How To Apply For A PPP Loan | Step-By-Step Procedure

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) offers low-interest loans that may be forgiven entirely, whether you’re a sole proprietor, self-employed, a small business owner with staff, or an independent contractor.

How to qualify for a PPP loan is one of the more perplexing parts of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

This step-by-step guide will walk you through our PPP loan application so that you can submit, approve, and fund it as quickly as possible.

What Is a PPP Loan and What Does It Mean?

A Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan is a government-backed loan that may be forgiven to assist small businesses and organizations that have faced economic difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Borrowers that meet the criteria can get up to 2.5 times their monthly payroll expenditures.

PPP loans can be used to cover payroll and other pandemic-related costs, and qualified expenses incurred/paid for within the first 24 weeks after receiving loan money may be eligible for debt forgiveness.

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What are the Benefits of Paycheck Protection Program Loans?

PPP loans are designed to assist small businesses in keeping their payrolls up to date and continuing to make important payroll-related payments such as rent and utilities. We can use the loan for the following purposes in its entirety:

• Payroll expenses:
  • Compensation as salaries, wages, commissions or similar compensation up to $100,000
  • Payment of cash tips or equivalent
  • Payment for vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave
  • Allowance for dismissal or separation
  • Payment of retirement benefits
  • Group vision, dental, disability, or life insurance
  • Payment of state or local taxes assessed on the compensation of employees
• Healthcare costs associated with the maintenance of group healthcare coverage during sick, medical, or family leave, as well as insurance premiums
• Interest payments on a mortgage (but not prepayment or payment of the mortgage principal)
• Rent \s
• Utilities
• Any other debt commitments incurred before February 15, 2020 will be subject to interest.
• Refinancing an SBA EIDL acquired between January 31st and April 3rd, 2020
• Expenses that support business operations, product or service delivery, such as business software or cloud computing services.
  • business operations
  • product or service delivery
  • the processing, payment or tracking or payroll expenses, human resources, sales, and billing functions
  • accounting or tracking of supplies, inventory, records, or expenses
• Covered supplier costs
• Covered worker protection expenditures
• Property damage charges are covered.

See Also: How To Apply For A Business Loan

What are the Paycheck Protection Program PPP Loan Requirements?

To be eligible for a PPP loan, your company must meet the following requirements:

• As of February 15, 2020, your company was open for business.
• You have fewer than 500 employees.
• You’re a freelancer, a sole proprietor, a self-employed person, or a business partner (though only one PPP application can be submitted per partnership).
• You had employees for whom you paid salaries, and Form 1099-MISC is used to submit payroll taxes. (However, 1099 payments cannot be included in payroll calculations.) This holds true for paid independent contractors as well.
• As defined by the SBA, you are a small business concern.

Also, confirm that:

• Because of the current economic situation, you will need to apply for a loan.
• The monies will be used to keep employees, pay wages, and make the mortgage, lease, and utility payments.
• You haven’t applied for a PPP loan or an EIDL for the same purpose yet (over the same period).
• You did not get a PPP loan or an EIDL for the same purpose from February 15, 2020, to December 31, 2020 (over the same period).

Read Also: What Is A PPP Loan? Overview, And How It Works

How is Paycheck Protection Program PPP Loans Calculated?

PPP loans are computed using 2.5 times the monthly payroll expenditures of your company (or group).

You can apply for 3.5 times your monthly payroll costs for your Second Draw if you own a restaurant, hotel, or live venue with a NAICS code beginning with “72.”

Compensation is included in payroll costs, as well as other payroll-related costs like retirement payments, state and municipal payroll taxes, payment for vacation or paid leave, group healthcare costs, and separation or dismissal allowances.

Visit the PPP loan estimator for a detailed breakdown of what is included and excluded, as well as an estimate of the size of your prospective PPP loan.

Read Also: Business Acquisition Loans

How to Apply for a PPP Loan | Step-by-Step Procedure

Before You Get Started

To ensure that the application process runs as smoothly as possible, gather the following documents before beginning.

You’ll need the following items to finish the application:

For all types of businesses:

• All owners with a 20% or more stake in the company must provide a copy of their government-issued identification.

Proof that you were in business on or before February 15, 2020 is required for all sorts of businesses:

• If you have W2 employees, you should:
  • 3rd Party Payroll Processing Report from February 2020
  • IRS Form 941 from Q1 2020
• If you don’t have any W2 workers:
  • Bank Statement from February 2020
  • Customer Invoice from February 2020

You’ll need the suitable tax paperwork that you use to file your taxes for all businesses:

• Provide whichever tax-filing document your company uses:
  • Form 1065
  • Form 1120 are two different types of tax forms.
  • 1120-S
  • Form 1120-S
  • Form 1040 with Schedule C
  • Full Business Tax Return (if none of the above are applicable).

