Quick answer
What information makes a first funding call useful?
Prepare a one-page summary of what the company needs, when it needs it, how it trades and how the money would be repaid. Add current finance and any important complication. Start with that summary; agree a secure transfer route before sending statements, accounts or identity documents.
Key points
- State the purpose, amount and deadline in one sentence.
- Label the period behind every turnover or profit figure.
- Include existing commitments and important changes in trading.
- Use the call to establish next steps and evidence requirements.
Write the requirement before gathering documents
Start with the decision you want to make. For example: “We need to discuss funding £35,000 of stock, payable in March, for orders expected to complete by June.” Add whether £35,000 is the full requirement or only the part you want to finance. Separate the preferred timing from a contractual deadline.
A short brief prevents the conversation jumping between products before the problem is understood. If the amount is uncertain, give the confirmed costs and identify the estimates. A supplier quote, a cash-flow gap and an amount chosen from an advert are different starting points.
Put the company facts in a consistent format
Record the registered name and number, trading name, sector, trading start date and the person authorised to discuss the enquiry. Then label trading figures with their dates. Use a recent normal period and explain any seasonality or exceptional event.
A monthly turnover figure should say which month or average it represents. If you annualise an average, label it as an estimate rather than filed annual revenue. The funding conversation becomes more useful when the broker can reconcile the figures without guessing what each number means.
| Brief item | Example of useful detail |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Stock purchase against a defined sales plan. |
| Amount | Supplier costs, own contribution and requested funding. |
| Timing | Invoice due date and any flexibility. |
| Trading | Period covered and a normal versus peak month. |
| Repayment | Expected receipts and existing commitments. |
List commitments and complications early
Include loans, leases, invoice facilities, card balances and any other repayment commitments relevant to the company’s cash position. Record the balance, payment and whether the proposal would replace the facility. If refinancing is involved, request settlement information from the current provider.
Explain known company credit issues, disputed receipts or a recent drop in sales without trying to predict the lender’s response. The first call is a place to establish what needs investigation. Inaccurate omissions can make a proposal look workable until the later evidence shows otherwise.
Prepare documents without sending them everywhere
A broker or lender may request bank statements, accounts, management figures or a cash forecast. Ask which periods and formats are required and who will receive them. The British Business Bank’s loan guide describes the use of documents in assessment [1]. Felix’s initial form does not require uploads.
Keep the documents in an organised folder with clear dates. Before transferring them, verify the recipient and use the agreed secure method. Never send banking passwords or one-time codes. A request for access should explain its purpose and permissions through the provider’s own supported process.
Use the call to agree a useful next action
Ask which funding category the broker proposes to explore, what evidence remains missing and what could prevent the intended timetable. Confirm whether any credit search would occur at the next step and who would perform it. An initial discussion should leave you with a clearer process.
Finish with a named next action, an owner and a date. Keep a note of estimates and assumptions so you can replace them with written terms later. A complete brief does not guarantee approval; it helps everyone spend the conversation on the facts that still matter.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers
Do I need perfect accounts before asking a question?
You can start with a clear summary and explain what is available. The provider decides what evidence it needs for assessment.
Should I use my best month as average turnover?
No. Label the actual period and explain peaks or recent changes.
Can I send bank statements through the Felix form?
The current form does not accept documents. Agree a verified secure route during the next conversation.
Sources and further reading
Where the external facts come from
Sources checked on 27 October 2026. Provider links are references; they do not imply a partnership or an available offer.
- British Business Bank: business loans ↗
Background on lender evidence and assessment.
