Financing programs · C&I Lending
Commercial & industrial financing for operating businesses.
Commercial and industrial (C&I) loans finance the operating side of a business — working capital, lines of credit, equipment, receivables and acquisitions — and are underwritten mainly on cash flow and business assets rather than real estate. FOCUS Lending helps companies find the right C&I structure when their bank wants more history, more collateral or a cleaner balance sheet.
C&I lending at a glance
What it is
Loans and credit facilities to operating companies, secured mainly by business cash flow, receivables, inventory and equipment.
Main structures
Revolving lines of credit, term loans, equipment financing, asset-based lending, receivables financing and acquisition financing.
Best fit
Established businesses that need capital to fund growth, smooth working capital, buy equipment or complete an acquisition.
Our role
We analyze the financials the way a credit officer will, choose the right structure and approach the lenders most likely to approve it.
C&I structures we arrange
Revolving line of credit
Flexible working capital that you draw and repay as needed. It suits seasonal businesses, the gap between paying suppliers and collecting receivables, and short-term needs.
Term loans
A fixed amount repaid over a set term for defined purposes, such as expansion, refinancing, a facility upgrade or a one-time investment.
Equipment financing and leasing
Loans or leases secured by the equipment itself, for machinery, vehicles and technology, without tying up the company's line of credit.
Asset-based lending (ABL)
A revolving facility sized by a borrowing base of eligible receivables and inventory. It can provide more availability than a cash-flow line for companies with strong assets but uneven earnings.
Receivables financing and factoring
Converts outstanding invoices into cash. Receivables financing borrows against invoices, while factoring sells them to a factor. It helps fast-growing companies and those with slow-paying customers.
Acquisition and buyout financing
Senior debt — sometimes combined with seller financing or subordinated capital — to buy a company, a competitor or a partner's interest.
What C&I financing can fund
- Working capital and payroll timing gaps
- Inventory and purchase orders
- Machinery, vehicles and equipment
- Business and competitor acquisitions
- Partner buyouts and recapitalizations
- Refinancing restrictive or maturing bank debt
- Growth that has outpaced the current bank line
Who C&I lending fits
Generally a good fit
- Operating companies — manufacturers, distributors, contractors, healthcare and service businesses
- Businesses with consistent revenue and financial statements that can be documented
- Companies with receivables, inventory or equipment that can support borrowing
- Owners whose bank declined because of covenant issues, customer concentration, a recent down year or limited real estate collateral
- Buyers financing an acquisition based on the target's cash flow
Usually a better fit elsewhere
- Real estate investment property → see Commercial Real Estate Lending
- Owner-occupied real estate or acquisitions that benefit from longer SBA terms → see SBA Lending
- Start-ups without operating history or revenue
- Very short-term needs secured by real estate → see Private Bridge Lending
Typical C&I scenarios
Illustrative situations we commonly see. Every structure depends on the borrower, the collateral and lender approval.
Distributor outgrowing its bank line
Sales grew faster than the bank's line, which is capped by a fixed limit. An asset-based facility tied to receivables and inventory expands availability as the business grows.
Manufacturer adding equipment
A new production line is financed with equipment debt secured by the machinery. That leaves the revolving line free for working capital.
Contractor with slow-paying customers
Large receivables from general contractors or public entities take 60 days or more to collect. Receivables financing turns those invoices into working capital to staff the next job.
Buying out a partner
One owner buys out another using a term loan based on the company's cash flow, sometimes combined with a seller note to reduce the cash required at closing.
How FOCUS Lending works with you
FOCUS Lending Inc. is a commercial financing advisory and brokerage firm based in Columbus, Ohio, serving borrowers nationwide. It was founded in 2021 by Jason McBride, who has more than 20 years of experience in banking and commercial lending. We are not a direct lender. We structure each request, prepare the credit package and present it to lenders whose criteria fit the deal.
Tell us about the deal
Share the request, the use of funds and what has happened so far, including any bank decline.
