President Barack Obama’s FY 2010 Budget Overview

Lenders examine 5 attributes of borrowers when making financing decisions. These are referred to as the 5 “C’s”:

  • Collateral

  • Cash Flow (capacity to repay)

  • Credit Analysis

  • Character

  • Capital



Eligible Borrowers:

  • For-profit, non-publicly traded businesses.

  • Tangible business net worth (including affiliates) not to exceed $8.5 million.

  • Average net income of the business not to exceed $3 million over the previous two years.

  • Personal liquidity of each principal/guarantor not to exceed the total project costs of the proposed 504 loan.

  • Ownership must be comprised of 51% U.S. citizens or resident aliens (Legal Permanent Residents).

Ineligible Borrowers:

  • Non-profits (except sheltered workshops).

  • Passive holders of real estate and/or personal property.

  • Lending institutions (mortgage brokers and correspondent lenders are eligible).

  • Life insurance companies (however, franchised agents are eligible).

  • Businesses located in a foreign country or owned by aliens.

  • Businesses selling products/services through a pyramid plan.

  • Illegal businesses.

  • Gambling concerns.

  • Businesses which restrict patronage.

  • Government owned entities (excluding Native American Tribes).

  • Businesses engaged in promoting religion.

  • Consumer and marketing cooperatives (producer cooperatives are eligible).

  • Businesses engaged in loan packaging.

  • Businesses owned by persons of poor character.

  • Businesses providing prurient sexual material.

  • Businesses that have previously defaulted on a Federal loan.

  • Businesses engaged in political or lobbying activities.

  • Speculative businesses.


If your business didn’t appear on the Eligible or Ineligible list, please call Braudis Pegram at 718-471-0691 to discuss.


Ineligible Use of Funds:

  • Refinancing (unless debt has been in place for less than 9 months).

  • Working capital.

  • Inventory.

  • Rolling stock.

  • Business “good will” (common in business acquisition financing).