Whether you are buying, building or refinancing, CIT Small Business Lending Corporation can help you make it happen. A well-respected leader in the financial services industry, CIT Group Inc. offers an extensive line of franchise financing options and an exceptional level of customer service. Those two factors support one goal – to help your business succeed.

As the world’s largest publicly held commercial finance company, CIT Group Inc. has provided a number of significant benefits to commercial borrowers throughout the country since 1908. With the creation of a division that's 100% dedicated to small business lending, CIT Group Inc. has the ability to offer a broad range of services to businesses seeking financing. Our program includes a proven mix of products and services that have been specifically developed to help franchisees succeed. Our record speaks for itself; CIT Small Business Lending Corporation was recently named the #1 Small Business Administration (SBA) Lender in the country after approving a total of 1,012 loans for $469 million in 2000.

Our focus sets us apart. CIT Small Business Lending Corporation professionals are dedicated to franchise lending, allowing a deeper understanding of the concepts we finance, along with the particular dreams and aspirations of the franchisees we work with.

Furthermore, unlike many other lenders, CIT SBLC has representatives located throughout the country. This nationwide coverage gives CIT SBLC the unique ability to help borrowers where they do business now and in the future.

In the past few years alone, CIT SBLC has financed dozens of established franchise concepts across various industries such as fast food, casual dining, childcare, lodging, fuel, automotive, and business services. Although the businesses are diverse, all of these franchisees share a desire for speed, flexibility, and a finance company that understands their business. And that’s exactly what we provide.

At CIT Group Inc., we pride ourselves in the positive feedback we continue to receive from some of our most successful borrowers. Our representatives aim to provide customers with the most pleasant and efficient lending experience.

In 1999, Larry Byers began working with a different lender to finance his Alphagraphics franchise in Illinois. However, after he already began the month-long training process with Alphagraphics, Byers received his check, which was thousands of dollars less than what the lender had approved. After that stressful experience, Byers turned to CIT Small Business Lending Corporation. He explains, "CIT Small Business Lending Corporation realized that my case required immediate attention. My CIT Small Business Lending Corporation representative assisted me with the application process and put the deal together in less than a week. He went out of his way to help and later, even visited me at the new store."

James Wright is also pleased with the financing he received from CIT Small Business Lending Corporation for two Flowerama shops in Florida. He says, "I considered other lenders, but they couldn’t match CIT Small Business Lending Corporation’s package and interest rates. I was also impressed with CIT Small Business Lending Corporation’s reliability, organized approach, and level of support. Everything was smooth from start to finish."

Touching yet another industry, CIT Small Business Lending Corporation helped Ken Baxter acquire an existing FASTSIGNS business that had been open for nine years. Baxter’s experience with CIT Small Business Lending Corporation was his first with a commercial lender. "The people I worked with at CIT Small Business Lending Corporation went the extra mile to help me meet the designated closing date. They pushed extra hard for us and provided all the information up front to keep us moving."

We’ll finance just about anything a qualified franchisee needs to start, expand, or improve a franchise business. Proceeds can be used for a variety of business purposes: to purchase land and buildings, acquire existing franchises or established businesses expanding their operations, remodel or upgrade existing facilities, purchase new equipment or machinery, refinance or consolidate existing debt.

CIT Small Business Lending Corporation's franchise programs don’t help just franchisees with proven track records. They are designed for all franchisees, from start-up to established. As an operation expands and larger amounts of funding are required, we can tailor financing to fit a franchisee’s needs.

Many franchisees turn to CIT Small Business Lending Corporation for SBA loans to meet their financing needs. In fact, CIT Small Business Lending Corporation is the nation’s largest provider of SBA loans to franchisees. CIT Small Business Lending Corporation offers SBA 7(a) loans up to $1.5 million, or more, under special circumstances, and offers SBA 504 loans up to $4 million in a total financing package with the SBA.

Most for-profit small businesses are eligible for an SBA loan. These include manufacturing, wholesale, retail and service businesses, as well as independent or franchise businesses. SBA loans can be used for almost any type of business need.

The SBA needs proof that the owner is active in the business and willing to make a reasonable commitment to it. As a new or start-up business, the owner will be required to invest as little as 15%. All principals must show a satisfactory credit history, as well as demonstrate an appropriate debt/net worth ratio and adequate cash flow.

CIT Small Business Lending Corporation has emerged as a leader on the cutting edge of industry technology, particularly with its customer service tools available online. In addition, CIT Small Business Lending Corporation’s online application EZApp makes the SBA application process easier and more convenient for borrowers and their referral sources. Specifically, CIT Small Business Lending Corporation offers online customer service tools, like account services, where referral sources can track the status of their referred deals going through the underwriting and closing process.

CIT Small Business Lending Corporation can also provide construction loans. Our experienced construction staff and policies are in place to facilitate construction lending. More importantly, our construction loan automatically converts to long-term financing, once the construction project is complete. This means no second loan – just one closing, one set of closing costs, and one lender. We’re committed to getting the job done as quickly as possible and providing our customers with an enjoyable experience.

Our Small Business Lending representatives are focused on franchise lending and committed to helping your business succeed. As a well-respected industry leader, we continue to benefit from franchisee feedback and fine-tune our financing to accommodate our borrowers’ needs. If you are looking for franchise financing from a lender who offers superior customer service, call us today at 1-800-713-4984 to discuss your borrowing needs.