Use genuine records showing the source, receipt, transfers and actual investment commitments.
Preserve the money trail
A final bank balance alone may not explain the preceding transactions.
The purchase agreement and escrow instructions, complete source-of-funds evidence, the target business's financial statements, payroll records and material contracts, corporate formation and ownership documents, a lease or premises evidence, and a business plan covering at least five years. The executed distribution agreement with schedules, the guarantee itself, any security or pledge documents, loan agreements and amortization terms, proof of ownership and value for pledged assets, and the transfer records tracing funds into the U.S. enterprise. Collect the seller's federal and state tax returns for the last three years, quarterly payroll filings showing seasonal and permanent staff, the lease or deed for the premises, equipment lists and inventory records. A credible business plan with staffing and financial projections, a valuation supporting the price paid, corporate formation in the American state, a shareholders agreement drafted to establish operational control, and an accountant tracing the source of funds all cost money before anything is submitted.