You’ll need the following evidence to prove your payroll expenditures if you have W2 employees:

• Choose one of the following:
  • For your employees, W2s and W3s are required.
  • IRS Form 944 (Internal Revenue Service)
  • IRS Form 941 (Internal Revenue Service) (all 4 quarters)
  • 3rd-Party Payroll Processing Report

STEP 1: Create or Log into your Lendio Account

To create a loan profile with Lendio, fill out the form below. Click “Sign in” if you already have an account.

STEP 2: Open your PPP Application and Log in.

Confirm whether you’re applying for your first or second PPP loan after creating a Lendio account or entering into your existing account and starting the PPP application.

STEP 3: Double-check existing Business Data

Confirm the address is correct, including the 5-digit zip code (it’s vital to note that this is the 5-digit zip code, not the 9-digit zip code).

Business Start Date:

Enter the start date of your company. The start date should correspond to the filing date with the Secretary of State.

Business Type:

Verify that you’ve picked the correct business type. This has an impact on the documents you’ll be needed to submit.

Tax ID:

Confirm that you’ve supplied a valid 9-digit tax ID number. Make sure there are no mistakes and that the ID number is nine digits long.

For some business kinds, the tax ID will be the owner’s Social Security number. Others will need the EIN (Employer Identification Number).

Employee Number:

Verify that the number of employees is between 1 and 500. 1 is for sole proprietors and 1099 workers (0 is not a valid entry).

Average Monthly Payroll:

This factor influences your maximum loan amount and can be calculated for 2019 or 2020. To prove payroll, you’ll need the associated tax paperwork.

Requested Loan Amount:

The loan amount should be 2.5 times your average monthly payroll expenditures (plus any Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds received, if applicable).

It should not be zero dollars. Hundreds of millions of dollars should not be required. You can use our PPP loan calculator for assistance.

Answer 8 general questions about your business after clicking “Next.” (Applicants in the Second Draw must enter gross receipts and costs for 2019 and 2020 before responding.) Skip to Step 5 if you’re a First Draw applicant.)

STEP 4: Revenue Reduction (Second Draw only)

You must be able to show a revenue reduction of at least 25% to be eligible for the Second Draw.

• For each quarter of 2019 and 2020, enter your gross receipts.
• Enter your expenses for each of the 2019 and 2020 quarters.
• After you’ve double-checked the information, click “Next.” Your application will include a financial statement that meets the SBA’s evidence requirement.

After clicking ‘Next,’ check to see if the owner has changed.

STEP 5: Confirm Ownership

Confirm whether someone holds a 20% or higher ownership in the company on the first “Owner Information” page.

If this is the case, please input the percentage of ownership that you (the applicant) own, as well as any additional owners with a 20% ownership stake, using the link near the bottom of the page.

Please show and confirm that you are allowed to fill out the PPP application on behalf of the business you are applying for if no one has 20% ownership of the company.

The percentage of ownership must be larger than zero.

STEP 6: Confirm Identification Documents

You should upload and examine the essential identity documents on the “Upload Identification & Voided Check” page. To ensure a comprehensive PPP application, double-check everything you’ve already uploaded and add any missing papers.

Please upload the following attachments to your application if you haven’t already:

1. All business owners who hold 20% or more of the company must have a driver’s license: For each owner, a full-color copy of the front and back of a valid driver’s license. Check to see whether the driver’s license hasn’t expired.
2. Other forms of official identification

STEP 7: Confirm Payroll Documents

Please upload all documents that show proof of your average monthly pay. This section is optional if you do not have any W2 employees.

Required for certain types of businesses:

• IRS Form 941 (Internal Revenue Service) (all 4 quarters)
• IRS Form 944 & IRS authorization in writing
• Forms W-2 and W-3 are required for all employees.
• 3rd-Party Payroll Processor Report

Click ‘Next,’ and then upload the tax document that corresponds to your tax filing method:

• Partnership:
  • Form 1065
  • Schedule K-1s for each partner
• S-Corporation:
  • Form 1120-S
• Sole Proprietorship:
  • Form 1040 (Must include Schedule C)
• C-Corporation:
  • Form 1120
• LLC Multi-Member With Employees, Single Member, Single Member With Employees:
  • Form W-2 and Form W-3
  • IRS Form 944
  • IRS Form 941 (all quarters)
  • 3rd-Party Payroll Processing Report
• LLC Single Member & Multi-Member Without Employees:
  • None
• All Others With or Without Employees:
  • Full Tax Return

