Our streamlined process
Whether this is your first franchise loan application or not, our experts can walk you through each step of the process and answer any questions you may have.
STEP 1
Applying
To apply for a loan, provide us your contact information and a real person will reach out to you to discuss your financing needs and assess how we can help. Our goal is to make applying simple and painless.
STEP 2
Underwriting
We collect documents and assign a dedicated Loan Underwriter to speak with you regularly so we can thoroughly understand your loan request.
STEP 3
Funding
Once your franchise loan has been approved, a dedicated Closing Specialist will work with you to simplify documentation and arrange the funding of your loan.
We match financing options to your specific needs
- Conventional financing refers to loans that are not guaranteed or insured by the federal government.
- SBA financing refers to loans that are partially guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, or SBA. Gulf Coast has earned nationwide SBA Preferred Lender (PLP) accreditation, enabling us to underwrite, process, and close SBA-guaranteed loans on behalf of the SBA.
- Equipment financing involves obtaining a loan or lease specifically for the purpose of purchasing business-related equipment.
In summary, conventional financing is best suited for borrowers with strong credit and substantial down payments, SBA financing is ideal for small businesses needing flexible terms and lower down payments, and equipment financing is tailored for purchasing specific business-related equipment with the equipment itself serving as collateral. Each type of financing serves different needs and comes with its own set of advantages and requirements. We will be happy to discuss your unique situation in detail to help recommend the best solution for your needs.
A FRANCHISEE SUCCESS STORY
The relationship has far exceeded our expectations…
“A number of years ago a banker suggested that we approach Gulf Coast’s CEO about the start-up financing we were seeking for our restaurant franchises. He flew out to California to meet us and tour several units. We left that initial meeting with his support and a level of comfort that he understood the ‘big picture’. Little did we know that, despite the leap of faith (after all the brand was fairly new and we had big growth plans), it was the start of a great relationship.
Our initial locations did even better than projected and, as time went on, we kept in touch. Eventually the franchise specialist became our point person at Gulf Coast, and we hit it off with him right from the start. He has regularly checked in with us – his personal involvement has been nothing short of terrific.
He’s a truly nice guy who is interested in how things are going. What has been especially helpful to us is that we’ve always known where we stood with Gulf Coast which gave us the confidence to strategically plan our growth. From day one, they made certain that we understood the benchmarks we’d need to hit for Gulf Coast to provide additional financing. There is a level of trust that has been achieved over the years.
Even though we fully understand that this is an arms-length relationship, they still feel like part of our team. To a person, everyone we’ve ever encountered at Gulf Coast has been unfailingly helpful and they have made us feel special – almost as if we are one of only a few customers (even though we realize that isn’t the case). It is safe to say that the relationship has far exceeded our expectations.”
— Dan A. and Mike S.
Multi-Unit Franchisees