Lender-style review
We review the financials and collateral the way a credit officer will and flag issues before a lender sees them.
Structure and package
We recommend the program and structure, then assemble a complete, lender-ready credit package.
Lender placement
We present the deal to lenders whose criteria fit and help you compare terms through to closing.
What to have ready
A complete package up front can help the review move efficiently. Lenders may request more depending on the deal.
- Three years of business tax returns or CPA-prepared financial statements
- Year-to-date income statement and balance sheet
- Accounts receivable and accounts payable aging reports
- Business debt schedule
- Equipment quotes or invoices (for equipment financing)
- Personal financial statements for the principal owners
- For acquisitions: LOI or purchase agreement and the target's financials
Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Lending: frequently asked questions
What is a C&I loan?
A commercial and industrial (C&I) loan is a loan to an operating business for business purposes — working capital, equipment, inventory, acquisitions or refinancing. It is underwritten mainly on the company's cash flow and business assets rather than on real estate. C&I lending covers lines of credit, term loans, equipment financing, asset-based facilities and acquisition debt.
What is the difference between a line of credit and a term loan?
A line of credit is revolving: you borrow, repay and borrow again up to a limit, and it is usually used for working capital. A term loan provides a fixed amount up front that is repaid on a set schedule, and it is used for defined investments such as equipment, expansion or an acquisition. Most growing businesses use both — a line for day-to-day working capital and term debt for long-lived investments.
Can I get business financing without real estate as collateral?
Yes. Many C&I structures are secured by receivables, inventory, equipment or the business's cash flow instead of real estate. Asset-based lending, equipment financing and receivables financing are built for this. Lenders may still ask for personal guarantees from the principal owners.
What is asset-based lending and how is it different from a bank line of credit?
An asset-based loan (ABL) is a revolving facility whose availability is set by a borrowing base — a percentage of eligible receivables and inventory — rather than by a fixed limit tied mainly to earnings. ABL can provide more capital to companies with strong assets but uneven or recently weaker earnings. In exchange, it requires more reporting, such as regular borrowing base certificates and field exams.
What is the difference between receivables financing and factoring?
With receivables financing, the business borrows against its invoices and still owns and collects them. With factoring, the business sells its invoices to a factor, which advances most of their value up front and then collects from the customer. Factoring is often easier to qualify for because it relies heavily on the creditworthiness of the customers paying the invoices.
What financial information will a C&I lender want to see?
Expect to provide three years of business tax returns or financial statements, current-year financials, receivable and payable agings, a debt schedule, and personal financial statements for the principal owners. Lenders focus on cash flow available for debt service, leverage, the quality of the collateral and the reliability of the financial reporting. Clean, timely financials help lenders evaluate the request efficiently.
Can C&I financing be used to buy a business?
Yes. Acquisition financing is a core C&I use. Lenders size the debt mainly on the target company's historical cash flow and look at the buyer's equity, experience and transition plan. Depending on the deal, an SBA 7(a) loan may offer a longer term and lower equity requirement — we compare both before recommending a structure.
How is FOCUS Lending compensated?
FOCUS Lending Inc. may receive compensation from the borrower, the lender, or a combination of both, depending on the financing transaction. Applicable fees and compensation arrangements are disclosed as part of the financing process.
Related financing programs
SBA Lending
SBA 7(a) and 504 for acquisitions, expansion and owner-occupied real estate.
Learn more →
Commercial Real Estate Lending
Investment property, owner-occupied, multifamily, construction and refinance.
Learn more →
Private Bridge Lending
Short-term financing for time-sensitive and transitional deals.
Learn more →
Have a deal that needs a second look?
Tell us what you're trying to finance. We'll review it with a lender's eye and tell you what's realistic.
FOCUS Lending Inc. arranges financing and does not make loans directly. All financing is subject to lender underwriting, credit approval and documentation. Programs, terms and eligibility vary by lender and change over time.