan, as well as the repayment terms and conditions. Finally, it’s important to understand the penalties for late payments. By taking all of these factors into account, you’ll be better able to choose the right financing option for your needs.
You should weigh your options carefully and decide which loan is right for you. It’s important to remember that the terms of the loan can have a big impact on your finances. Make sure you understand the terms of the loan before you sign anything. If you’re not sure, ask questions or get help from someone who understands loans. Taking out a loan is a big decision, so make sure you’re comfortable with the terms before you commit.
Final decision to secure Amazon FBA financing
While a loan can be a great way to finance the growth of your business, it’s important to be aware of the terms and conditions of the loan before you agree to anything. In particular, you should pay close attention to the interest rate and the repayment schedule.
If you can’t meet the terms of the loan, it’s best not to accept it. This is because failing to repay a loan can have serious consequences, including damaging your credit score and potentially putting your business at risk. Therefore, it’s important to be realistic about your ability to repay the loan before you agree to anything. By doing so, you can avoid any difficulties down the road.
No matter how good a credit offer sounds, if there is even one single condition in the credit terms that you cannot meet, you should not accept the loan. Being too optimistic about how quickly you can repay the loan can cause problems – and in the worst case, you could end up needing new loans to pay off old loans and eventually go bankrupt. So, even if a credit offer looks very attractive at first, make sure that you will be able to meet all of the conditions in the credit terms before accepting the loan. Otherwise, you could find yourself in financial trouble down the road.
Wrapping up: Amazon FBA financing and loans
The final decision for a business loan is based on many factors, but the preparation and submission of all the required documents is essential. The more complete your application is, the better your chances are of being approved.
To summarize, there are a few steps you need to take to prepare for a business loan. Start by gathering all your financial information including tax returns, bank statements, and credit reports (this will give the lender an idea of your company’s overall financial health and stability).
Also, complete the loan application in its entirety and make sure to attach all required documents – since incomplete applications may delay or even disqualify you from getting a business loan. And finally, be prepared for a credit check. Lenders need to evaluate your history and viability as a borrower.
