Business borrowers will probably be confounded if their commercial mortgage application is turned down, and they may be unsure as to why it occurred and what to do about it. For each of five key possibilities that a commercial bank might reject a business loan, a practical approach is described for changing the declined commercial real estate loan into an approved commercial loan.

Two reasons (tax returns and business plan requirements) could impact virtually all businesses. Many business loan officers will begin their commercial loan review process by stating "We will need to see at least three years of tax returns" and "Can you show me your business plan?" before proceeding.

Commercial projects are frequently too unique for traditional commercial banks. In these situations (even if a commercial borrower has favorable tax returns and an adequate business plan), it is not unusual for the business owner to be declined for a commercial mortgage loan by a traditional commercial lender.

The reasons provided below do not represent obscure issues. It is likely that two or three of the reasons described will be important for typical commercial mortgage or business loan circumstances.

Business Loan Disapprovals: (1) Special Purpose Commercial Property

Reason Number One for commercial mortgage rejections: The bank does not generally make business loans for the type of business involved or imposes special requirements that make the commercial loan impractical for the commercial borrower. For example, fewer banks are making commercial mortgage loans for bar/restaurant properties.

Similarly, auto service businesses are frequently given unnecessary (and expensive) environmental reporting requirements. There are many "special purpose" properties such as funeral homes, campgrounds and churches that most traditional banks will not include in their business lending portfolio.

Strategy Number One for converting the rejected commercial real estate loan into an approved business loan: For most commercial borrowers, there are viable commercial mortgage options beyond traditional commercial lender choices.

There are capable commercial lenders that are interested in business financing for special purpose properties. The best business loan might be available only from a non-traditional commercial lender when traditional banks won't make the requested commercial mortgage loan.

Business Loan Disapprovals: (2) Tax Returns Required

Reason Number Two for commercial mortgage rejections: Loan underwriters find something on a tax return that disqualifies a borrower under the bank's lending guidelines. This "something" will frequently be insufficient net income, but when business loan underwriters look at tax returns, there are many other possibilities which produce a similar result.

Strategy Number Two for converting the rejected commercial real estate loan into an approved business loan: Commercial borrowers will never have this reason to worry about if they have applied for a "Stated Income" commercial mortgage loan. Very few traditional lenders use a Stated Income process (no income verification, no tax returns, no IRS Form 4506) for a commercial loan.

Business borrowers should look for lenders using Stated Income business loans. This approach, however, will not work for all commercial loans due to a prevailing maximum loan of $3 million for typical Stated Income commercial mortgage situations.

Commercial Mortgage Loan Disapprovals: (3) Limitations for Cash Out

Reason Number Three for commercial mortgage loan and business loan disapprovals: When a business attempts to refinance their commercial property loan and wants to get significant cash out, it is normal for a traditional bank to restrict what the funds are used for and to severely limit the amount of cash received. Even though the bank is willing to make the commercial loan, if they won't provide the cash required by the commercial borrower, this is similar to rejecting the loan.

Strategy Number Three for converting the rejected commercial real estate loan into an approved business loan: As noted above, there are other business financing options to consider. The borrower's objective is to use a commercial mortgage lender that will permit more cash out of a commercial property refinancing without significant restrictions on what can be done with it.

Commercial Mortgage Rejections: (4) Collateral Required

Reason Number Four for business loan rejections: The bank will not approve a commercial mortgage loan without collateral, typically as a lien on the commercial borrower's personal residence or other personal assets.

Strategy Number Four for converting the rejected commercial real estate loan into an approved business loan: Commercial mortgage borrowers should seek out business lenders that do not cross collateralize assets as a requirement for receiving a commercial loan. This will provide more options for the borrower and eliminate unnecessary and unwise connections between personal and commercial assets.

Commercial Mortgage Loan Disapprovals: (5) Required Business Plan

Reason Number Five for commercial mortgage rejections: A bank's loan officer or loan underwriter is not satisfied that the business plan provided by the commercial borrower supports the requested business loan.

Strategy Number Five for converting the rejected commercial real estate loan into an approved business loan: Business borrowers should experience fewer delays and profit from dealing with a commercial lender that does not have a business plan requirement due to several key benefits:

(A) Reduce commercial loan costs by thousands of dollars. A common range for an average business plan (prepared to typical bank specifications) is $5,000 to $10,000.

(B) Shorten the business financing closing period. Business plan preparation is likely to take 1-2 months or more.

(C) If the lender does not require a business plan, there is one less item standing between the commercial borrower and their approved commercial loan.

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