Preparing Your Business for Financing

Seeking financing can be an important step in starting or growing a business, but knowing what lenders are looking for—and how to prepare—can make the process feel much more manageable.

In this panel discussion, you’ll hear from lending professionals about what entrepreneurs should have in place before approaching a lender. The conversation will explore how to determine how much funding you actually need, how to clearly explain what the money will be used for, and the role your business plan, financial projections, and other supporting information can play in a financing request.

Panelists will share their perspectives on what they typically look for when reviewing an application, common factors that can strengthen or weaken a request, and some of the questions entrepreneurs should be prepared to answer. You’ll also hear how lending criteria and financing options can differ between organizations, helping you better understand where your business may fit.

Whether you’re preparing to seek financing now or simply want to understand the process for the future, this session will help you approach conversations with lenders with greater clarity and confidence.

What We’ll Explore

• How to determine how much financing you need and what it will be used for
• What lenders generally look for when reviewing a financing request
• The role of business plans, financial projections, and supporting documents
• Common factors that can strengthen or weaken an application
• How lending approaches and requirements can differ between organizations
• How to better prepare for conversations with potential lenders

Speakers

Darrel Rolheiser – BDC

Darrel Rolheiser is the Manager of BDC’s Business Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. With extensive experience supporting entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses, he provides guidance on financing, business planning, growth, and operational challenges. Darrel is passionate about helping business owners understand what lenders look for and how to position their businesses for long-term success.

Jordan Pomrenke – Community Futures Entre-Corp

Jordan Pomrenke is a Business Advisor with Community Futures Entre-Corp and a member of the APEX Southeast Alberta Regional Innovation Network (RIN). He works with entrepreneurs at every stage of business, helping them navigate growth, financing readiness, and long-term success. Prior to his advisory role, Jordan started and operated his own eavestrough cleaning company and developed an entrepreneurship course for Medicine Hat College’s Entrepreneur Development Centre. He is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build strong foundations for sustainable growth.

ATB – Speaker to be confirmed

Please Note:

This webinar will be recorded and made available publicly on our YouTube channel.