Lesson 1Bank vs non-bank lending tradeoffs: underwriting rigor, documentation, approval speed, and flexibilityCompare banks and non-bank lenders across underwriting rigor, documentation, pricing, approval speed, and flexibility, so you fit guide clients toward di right fit for their needs and risk tolerance locally.
Documentation depth and verificationCredit box strictness and exceptionsApproval speed and funding timelinesPricing, fees, and relationship valueFlexibility in structure and covenantsLesson 2How to present loan options to business owners in plain language and explain risks and costsDevelop skills to explain loan structures, costs, and risks in plain language, using comparisons, visuals, and disclosures dat help owners understand tradeoffs and make informed, confident decisions in simple way.
Translating jargon into plain languageExplaining APR, fees, and total costDescribing prepayment and penaltiesClarifying personal risk and guaranteesUsing comparisons and simple visualsLesson 3Structuring working capital solutions: term length, amortisation, interest-only periods, balloon payments and covenant examplesLearn how to design working capital structures, including term length, amortisation, interest-only periods, balloons, and covenants, aligning repayment wid cash cycles while protecting lender and borrower in local business.
Matching term to cash conversion cycleAmortisation schedules and optionsInterest-only and step-up structuresBalloon payments and refinance riskCommon financial and reporting covenantsLesson 4SBA loan programmes: eligibility, application process, guarantee structure, approval timelines and pros/consUnderstand major SBA loan programmes, including 7(a) and 504, eligibility rules, guarantees, fees, timelines, and pros and cons, so you fit identify when SBA is di best path for your small business clients here.
Overview of main SBA programmesEligibility rules and ineligible usesGuarantee structure and lender riskApplication steps and timelinesPros, cons, and common pitfallsLesson 5Common small business loan types: term loans, lines of credit, SBA 7(a)/504, merchant cash advances, invoice financing, and online short-term loansReview di main small business loan types, from term loans and lines of credit to SBA, merchant cash advances, invoice financing, and online short-term loans, and match each to typical needs and risk levels locally.
Term loans and equipment financingRevolving lines of credit basicsSBA 7(a) and 504 loan use casesMerchant cash advances explainedInvoice and receivables financingOnline short-term working capitalLesson 6Online and alternative lenders: speed, typical rates, fees, and typical borrower profiles servedExplore how online and alternative lenders operate, including speed of funding, pricing structures, fees, risk appetite, and di borrower profiles they target, so you fit position these options responsibly for clients.
Funding speed and application workflowsTypical APR ranges, fees, and add-onsRisk models and data sources usedIdeal borrower profiles and use casesRed flags and predatory structuresLesson 7Personal vs business credit: when personal guarantees are required and implicationsClarify di differences between personal and business credit, when personal guarantees are required, how they are evaluated, and di legal, financial, and relationship implications for owners and co-signers in Sierra Leone.
Business credit reports and scoresPersonal credit factors lenders reviewWhen guarantees are typically requiredGuarantee structures and carve-outsImpacts of default on guarantorsLesson 8Typical underwriting criteria for business loans: time-in-business, revenue, cash flow, debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) and collateralExamine core underwriting criteria for business loans, including time in business, revenue, cash flow, DSCR, collateral, and industry risk, and learn how lenders weigh strengths and weaknesses in decisions locally.
Time-in-business and stability testsRevenue size, trends, and seasonalityCash flow coverage and DSCR testsCollateral valuation and lien positionIndustry, management, and characterLesson 9Risk pricing and interest-rate drivers for small business loans (credit risk, term, collateral, industry)Understand how lenders price small business credit, including how risk ratings, term, collateral, industry, and market conditions drive interest rates, fees, and covenants across different loan products in local market.
Risk ratings and pricing gridsTerm length and yield expectationsCollateral quality and loan-to-valueIndustry risk and cyclicality impactMarket benchmarks and competitionLesson 10Assessing business financial statements: profit & loss, balance sheet, cash flow statements and key ratios to evaluate repayment abilityLearn how to read profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow statements, calculate key ratios, and interpret trends to judge repayment capacity and identify issues before submitting a loan package for businesses here.
Reading the profit and loss statementKey balance sheet items for lendersCash flow statement and add-backsCore ratios: DSCR, leverage, liquidityTrend analysis and normalisation
