We provide lender-ready capital raise packaging and debt or equity placement support for business owners and buyers looking to secure serious term sheets and close funding on a defined timeline.
For business owners and acquirers pursuing private debt or equity, submit your deal for review. We revert within one working day with next steps and either a quote for our services.
Working Capital | Supply Chain Finance | Sub $10M
Sub $10M working capital is where good businesses get stuck. The company is real. The trade flow is real. The need is simple. Yet banks and lenders still say “no” because the file is thin, the controls are unclear, or the lender cannot get comfortable fast.
This guide explains the practical funding options SMEs use under $10M, what lenders underwrite, and how to structure a request so you get decisions instead of endless questions. If you want Financely to structure and coordinate this process, start with How It Works.
Most working capital problems are timing problems. You pay suppliers before customers pay you. You hold inventory while money is trapped in transit. You win bigger orders and suddenly your business needs more cash just to execute what you already sold.
Key point: Lenders do not fund “growth.” They fund a clear conversion cycle with a defined exit and controls that reduce surprises.
Below $10M, you typically combine two categories: (1) working capital facilities (revolvers, receivables, inventory), and (2) supply chain and trade instruments (supplier programs, letters of credit, documentary collections). The right mix depends on your cash conversion cycle and how much control you can offer.
For background and terminology, see Supply Chain Finance: How It Works and Trade Finance Services.
Under $10M, lenders want speed and predictability. They usually do not have patience for loose stories. They want to see: what gets funded, what controls exist, and exactly how repayment happens.
| Underwriting focus | What the lender wants | How you make it fundable |
|---|---|---|
| Repayment source | Clear exit tied to invoices, inventory liquidation, or contract payments | Show a simple cycle with dates, cash in, cash out, and a buffer |
| Asset quality | Collectible receivables or saleable inventory with low dispute risk | Provide aging, concentration, dispute history, and proof of performance |
| Counterparty strength | Real buyers and suppliers with verifiable track record | KYB pack and trade history evidence |
| Controls | Document control, cash control, and enforcement path | Collection account mechanics, assignments, and where title sits |
| Operational discipline | Reporting that arrives on time and matches reality | Consistent numbers across statements, contracts, and narratives |
If you sell to credible buyers on terms, receivables are often the cleanest collateral. Many sub $10M facilities are built around invoices because the exit is simple: collection. The pricing and advance rate depend on debtor quality, dilution, concentration, and dispute risk.
What gets deals approved: low dispute history, predictable collections, diversified debtor base, and clean documentation.
Inventory finance works when inventory is liquid, measurable, insured, and controlled. That usually means a third-party warehouse, inspection, and lender-approved release procedures. If you want cash against stock without controls, most lenders will not touch it.
If your business is trade heavy, review Financely’s broader framing of trade and commodity facilities at Trade Finance Services for Global Business Transactions.
Purchase order finance and trade bridges fund the gap between supplier payment and customer payment. They are most common when you have a credible buyer, a realistic margin, and a clean delivery path. These structures can fund pre-shipment costs, shipment costs, and the post-delivery waiting period.
If your situation is import or export driven, see Import Export Loans.
Supply chain finance is often the best answer when a strong buyer sits in the chain. Instead of the SME borrowing at SME risk, the buyer’s payment promise becomes the anchor. Suppliers get paid earlier, the buyer keeps their payment terms, and the funding provider earns yield on a lower risk profile.
More detail at Supply Chain Finance: How It Works.
Not every solution is a loan. Sometimes the problem is trust between buyer and supplier. A letter of credit can shift settlement risk, tighten documentation, and make the trade financeable. Documentary collections can reduce friction when both sides want a bank-mediated process without full LC structure.
Useful when the supplier wants bank-backed payment terms, or when your supplier will not ship without structured payment security. See Letter Of Credit Services and Documentary Letter of Credit Provider.
If you are an intermediary, see Back to Back Letter of Credit.
Useful when you want bank-handled documents and controlled release, but do not need an LC. See Documentary Collections Explained.
If you need payment risk reduction on an LC, see Letter of Credit Confirmation Process.
| Tool | Best for | What it usually requires | Common failure point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice finance | Term sales to credible buyers | Aging, debtor quality, low disputes, assignment mechanics | High concentration or chronic disputes |
| Borrowing base revolver | Repeat flow with stable AR and inventory | Reporting cadence, collateral monitoring, covenants | Poor reporting discipline |
| Inventory finance | Landed stock with clear liquidity | Warehouse control, insurance, inspection, release procedures | No control and unclear title |
| PO finance or trade bridge | Funding the gap between supplier and buyer | Real buyer, realistic margins, clean logistics path | Weak buyer or unrealistic timing |
| Supply chain finance | Supplier base anchored by a strong buyer | Approved invoices, program setup, buyer cooperation | Invoices not approved fast enough |
| Letters of credit | Risk managed settlement with documentation discipline | Issuing bank appetite, wording, compliance, document presentation | Bad LC wording and document mismatches |
If you want a fast decision under $10M, deliver a file that a credit team can read in one sitting. The checklist below is the minimum set that prevents the “send more info” loop.
| Document set | What to include | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction summary | Use of proceeds, amount requested, tenor, and repayment source | Stops ambiguity and sets the underwriting frame |
| Trade flow evidence | Invoices, contracts, shipping evidence, purchase history | Proves repeatability and performance |
| Receivables and payables | Aging schedules, concentration, dispute history | Shows collectability and dilution risk |
| Inventory and logistics | Stock list, turnover, storage, insurance, inspection plan | Shows whether inventory can be controlled |
| Financials | Recent statements, bank statements, debt schedule | Shows capacity to execute and absorb volatility |
| KYB pack | Company registration, UBOs, governance, counterparties | Prevents compliance delays and dead ends |
Financely structures working capital and supply chain finance by converting your trade flow into an underwritable file and routing it to aligned lenders. We focus on controls, documents, and realistic execution sequencing. Financely is not a bank and does not lend. Any regulated activity is coordinated through appropriately licensed partners where required.
