In addition to requiring a business plan containing projections for at least 3 to 5 years, as well as a proven tack record for the performance of your business (they rarely provide funds for start-ups), banks will typically require your to provide collateral that is at least 3 times the value of the loan. One exception to this is when you do business with a smaller bank that is part of the guarantee program set up by the SBA Office, where the SBA guarantees the loan. If you meet the program requirements, you will get better conditions than those of a regular loan.