Looking to Borrow? An Audited Financial Statement Can HelpPaying for audited financials may help you get credit and reduce interest rates.

More than one-half of all small-businessloanapplications are being rejected by banks, according to the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index. In such a tough lending environment, companies in need of capital might find lenders more receptive if they invest in audited financial statements.

"We've had clients who needed these statements to even get the loan, and it can make a difference in the interest rate you get," says David G. Barbeito, a principal in the Miami office of Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, a large independent accounting firm.