STEP 8: Confirm Tax Documents

Upload the tax document that corresponds to your tax filing method:

• Partnership:
  • Form 1065
  • Schedule K-1s for each partner
• S-Corporation:
  • Form 1120-S
• Sole Proprietorship:
  • Form 1040 (Must include Schedule C)
• C-Corporation:
  • Form 1120
• LLC Multi-Member With Employees, Single Member, Single Member With Employees:
  • Form W-2 and Form W-3
  • IRS Form 944
  • IRS Form 941 (all quarters)
  • 3rd-Party Payroll Processing Report
• LLC Single Member & Multi-Member Without Employees:
  • None
• All Others With or Without Employees:
  • Full Tax Return

Step 9: Additional Documents

Depending on your business type, you’ll need to upload the following documents:

• IRS Form 941 from Q1 2020
• 3rd-Party Payroll Processing Report from February 2020
• February 2020 Bank Statement (2019 if payroll calculation is from 2019)
• Customer Invoice from February 2020 (2019 if payroll calculation is from 2019)
• IRS Form 1099-MISC from 2020 (2019 if payroll calculation is from 2019)
• IRS Form 1099-K from 2020 (2019 if payroll calculation is from 2019)
• STEP TEN: Obtaining Demographic Data (Optional)

STEP 10: Demographic Information (Optional)

Enter your demographic data. Disclosure is entirely optional and has no bearing on the loan decision.

The information is gathered solely for the purpose of reporting on the program.

STEP 11: E-Sign Confirmation

It’s almost time to put your name on the line. Please review the following information before resubmitting your PPP application:

• Verify that the application includes your entire legal name.
• Check that your Social Security number is correct (9 digits).
• Enter the applicant’s birthdate (new field).
• Gender of Applicant: “Male,” “Female,” or “Not Disclosed” are the options. The SBA mandates that this demographic information be documented in order to report on its programs.
• Sign, certify, and then submit! This is a necessary step in the process of saving and uploading any modifications.

STEP 12: Welcome to the Final Step!

You’re set to go now that you’ve successfully submitted your application!

Are you interested in learning more about the next steps in the process? Take a look at what occurs once you submit your application.

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How to Complete Your PPP Loan Application

Step 1: Log in to your PPP Account

When you submit a PPP loan request on SBA.com®, you will be redirected to our partner’s PPP application. You should already be on this page if you just submitted your request.

You will complete your application with our partner, and then it will be finished and submitted to a lender in our partner’s approved PPP lender marketplace once it has all of the appropriate information and documents.

Here’s how to get back to your application if you’ve already left the application portal. Our partner should have sent you an email with your login information for the application portal.

If you can’t find this email, you can still log in to your application portal by resetting your password with the email address associated with your loan request.

Whether you access the partner’s portal through SBA.com® or through our partner, your login information will remain the same. Select ‘Edit Application’ once you’ve logged into the application portal to go over your existing information and fill in any gaps.

You’ll need to take more steps from here to finish your application with our partner and submit it to a lender.

Step 2: Update or Confirm Existing Business Information

Make sure this section is completely filled out. There are a few sections below that you should pay extra attention to.

• Confirm the address is correct, including the 5-digit zip code (it’s important to note that this is the 5-digit zip code, not the 9-digit zip code).
• Verify that you’ve picked the correct business type. This has an impact on the documents you’ll be needed to submit.
• Enter or check that you have supplied a valid 9-digit tax ID for your business. Make sure there are no mistakes and that the ID number is nine digits long.
• Requested loan amount: Your loan amount should be 2.5 times your average monthly payroll expenditures. It should not be zero dollars. Hundreds of millions of dollars should not be required. You can use our PPP loan calculator for assistance.
• Verify that the number of employees is between 1 and 500. Enter 1 for sole owners and 1099 workers. 0 isn’t a valid value.

Step 3: Add New Business Information Requirements

These new mandatory fields must be filled out on the same “Business Information” page of the application.

• The date on your Secretary of State filing must be the same as the date on your business start date.
• Start typing your industry, then choose it from the drop-down menus that appear. If your industry isn’t listed, choose the one that comes closest. Without an industry, the SBA cannot approve an application.

Step 4: Confirm or Enter Your Ownership

Confirm the applicant’s ownership proportion on the initial “Owner Information” page. The percentage of ownership must be larger than zero.

Step 5: Add or Verify Additional Owner Information

After that, fill in or double-check all required information for additional owners (if any). You must include information for everybody who owns at least a 20% stake in the company.

