Sentinel issues 48-hour term sheets for qualified facilities. Most application delays — and most declines — are not caused by weak businesses. They are caused by incomplete or disorganized documentation packages that prevent underwriting from making a decision. This brief documents every element of a complete Sentinel application package for facilities of $500,000 and above.
The Non-Negotiable Core: Buyer Credit Quality
PO financing is underwritten against your buyer — not you. Sentinel's capital is secured by the buyer's obligation to pay the purchase order. Before any other qualification factor is reviewed, Sentinel assesses buyer creditworthiness.
- Publicly traded companies (NYSE, NASDAQ, etc.) — high qualification probability
- Rated investment-grade corporations — high
- Large private companies with 3+ years audited financials — moderate to high
- Mid-market private companies — reviewed case-by-case
- Small private buyers or unknown entities — typically require credit insurance overlay
Seller (Importer) Documentation Package
Entity Documents
- Certificate of Formation / Articles of Incorporation (NJ registered entity)
- Operating Agreement or Bylaws
- EIN confirmation letter (IRS Form SS-4)
- Current UCC lien search (NJ DORES)
- List of all owners with >20% ownership interest
Financial Documents
- Last 2 years business tax returns (or CPA-prepared financials)
- Last 3 months business bank statements (all accounts)
- Current A/R aging report
- Current A/P aging report
- Inventory schedule (if carrying existing inventory)
Trade Documents
- Signed buyer purchase order(s) to be financed
- Pro forma invoice from overseas supplier
- Supplier verification contacts
- Prior shipping history (bill of lading, commercial invoice examples)
- Customs bond confirmation
The 48-Hour Term Sheet Process
Hour 0–2: Application submission. Sentinel intake team acknowledges receipt and assigns an underwriter.
Hour 2–8: Buyer credit review. Sentinel pulls D&B, Experian Business, and trade reference data on the buyer. For publicly traded buyers, this step completes in 1–2 hours.
Hour 8–24: Importer document review. UCC lien search, financial review, supplier verification contact attempt.
Hour 24–36: Underwriting committee review. Facility structure, advance rate, fee schedule, and lien documentation approved.
Hour 36–48: Term sheet issued. Importer reviews and executes. UCC-1 (PMSI) filing prepared.
Hour 48–72: First disbursement to supplier upon executed term sheet and supplier invoice confirmation.
Common Disqualifiers and How to Resolve Them
| Issue | Impact | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Unqualified buyer (small private entity) | Blocks standard facility | Add credit insurance; Sentinel reviews with overlay |
| Active MCA blanket lien | Reduces advance rate | Payoff MCA or obtain subordination |
| No prior import history | Increases underwriting scrutiny | Provide supplier references; start with smaller facility |
| Missing buyer PO signature | Blocks funding | Obtain signed PO on buyer letterhead |
| Tax liens (IRS or NJ) | May block facility | Disclose upfront; installment agreement may resolve |
| UCC lien search mismatch | Delays underwriting | Provide explanation; may require lien termination |
Interactive: PO Stepper — Qualification Readiness Checker
Lateral Relevancy
Before applying, understand the full cost of the facility you're requesting to evaluate whether PO financing economics are right for your margin structure.
Ready to start your application? Initialize your Funding Analysis or call (888) 653-0124.
DISCLAIMER: Sentinel Trade Finance | Carteret, NJ 07008 | (888) 653-0124 | Qualification criteria are subject to change. Submission of a complete application does not guarantee approval. All financing subject to underwriting, credit review, and approval. Not financial or legal advice.