If I had to name one behavior that destroys SBA deals more than anything else, it would be this:

Silence.

Silence from borrowers who are afraid to disclose an issue.
Silence from lenders who assume the borrower “should know.”
Silence from vendors who see a risk but don’t want to “rock the boat.”

Silence doesn’t protect deals.
It delays the truth until it’s expensive.

And what fixes silence?

Relationship.

When relationships are strong, people talk early.
When relationships are weak, people hide until they can’t.

This is why the best SBA lenders don’t just manage checklists.
They manage communication.

They create a tone where the borrower can say:
“I don’t understand this.”
Or:
“I’m concerned about this.”
Or:
“I made a mistake.”

And the best vendors don’t “drop a conclusion.”
They explain it, frame it, and help prevent avoidable misinterpretation.

The SBA triangle survives through conversation.

Silence turns manageable risk into chaos.

Trust is built in truth, not in comfort.