What you get when it is done properly: a lender-ready pack, a clear facility structure, and a managed decisioning path that produces written outcomes you can act on.
| Step | What happens | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Fit and structure | We confirm your ask, trade cycle, collateral options, and the cleanest product fit. | A facility outline and deal-specific checklist. |
| 2) Package | We build the lender pack with consistent numbers and a controls map. | A submission file that reads like a credit memo. |
| 3) Match | We route to lenders aligned to your geography, industry, and facility type. | Fewer dead submissions and faster decisions. |
| 4) Decisioning | We manage Q&A and align conditions to close with realistic sequencing. | Clear conditions and written outcomes. |
| 5) Close | We coordinate documentation and the operational setup required for drawdowns. | A facility that can actually be used in operations. |
Usually receivables based facilities or invoice finance, when buyers are credible and disputes are low. Speed comes from clean documentation and a lender-friendly structure, not from sending more emails.
Yes, especially when a stronger buyer anchors the program and invoices are approved quickly. The buyer’s payment discipline is often the factor that determines whether it works.
Under $10M, most lenders want either asset support (receivables, inventory) or strong transaction controls. The more you can control cash and documents, the less the lender relies on personal guarantees.
Submit your request with your trade flow summary and documents. We will revert with fit, a checklist, and a proposed structure built for lender acceptance. Process details are at How It Works.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, or regulatory advice. Financely is not a bank and does not lend. Any engagement is subject to diligence, KYB, KYC, AML, sanctions screening, lender criteria, and definitive documentation.
Financely advises growth-focused businesses on accessing capital by introducing their opportunities to professional investors. Financely is not a securities broker or dealer. Where appropriate, engagements are coordinated with regulated broker-dealers, investment banks, legal counsel, and other specialists.
Financely does not solicit, offer, or accept orders to buy or sell securities and makes no assurance regarding capital-raising outcomes.
Services are strictly business-to-business. Financely does not provide personal finance, consumer credit, or retail advisory services.
Advisory services are reserved for post-revenue companies that recognize the time and resources required for professional underwriting.
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All mandates start with an RFQ. We review submissions, issue a brief Go/No-Go memo, and where bankable, release a Term Sheet that leads to funding. We arrange capital across Senior Secured, Unitranche, Second Lien/Mezzanine, Preferred Equity, and Gap Solutions. We do not process deals by email or chat.
Letters of Credit, Standby LCs, Confirmations, Receivables Finance, and Inventory Lines with control.
Funding arranged for trade flows with instruments sized to your cycle and aligned to delivery and settlement.
Move forward to secure working capital and keep goods moving. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting for funding.
Limited or non-recourse structures for energy and infrastructure with lender-ready materials.
Funding solutions aligned to project cash flows with credible covenants and conditions to reach notice to proceed.
Advance the file to termable status. Submit the RFQ so we can underwrite and secure funding.
Debt and Preferred solutions anchored on cash flow, Quality of Earnings, and clear closing mechanics.
Funding across senior, unitranche, and preferred to match stable cash flows and acquisition timelines.
Get financed on workable terms for closing. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting.
Acquisition, development, bridge, and refinance with lender-ready packs and third-party reports managed.
Funding calibrated to DSCR, leverage, and tenancy with terms designed to close.
Move to a financeable package. Submit the RFQ to initiate underwriting for funding.
KYC and Source of Funds required. Engagements are best-efforts and subject to underwriting. Preference for operating companies with meaningful revenue. See our FAQ and Procedure.
Financely Inc. (“Financely”) provides corporate-finance advice and is wholly owned by Aurora Bay Trust, a trust formed under Bahamian law, together with its authorized affiliates. Depending on deal structure, jurisdiction, and local rules, engagements may be carried out through Financely Group LLC, a non-deposit-taking, non-banking financial company; Ashford Capital Advisory LLC; or another related entity.
Financely and its affiliates are not registered as securities broker-dealers and do not execute securities transactions or hold client funds or securities. When a mandate involves the purchase or sale of securities and a registered intermediary is required, any orders are introduced to and executed by one or more independent U.S. broker-dealers registered with the SEC and FINRA. Those broker-dealers are solely responsible for trade execution, custody, and related regulatory obligations. Nothing in this material constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security or to engage in any specific transaction. Before engaging Financely Group LLC, Ashford Capital Advisory LLC, or any affiliate, you are responsible for confirming that such engagement complies with your own legal, regulatory, tax, and other requirements. In the United States, certain advisory activities may be conducted in reliance on exemptions available under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, including the “foreign private adviser” exemption where applicable. Our services and regulatory status may vary by jurisdiction and by transaction type.
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