Business financing in Franklin County.

Franklin County's economy is seasonal and trade-driven, which means lenders familiar with the region understand that your revenue may spike in summer and fall quiet in February. That is normal here — and the right lender will structure your repayment around it.

**You may qualify if you:**

• Have been operating a business or sole proprietorship for at least 6–12 months (some lenders require less)

• Can show income through tax returns, bank statements, or invoices — even informal records help start the conversation

• Have an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) instead of an SSN — several local CDFIs and credit unions explicitly accept ITIN borrowers

• Are a sole contractor in construction, logging, landscaping, or agriculture

• Run a small hospitality, retail, or food business tied to the Sugarloaf, Rangeley Lakes, or Farmington tourism corridor

• Are a beginning farmer or value-added agricultural producer

**You do NOT need:**

• Perfect credit (CDFIs and microloans often work with scores as low as 580 or no formal credit history)

• A corporation or LLC (sole proprietors and informal businesses are welcome at many local lenders)

• Collateral for every loan type (unsecured microloans exist)

If you are a new immigrant, a seasonal worker who has turned self-employed, or someone rebuilding after financial hardship, there are organizations in this region specifically built to work with you.

Every lender is different, but gathering these documents before your first conversation will save you time and show you are prepared:

**Identity & Tax**

• Government-issued photo ID (passport, state ID, consular ID card accepted by many CDFIs)

• ITIN or SSN

• Last 2 years of personal tax returns (or business returns if you have them)

• Most recent 3–6 months of bank statements

**Business Records**

• Business license or registration (if you have one — not always required for microloans)

• Profit-and-loss statement or a simple income/expense summary you write yourself

• Invoices, contracts, or receipts showing your work

• List of any existing debts (loans, credit cards, equipment payments)

**For Larger Loans**

• Business plan (even a 1–2 page summary works for many community lenders)

• Cash flow projection for the next 12 months

• Collateral information (property, equipment, vehicle titles)

**Tip:** If your records are informal or incomplete, do not let that stop you from making the call. A good CDFI loan officer will help you put your records in order. That is part of what they do.