The Problem
Thin Files. Rising Fraud. Not Enough Signal to Make Confident Decisions, Fast.
Tola facilitates payments for small businesses across industries, and supports their growth by offering flexible financing. But that mission comes with a growing challenge: fraudsters increasingly exploit the same thin files and limited histories common among real SMBs, making it harder than ever to distinguish legitimate applicants from bad actors. And with the rise of AI-driven scams, fraudsters are even more willing to get on calls, provide polished documentation, and present convincingly.
“You want to work with the right small businesses,” says Evan Dreyer, Head of Risk & Finance.
“But without the right data or deep enough insights, it’s challenging to decipher who’s legit and who’s trying to game the system.”
Previously, Tola’s team had to chase down fragmented records – jumping from Secretary of State portals to legal databases and even spending time on calls with lawyers – just to find and cross-reference UCC liens, litigation, and other risk signals. Not only was it slow, it lacked objectivity.
The Solution
Comprehensive KYB Scoring + One Click Liens and Lawsuits Searches
Tola now evaluates every financing customer with clarity and speed. What used to take hours, or require lawyers, now happens in seconds.
With Baselayer’s platform, the team can instantly access real-time Secretary of State records, business identity data, lawsuit checks, and UCC filings all in one place. What once took navigating convoluted legal workflows now happens in a click. For Evan, Baselayer’s UCC capabilities were what sealed the deal.
“To have this embedded into a tool that I already like to use for checking customers and to easily and quickly escalate this to search and even file a lien is just a fantastic customer experience. Operationally it’s so much easier and more precise.”
The ability to instantly verify the legitimacy of a customer, check for red flags, and receive a PDF summary has transformed how Tola approaches onboarding and escalation. This added layer of embedded due diligence helps their team move quickly without increasing their risk exposure or creating unnecessary friction.
“Baselayer lets us focus on the customers we actually want to serve, without simply increasing the requirements on everyone”
With its comprehensive, intelligent scoring system, Baselayer also introduces a new level of objectivity and consistency into Tola’s processes. Now their go-to-market and risk teams are equipped with a shared lens of risk, standardizing decision-making without sacrificing speed.
The Result
A Clearer, Smarter, More Consistent Way to Say “Yes”
With Baselayer integrated across their financing workflows, Tola has replaced guesswork with confidence – even for thin-file or early-stage businesses. Their risk team now spends less time untangling government databases or chasing legal documents, and more time focusing on their mission to help the SMB economy thrive.
Tola didn’t just adopt a new tool. They gained a smarter, faster, more trustworthy way to make decisions and safeguard company interests – and a partner that understands what it takes to underwrite the businesses that actually deserve a yes.
