How do I show an AV installer’s equipment inventory to a lender?

Lenders think about what could be sold if things go wrong, so the list should be easy to follow. Divide it clearly: tools, vehicles, demo and showroom items, and stock for jobs. Include age, condition and where each item sits. A tidy structure tells the lender the business knows what it has.

Be careful about what is not yours. Client-paid equipment sitting in the warehouse, items on consignment and anything already pledged to another lender should be marked, not hidden. Lenders check, and an overstated list damages everything else you present. Equipment that is specialized or quickly outdated may be treated cautiously.

Support the list with proof: purchase invoices, a recent count, photographs and an explanation of how stock turns over. Show how inventory ties to open projects and what the shop buys per job. Ask the lender what they want to see, since requirements differ. Your accountant can help present how equipment appears in the financial statements, and your lawyer can check for existing claims on it. Offer the lender a visit to the warehouse. Seeing racks, labelled shelves and a working count builds more confidence than a spreadsheet, and any gap between the list and the shelves is better found now than after an offer.

Key takeaways

• Divide the list into tools, vehicles, demo gear and job stock.
• Mark client-paid, consigned and already-pledged items rather than hiding them.
• Back the list with invoices, a recent count and photographs.