FAQ

Questions, answered plainly.

What these tools do, what they do not do, and how to get the most out of them.

Does this guarantee I will get approved for funding?

No. These resources do not guarantee funding, loan approval, eligibility, or any lender decision. They are educational and organizational tools that help you prepare before funding conversations.

Is this financial, legal, tax, credit, or lending advice?

No. These resources are for general educational and organizational purposes only. They do not provide financial, legal, tax, credit, or lending advice.

Who are these products for?

Small business owners, including service-based and local businesses, who are thinking about funding and want to organize their documents, numbers, and business information before applying or talking to a lender.

What if my books are messy?

You are not alone. Many owners realize during funding prep that their books are behind or hard to read. Start by seeing what is missing. If bookkeeping is the sticking point, Fourteen Feathers Bookkeeping may be a helpful next step.

Do I need bookkeeping software to use these tools?

No. The tools help you organize your information simply. Some products include Google Sheets, but you do not need advanced software knowledge to get started.

Are the products printable?

Yes. The PDF resources are designed to be printable and easy to use digitally.

Are Google Sheets included?

Some products include Google Sheets trackers or calculators. Each product page lists exactly what is included.

Can I use this before talking to a lender?

Yes. These resources are designed to help you organize and review your information before lender conversations. They do not replace advice from a lender or a qualified professional.

Will this tell me which lender to choose?

No. These resources do not recommend specific lenders or funding products. They help you prepare your business information before you choose your next step.

What happens after I purchase?

You will get access to the digital files or download instructions. If Google Sheets are included, you will get instructions for making your own copy.

Do you offer refunds?

Because these are digital products, refunds may be limited. See the Refund Policy for details.

How is this connected to Fourteen Feathers Bookkeeping?

Funding Prep Studio is powered by Fourteen Feathers Bookkeeping. If your readiness gaps are tied to bookkeeping, Fourteen Feathers may be a helpful next step for getting your books clean and clear.

What products does Funding Prep Studio offer?

Three toolkits and an optional review. The Lender-Ready Toolkit is for established businesses operating a year or more. The New Business Funding Toolkit is for startups and new owners with little or no financial history yet. The Nonprofit Grant-Ready Toolkit is for nonprofits seeking grants. The Lender-Ready Packet Review is an optional written review of your finished packet by a former lender. The new-business and nonprofit toolkits are launching soon.

Which toolkit is right for me?

Go by where your business is. Operating a year or more with real revenue, the Lender-Ready Toolkit. Pre-launch or under about three years, the New Business Funding Toolkit. A nonprofit seeking grants, the Nonprofit Grant-Ready Toolkit. If you are not sure, take the free scorecard and it will point you to the right one.

What is the difference between the three toolkits?

They are built for different stages. The Lender-Ready Toolkit organizes the documents, numbers, debt, and use-of-funds plan an established business already has into one packet. The New Business Funding Toolkit helps a new owner set up the basics funders expect and understand what funders look for, since there is little history to show yet. The Nonprofit Grant-Ready Toolkit is built around grants: a reusable grant-ready foundation, then prep for each specific grant.

What is the Lender-Ready Packet Review?

It is an optional add-on, separate from the toolkits. Once you have built your packet, Cristal Finley reads it the way a funder would and sends back a written review: what is strong, what to tighten, and a clear path forward. She spent fifteen years evaluating business funding requests. It is a preparation review, not approval, and it is not financial, legal, tax, or lending advice. It fits the established-business and new-business toolkits.

Do you serve nonprofits and startups too?

Yes. The Nonprofit Grant-Ready Toolkit is built for emerging and growing nonprofits seeking grants, and starts with a free Grant-Readiness Assessment. The New Business Funding Toolkit is built for startups and new owners. Both are launching soon. Take the free scorecard now and we will tell you the moment they open.

When do the new toolkits launch?

The New Business Funding Toolkit and the Nonprofit Grant-Ready Toolkit are coming soon. The fastest way to be the first to know is to take the free scorecard, which also shows you where you stand right now. We will email you when each one opens.

Who builds these tools?

Funding Prep Studio is built by Cristal Finley, who spent fifteen years evaluating business funding requests, from $35,000 to $40 million, and Brandon Allen, who builds and runs the tools and systems. It is backed by Fourteen Feathers Bookkeeping. The tools reflect what a funder actually looks for, so you can prepare with that in view. They are a preparation resource, not a promise of any funding outcome.