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About Us
Impact and Insights
2023 Impact Report
State of Black Business Report
Programs & Resources
Free Small Business Programs
Business Boost Resource Hub
Partnership
My Courses
Donate
Contact
Borrow to Boom Onboarding 2025
Name
First
Last
Email
Phone
Basic Business Details
Website URL
Business Instagram Handle
Business Facebook Page Link
Business Tiktok Handle
Business Linkedin Page
Please describe your business in two sentences or less. Please specify what products or services you provide.
(Required)
What is your company slogan/tagline?
(Required)
If you do not have one, put N/A.
Who do you consider to be your target audience to be?
(Required)
Who are your major competitors?
(Required)
What makes your product/services unique?
(Required)
Do you have a business bank account?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you have at least one year of business tax returns?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you have a business license?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you have an Employer Identification Number (EIN)?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you use accounting software or another system to manage your business finances?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you have a business plan or documented growth strategy?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you have a DUNs number?
(Required)
Yes
No
Is your business registered with your county or state?
Yes
No
Do you have a current profit and loss (P&L) statement?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you have a balance sheet for your business?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you have a record of your monthly business income and expenses?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you have business insurance?
(Required)
Yes
No
Are all your business licenses and permits up to date?
(Required)
Yes
No
Do you use accounting software or another system to manage your business finances?
Yes
No
Personal Financial Readiness
Do you have a personal budget?
(Required)
A personal budget is a plan that outlines your income and how you plan to spend or save it each month.
1 – No Budget
2
3 – Some budgeting but not consistent or updated
4
5 – Detailed Regularly Updated Budget
Do you track your personal expenses effectively?
(Required)
Tracking expenses means writing down or using a tool to monitor how much money you’re spending and where it’s going.
1 – No tracking
2
3 – Occasionally track some expenses
4
5 – Every expense is tracked and categorized
How would you rate your personal credit?
(Required)
Your credit score is a number that reflects how well you’ve managed credit and debt. It is used by lenders to assess risk.
1 = Poor (Below 580)
2 = Needs Improvement (580–629)
3 = Fair (630–689)
4 = Good (690–739)
5 = Excellent (740 and above)
Debt-to-Income Ratio: Do you have a manageable level of debt relative to your income?
(Required)
This compares how much you owe each month to how much you earn. Lenders look for low debt-to-income ratios.
1 = High debt-to-income ratio (Over 50%)
2
3 = Moderate debt-to-income ratio (Around 35%)
4
5 = Very low or no debt
Savings & Emergency Fund: Do you have personal savings or an emergency fund?
(Required)
Savings and emergency funds help cover unexpected expenses like car repairs or medical bills.
1 = No savings
2
3 = 1–3 months of expenses saved
4
5 = 6+ months of expenses saved
Separation of Personal & Business Finances: Do you keep you personal and business finances separate?
(Required)
Keeping your business and personal finances separate is important for managing money and applying for funding.
1 = All finances are mixed
2
3 = Some separation (e.g., separate accounts but mixed expenses)
4
5 = Fully separate personal and business finances
Consistent Income Stability: Do you have consistent income stability?
(Required)
Stable income means that you are regularly earning enough to cover your personal expenses.
1 = Highly inconsistent
2
3 = Somewhat stable with occasional gaps
4
5 = Stable and predictable income
Financial Goal Setting: Have you set financial goals for the future?
(Required)
Financial goals help you make a plan for the future, like saving for a house, paying off debt, or building wealth.
1 = No goals set
2
3 = General ideas but not written or tracked
4
5 = Clear, written, and regularly reviewed goals
Understanding of Credit Utilization: What is your approximate credit utilization?
(Required)
Credit utilization is the percentage of your credit limit that you’re using. Lower utilization is better for your score.
1 = Over 50% utilization
2
3 = 30%–50% utilization
4
5 = Under 10% utilization
Personal Tax Compliance: Do you keep up with your personal tax filings?
(Required)
Filing your taxes on time and keeping records is important for staying in good standing and applying for funding.
