Preparing a loan application can be daunting and puzzling. To make the process more clear, transparent and supportive for agricultural producers seeking financing, the NH Agriculture Financiers published the Loan Readiness Toolkit.
This toolkit is designed to help farms and food businesses become more prepared for conversations about borrowing by providing insight into the characteristics lenders look at when considering a business loan application. For example, when talking to a lender, you will want to present a clear plan about your overall business, your strengths and weaknesses, your business’s financial condition, how you will use the money you borrow, and how you will repay it. You do not need to know all the answers right away, as a lender can provide resources and guidance to assist you in determining if a loan is the best answer for you and what you will need to apply and qualify for one.
“We hope this toolkit equips farmers and producers with valuable guidance on how to access capital and that it provides a clearer understanding of the complexity of the loan process and ultimate partnership of the business owner and lender,” said Charlene Andersen, Farm and Food Lender at the N.H. Community Loan Fund.
The toolkit was developed with input from New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, UNH Extension, Farm Credit East, Vital Communities, Land for Good, Rural Development, Walden Mutual, NH Ag Mediation, and the N.H. Department of Agriculture. The Loan Readiness Toolkit is available here or from the other agriculture lenders and service providers listed above.
