Pioneer Buy-Side Brief: Our approach to SBA lending


Each week, I share insights on trends in the business acquisition space, whether it’s updates to SBA guidelines, shifts in deal structures, or financing trends that impact buyers.

However, today, I want to take a moment to highlight something different. With the rapid growth at Pioneer Capital Advisory, I’d like to personally share how our firm works with business buyers like you and what you can expect when partnering with us to secure financing for your acquisition.

Over the past three months, our firm has expanded significantly, welcoming six new team members to strengthen our ability to serve you. As the demand for SBA financing continues to rise, we have been intentional about building a team that is deeply knowledgeable, highly responsive, and unwaveringly committed to ensuring that your deal closes successfully.

Navigating the SBA lending process can be overwhelming. Between lender requirements, underwriting requests, and closing conditions, many buyers find themselves lost in a maze of complexity and delays.

That’s where Pioneer Capital Advisory steps in—not just as a financing resource, but as a strategic partner guiding you through the entire process, from lender selection to final closing.

We’ve developed a structured, results-driven approach designed to eliminate roadblocks, secure the best possible financing terms, and ensure a smooth, efficient closing experience. Below, I’ll walk you through our six-step process and explain why working with Pioneer Capital Advisory sets you up for success.

Our Proven 6-Step Process for SBA Loan Success

At Pioneer Capital Advisory, we believe that securing financing should be a streamlined and well-managed experience. Our six-step process is designed to ensure clarity, efficiency, and the highest level of lender engagement—getting you from initial consultation to deal closing with precision.

Step 1: Intake & Onboarding

Our process begins with understanding the specifics of your acquisition and financial profile. You’ll receive:

  • A comprehensive intake checklist, ensuring all required documents are gathered upfront.
  • An engagement letter and NDA, allowing us to confidentially present your deal to lenders.

By establishing a strong foundation from day one, we ensure that your financing journey is structured and seamless.

Step 2: Document Submission

To maintain efficiency, we create a secure data room where you can upload all necessary documentation. If anything is missing, our team will reach out immediately, ensuring your file is complete before submission to lenders.

This proactive approach minimizes unnecessary delays, setting you up for success early in the process.

Step 3: Lender Deck Creation

This is where our bilingual M&A underwriting team plays a crucial role. Our team of two (soon to be three) underwriters, all fluent in English and Spanish, meticulously craft a lender-ready presentation that highlights the most compelling aspects of your deal.

Your lender deck includes:

  • Sources & Uses Breakdown, outlining how loan proceeds will be allocated.
  • Cash Flow Summary, demonstrating the business’s ability to support debt obligations.
  • Narrative Overview, providing context on your acquisition, experience, and financing rationale.


This detailed presentation ensures that lenders fully understand the strength of your deal, increasing your chances of receiving competitive financing terms.

Step 4: Term Sheets

Once lenders have reviewed your file, we present you with multiple term sheets, giving you the ability to compare options and select the best financing structure for your acquisition.

Our deep industry relationships allow us to negotiate terms that often exceed what buyers receive when approaching lenders independently.

Step 5: Underwriting

After selecting a lender and signing a term sheet, your deal enters the full underwriting stage. This includes:

Submission of your deposit to the lender.

Providing supplemental documentation, including a 3-year financial projection and a business plan.

During this stage, our bilingual M&A Deal Success Coordinators ensure that underwriting progresses efficiently. Their proactive communication with both you and the lender prevents unnecessary delays, keeping your deal on schedule.

Step 6: Deal Success & Closing

The final stage is where financing moves from approval to reality. Our Deal Success team works alongside you to:

  • Satisfy all lender closing conditions, ensuring compliance and readiness for funding.
  • Facilitate closing logistics, ensuring a smooth transition from approval to ownership.
  • Expedite timelines, helping buyers close their acquisitions in an average of 72 days and 20 hours—a significantly faster turnaround than many experience when navigating SBA financing alone.

At Pioneer Capital Advisory, we don’t just secure loan approvals; we see deals through to the finish line, ensuring a seamless and confident closing process.

How Pioneer Capital Advisory is Compensated

One of the most common questions we receive is, “How does Pioneer Capital Advisory get paid?”

Unlike many loan consultant firms, our firm is not part of your closing costs. Instead, we are compensated directly by the SBA lender after your loan closes. This means:

You do not need to budget for our services separately.

Our compensation comes from the bank, only after your loan is successfully funded.

Our interests are fully aligned with yours—we do not succeed unless we help you close your deal.

This structure ensures that our focus is squarely on helping you achieve the best financing outcome, with no additional out-of-pocket costs for our expertise and guidance.

Why Pioneer Capital Advisory is Different

Many loan consultant firms take a passive role, leaving buyers to navigate lender negotiations, underwriting complexities, and closing requirements on their own. That’s not how we operate.

At Pioneer Capital Advisory, we take a hands-on, results-driven approach to SBA financing:

  • We structure your deal to attract lender interest, ensuring competitive financing terms.
  • Leverage lender relationships to present multiple options, rather than locking you into a single lender.
  • Actively manage the underwriting and closing process, ensuring requirements are anticipated and addressed in advance.

We work tirelessly to remove obstacles, minimize delays, and get your deal funded—fast.

Simply put, our goal is to make the SBA financing process as smooth, strategic, and successful as possible.

Let’s Discuss Your SBA Financing Needs

If you’re a current or prospective business buyer, I’d love to connect and explore how Pioneer Capital Advisory can support your acquisition financing.

Schedule a Call with Our Team

Or, if you’d prefer to reach out directly:

Email: matthias@pioneercap.com

Phone: (608) 421-2750


Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Business buyers are encouraged to consult with their legal counsel and accountant to ensure the proper structuring of their transactions and to fully understand the tax implications of seller financing.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reply directly to this email with any questions or thoughts.

Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC

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