All fields on the “Additional Owner” page, including the date of birth, must be filled out. (On the “E-Sign” page, you will also be requested to give the date of birth of the owner who is applying.)

You’ll need a color copy of both the front and back of each owner’s driver’s license. In the “Documents” section (which is next), you will be requested to upload the copies. We wanted to give you plenty of notice so you’d be prepared).

Step 6: Confirm or Upload Documents

To ensure a complete PPP application, you must provide all essential documents or validate that everything previously supplied is correct and add any documents you’re missing on the “Upload Your Documents” page.

Please upload the following attachments if they haven’t already been added to your application:

• All business owners who hold 20% or more of the company must have a driver’s license: For each owner, a color copy of the front and back of a valid driver’s license. Check to see whether the driver’s license hasn’t expired.
• Acceptable Payroll Documents (in order of apparent preference by the SBA):
  • For businesses interested in obtaining a PPP loan:
    • Quarterly Tax Filings: 941 (2019, 2020 Q1)
    • Annual Tax Filings: 944 (2019)
    • Register of Payroll for the Previous 12 Months
    • Bank statements from the previous 12 months
  • If you’re a 1099 independent contractor or self-employed individual looking for a PPP loan, here’s what you’ll need to know:
    • IRS 1040 Schedule C
    • 1099s (under which you were paid)
    • Income and expense reports for 2019
  • For all applicants
    • Business account bank statements
    • Any additional documentation that can be used to support your payroll costs.

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Step 7: Look for additional instructions from their partner or your lender in your email.

Once our partner has certified and processed your application, they will post it to their lender marketplace, where a PPP lender can choose to accept it and give you a PPP loan.

If your application is accepted by a lender, you will receive an email confirmation from the partner and/or your lender.

To ensure that you receive your loan, read these emails carefully and follow all instructions.

When is the Deadline to Apply for PPP?

Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2023, or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first. The PPP Flexibility Act was extended until January 2023, reopening the program (PPPFA).

The PPP Flexibility Act, which was signed into law on June 5, 2020, included prior expansions to the program aimed at giving borrowers more options.

In the past, the PPP Flexibility Act has already been utilized by Congress to:

• Provide borrowers will have an additional 24 weeks to spend loan funds and qualify for forgiveness, up from the original 8 weeks.
• Reduce the amount borrowers were required to spend on payroll costs from 75% to 60%.
• Allow borrowers to qualify for forgiveness even if they are unable to retain or restore their employment (in some cases).
• To make the procedure easier for borrowers, update the forgiveness applications.
• Increase the loan period from two to five years.

Can I Apply for a Second PPP Loan?

If you already got a PPP loan, you may be eligible for a second round of funding that is equal to or greater than the amount you received in your first loan (depending on your business type).

On your PPP loan, this is referred to as a “Second Draw.”

The SBA clarifies that this is not a separate loan but rather a draw on your existing loan.

When applying for your Second Draw, you must use your SBA loan number from the First Draw.

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Who will be eligible for the Second Draw?

If you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible for the second round of PPP funds:

1. Have fewer than 300 employees
2. Previously received a PPP loan (and have utilized or plan to use all funds), and
3. Experienced a 25% or greater revenue drop as a result of the pandemic

How Much Can you Get from a PPP Loan with a Second Draw?

Businesses that meet the criteria can receive the same amount as you did in the First Draw (in this respect, it is like a second PPP loan).

Most qualifying businesses can get up to 2.5 times their monthly payroll expenditures.

Businesses with a NAICS code that starts with the letter “72” may be eligible for up to 3.5 times their monthly payroll expenses.

This clause was added to allow the worst-affected businesses to get even more money the second time around.

FAQs

Conclusion

The best things you can do ahead of time prepare your 2022 or 2023 taxes or request a payroll report from your payroll provider (if you have one).

If you don’t have any employees, you’ll need a ready-to-upload 2022 or 2023 1040 Schedule C form (your taxes don’t have to be filed yet). You’ll need the same paperwork and information whether you apply with Square Capital or another lender.

If you’re looking for a second PPP loan, your company must have lost at least 25% of its income in a quarter in 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2022.

You can do this on a weekly basis with quarterly financial statements or bank statements or annually with tax forms for the entire year 2022.

Make sure that any numbers you enter in the application absolutely match the numbers on your supporting documentation. It’s also crucial to upload all the relevant documents during the application procedure. Incorrect papers may cause your application to be delayed.

References

• lendio.com – Your Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a PPP Loan
• lendio.com – Everything You Need to Know About PPP
• sba.com – How to Complete Your PPP Loan Application

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