1 = Frequently late or missing filings
2
3 = Occasionally late, generally compliant
4
5 = Always on time with organized records
Access to Additional Financial Resources
(Required)
These are sources of financial support outside your business like personal credit, savings, or help from family.
1 = No additional resources
2
3 = Limited personal backup options
4
5 = Multiple reliable financial support options
Part 2: Business Financial Readiness
Business Structure & Compliance:
(Required)
A legal business structure (like LLC or sole proprietorship) and compliance (like licenses, EIN, and business bank account) are required by most lenders.
1 = Not registered
2
3 = Registered but missing some documentation
4
5 = Fully registered, compliant, and has EIN and business bank account
Bookkeeping & Financial Record Keeping:
(Required)
Bookkeeping is the process of tracking your business income and expenses. Good records help you understand your finances and apply for loans.
1 = No records or organization
2
3 = Some receipts or spreadsheets
4
5 = Up-to-date system with categorized entries and monthly reporting
Understanding of Financial Statements
(Required)
Financial statements include the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. They show your business’s financial performance.
1 = No understanding
2
3 = Familiar with terms but cannot interpret
4
5 = Can generate and interpret all key financial statements
Cash Flow Management
(Required)
Cash flow is the money moving in and out of your business. Managing it helps you avoid running out of money.
1 = No awareness of monthly cash flow
2
3 = Rough idea based on sales and expenses
4
5 = Regular tracking and forecasting of cash flow
Loan Readiness & Use of Capital
(Required)
Being loan ready means you know how much you need, what it’s for, and how it will help your business grow.
1 = No plan for using funds
2
3 = General idea but not written
4
5 = Clear and detailed growth-focused loan use plan
Business Revenue Stability
(Required)
Stable revenue means your business consistently earns money from sales or services.
1 = Irregular and unpredictable revenue
2
3 = Moderate consistency with occasional dips
4
5 = Stable and growing revenue trends
Profitability & Cost Management
(Required)
Profitability means you earn more than you spend. Managing costs helps your business stay financially healthy.
1 = Business is losing money or not tracking profit
2
3 = Some tracking of profit but irregular analysis
4
5 = Well-managed profitability with clear strategies for cost control
Client & Contract Stability
(Required)
Recurring clients and signed contracts provide reliable income and stability.
1 = No recurring clients
Disagree
3 = Some repeat clients, no contracts
Agree
5 = Consistent recurring clients and formal contracts in place
Tax Compliance & Documentation
(Required)
Filing business taxes on time and keeping clean records is critical to maintain good standing with the IRS and lenders.
1 = Late or missing filings
2
3 = Filed but lacks organized documentation
4
5 = Always filed on time with clean, organized records
Access to Business Credit & Additional Resources
(Required)
Having access to business credit or other resources gives your business flexibility and options for growth.
1 = No access
2
3 = Limited access to credit or resources
4
5 = Actively using and managing business credit and/or reliable support resources
Marketing Readiness
Clarity of Target Audience:
(Required)
Knowing who your ideal customer is helps you market more effectively.
1 = No idea who my audience is
2
3 = General idea but not well-defined
4
5 = Clear, specific customer profile
Brand Messaging
(Required)
Strong messaging explains who you are, what you do, and why it matters.
1 = No consistent messaging
2
3 = Some messaging but not used consistently
4
5 = Clear, compelling messaging used across all platforms
Online Presence
(Required)
Your website and social media help people find and trust your business.
1 = No website or social media presence
2
3 = One or the other, or both are outdated
4
5 = Active website and social media with regular updates
Marketing Strategy
A plan for how you’ll promote your products or services and attract customers.
1 = No strategy in place
2
3 = Inconsistent or informal plan
4
5 = Clear, documented marketing strategy
Lead Generation & Conversions
(Required)
Your ability to attract and turn potential customers into paying clients.
1 = No systems for attracting leads
2
3 = Get leads but conversion is low
4
5 = Consistent lead generation with regular sales