A Success Scan can be the difference between thriving and shutting your doors for good. Small business owners often juggle too many responsibilities, and critical financial details slip through the cracks. Without a clear picture of their fundability, they end up missing growth opportunities—or worse, heading toward collapse.
In this article, we highlight five remarkable cases (anonymized or fictional) where a Success Scan from Fundswell revealed life-saving insights. If you think your business might be missing hidden threats, this could be the wake-up call you need.
1. The Retailer Who Found $30,000 in Hidden Leaks
A Hispanic-owned boutique in Arizona was seeing steady sales, but profit margins were shrinking every quarter. The owner assumed the issue was declining customer demand. After running a Success Scan, three problems emerged:
Auto-renewing software subscriptions that no one used
High merchant service fees—triple the industry average
Overstocking low-performing inventory
By renegotiating contracts and cutting waste, the retailer unlocked $30,000 in annual savings.
Explore SCORE’s financial projections templates to uncover cost inefficiencies.
2. Denied for Loans Three Times—Then Approved
A Black-owned trucking company in Georgia was repeatedly denied for equipment financing. Revenues were strong, but lenders cited “fundability” concerns.
The Success Scan revealed:
Business name inconsistencies across credit bureaus
A residential address on all public filings
No DUNS file activity
After correcting records and establishing a business credit profile, the company was approved for a $75,000 loan.
3. The Restaurant Expansion That Almost Didn’t Happen
An Orlando-based Caribbean restaurant planned to open a second location but couldn’t get SBA funding. A Success Scan identified major red flags:
The LLC was inactive due to a missed annual filing
Their Paydex score was below 40
Incorrect EIN information on SBA paperwork
Within 90 days of correcting these errors, the restaurant secured a $90,000 SBA-backed loan.
4. Contractors Buried in IRS Penalties
A construction firm in Chicago was blindsided by IRS penalties for missed payroll tax filings. Their bookkeeper had failed to file quarterly 941 forms for over two years.
The Success Scan flagged:
Skipped payroll tax filings
Incorrect employee W-2s
An invalid FEIN on payroll provider records
After catching up on filings and restructuring payroll, they avoided further penalties and qualified for a $50,000 bridge loan to stabilize cash flow.
5. A Creative Agency Saved by Cash Flow Realignment
A Denver-based marketing agency was drowning in late-paying clients. The Success Scan showed:
80% of income came from clients paying 60+ days late
Retainer clients only represented 15% of revenue
Rising operational costs with flat revenue
By shifting to retainer-based contracts and prepaid packages, the agency doubled cash flow in 90 days, allowing them to hire a full-time designer.
Why a Success Scan Works
The businesses above didn’t fail because of poor products or lack of demand—they lacked visibility into the weaknesses that lenders notice first. A Success Scan acts as a strategic business assessment tool, uncovering:
Compliance gaps that cost you loan approvals
Cash flow leaks that erode profitability
Credit profile errors that damage your reputation
When you know what’s holding you back, you can fix it—and lenders notice.
Your Business Needs Its Own Success Scan
Whether you’re applying for funding or just trying to stabilize, a Success Scan can be the difference between success and collapse. It gives you:
A snapshot of your fundability
A list of actionable priorities
The confidence to approach lenders
Don’t wait until your business is in crisis. Start with a Success Scan and get the insights you need today.
Need expert guidance? Visit Fundswell’s Business Resources to get started.
