Self-funded searchers - when did you begin equity fundraising?

I think there are a couple of alternatives here:
- Pre-search, organizing a group of people likely to write a check based on credentials
- As soon as a deal is under LOI
- Following an LOI, once an SBA lender is firmly in place

My current thought process is that I will begin shortly after LOI, but before bank financing is fully established such that the two funding sources align on timing and close.

What did you do and what do you think is best practice, or what could have been improved in your personal process?