Collect the executed facility agreement, the schedule of reserved hours, invoices and payment records, storage and equipment arrangements, insurance, and the permissions each party holds. Add purchase orders, supplier contracts and any distribution or retail commitments. Read these records together to assess actual readiness; each proves a different part of the operation rather than automatically establishing the whole case.
Assemble access, permission and production evidence together
Note which equipment you own and store on site, which belongs to the facility, and how your ingredients and packaging are segregated. Equipment does not have to be in production before filing; purchase agreements, deposits and delivery schedules can evidence genuine commitment. If a document is missing or ambiguous, it can usually be supplemented or clarified, so raise gaps early rather than filing around them. Keep originals of anything showing money leaving your accounts.
Entity and ownership records, asset titles and lien searches, the lease and its assignment terms, service contracts, three years of tax returns and payroll, and the seller's licence status and qualifier arrangement. The first proves the business exists and earns: tax returns as filed, monthly revenue by trip type, deposits already taken for next season, the guides' payroll and their licences, and a fixed-asset list with titles for each boat, motor and trailer.