A practical checklist for your first debt review

Make one list of every obligation

Create a row for each MCA or other business financing agreement. Include the funder, approximate balance, payment amount and frequency, and whether payments are current. Mark estimates clearly; a statement balance may differ from a current payoff figure.

Keep complete agreements, amendments, payoff statements, and relevant correspondence together for a later secure review. Include every position, even if it is small or currently manageable. A proposal based on an incomplete list can overlook a significant cash commitment.

Describe the business behind the numbers

Prepare recent revenue and expense records, available cash, expected customer receipts, and upcoming bills. Note seasonal patterns, late-paying customers, and one-off expenses. A sale recorded in your accounts is not necessarily cash available today.

Your bookkeeper can help assemble a current balance sheet and a short cash forecast. SBA guidance emphasizes reliable bookkeeping and tracking receivables, payables, cash, bank reconciliation, and payroll. These records help explain what the business can sustain.

SBA: Manage your finances (opens in a new tab)

Keep this preparation checklist nearby

For a substantive review, organize these items. The initial website form only needs a high-level overview.

• A list of active advances, business loans, and other required payments.
• Signed agreements and any later changes to their terms.
• Recent statements showing receipts and scheduled withdrawals.
• An overview of payroll, rent, taxes, suppliers, and other operating costs.
• Any funder correspondence, collection notices, or court documents, with dates.

Leave the conversation with clear answers

Ask who will perform the work, whether the proposal involves new financing or negotiation, what it costs, and what has to happen before anything changes. Request a written explanation of the next step, the information required, and how to contact the person responsible.

Separate expectations from commitments. Which terms are agreed, which are proposed, and which depend on a third party? A review should help you understand those differences. It should not be treated as funding approval, a completed settlement, or permission to disregard a deadline.

Share sensitive documents only through an agreed channel

Do not put bank login credentials, Social Security numbers, full account numbers, or financial documents in the initial inquiry. Confirm the recipient, the purpose, and a secure transfer method before sharing records. An urgent court deadline deserves prompt attention from a qualified attorney; submitting a website inquiry does not pause it.