Business loans are a vital part of any small business's growth, but sometimes it can be hard to get a loan through a traditional bank. We researched dozens of alternative lenders to find the best and most reputable ones. Our top recommendations are below, but if you want to take a step back and learn more about small business loans, visit our guide to choosing the right business loan.
Our Best Picks
To help you find the right Business Loans, we researched and analyzed dozens of options. Here is a roundup of our 2018 best picks for Business Loans and an explanation of how we chose them.
Best for Working Capital Loans
Best for Lines of Credit
Best for Startup Loans
Best for Merchant Cash Advances
Best for Bad Credit Loans
Best for Equipment Financing
Editor's Note: Looking for information on business loans? Fill in the questionnaire below, and you will be contacted by alternative lenders ready to discuss your loan needs.
Noble Funding
Best for Working Capital Loans
Summary
Noble Funding provides small businesses with a compelling working capital loan offering. Businesses looking for fast financing have access to funds ranging from $50,000 to $2,000,000 and can get funded in just two to three business days. Noble's applications process is quick and easy, and business owners can use these types of loans for quick, short-term funding. Read our full review of Noble Funding.
Features
- Provides funding between $50,000 and $2,000,000
- Short-term loans
- Credit score qualification: 550
Kabbage
Best for Lines of Credit
Summary
Kabbage offers small businesses lines of credit up to $250,000. Each time you draw against your line of credit, you have six or 12 months to repay the loan. Instead of paying interest, however, you pay fees of 1 to 10 percent each month. To apply, you fill out an online application and link the system to either your business checking account or an online service you already use, such as QuickBooks. Kabbage's platform automatically reviews the data on those sites to determine if you meet the company's standards. The process typically takes minutes to complete. Once approved, you have instant access to your line of credit. Read our full review of Kabbage.
Features
- Lines of credit between $2,000 and $150,000
- 6 and 12 month repayment terms
- Loan approvals in minutes
SBG Funding
Best for Startup Loans
Summary
SBG Funding provides small businesses with various loans, including lines of credit and traditional small business loans. Based on the company's requirements and qualifications, its offering is ideal for startups. To get funding from SBG, businesses need to be established for six months, earn $150,000 in revenue per year and have a credit score of 550 or more. These qualifications, along with both short- and long-term rates, make SBG Funding an ideal option for startups and growing businesses. Read our full review of SBG Funding.
Features
- Lines of credit between $2,000 and $150,000
- Six and 12-month repayment terms
- Loan approvals in minutes
RapidAdvance
Best for Merchant Cash Advances
Summary
RapidAdvance offers merchant cash advances of 50 to 250 percent of your monthly credit card volume. You repay loans by giving RapidAdvance a fixed percentage of your future card receipts until the loan is repaid. To qualify, you need to have been in business for at least three months, have at least $2,500 in monthly credit card receivables and have a physical location for your business. You can apply for the advance online or over the phone. The approval process can be completed in 24 hours, with funds available within three days. Read our full review of RapidAdvance.
Features
- Advances up to 250 percent of monthly credit card sales
- Loan repaid with future credit card sales
- Funds available within three days
OnDeck
Best for Bad Credit Loans
Summary
OnDeck offers fixed-rate loans of up to $500,000. To qualify, you need a minimum credit score of 500 and an annual revenue of at least $100,000, and you must have been in business for at least one year. Loan terms vary, ranging from three to 36 months and are paid back on a daily or weekly basis. You can apply for a loan online or over the phone. You can receive approval in just a few minutes, with funds deposited into your account within 24 hours. Read our full review of OnDeck.
Features
- Fixed-rate loans up to $500,000 or lines of credit up to $100,000
- Loan terms range from 3 to 36 months
- Credit score requirement: 500
Crest Capital
Best for Equipment Financing
Summary
Crest Capital offers equipment financing of up to $1,000,000. Financial documents aren't needed for financing of less than $250,000. The lender has a range of loan and lease terms, including fixed-rate loans, $1 purchase agreements, 10 percent purchase options, fair-market-value leases, guaranteed purchase agreements and operating leases. To qualify, you must have been in business at least two years and have a minimum credit score of 700. The approval process can be completed in as little as four hours. See our full review of Crest Capital.
Features
- Equipment financing up to $1M
- Crest has been lending since 1989
- Can partner with a vendor if you don't already have equipment selected for financing
Our Methodology
To help you find the right Business Loans, we researched and analyzed dozens of options. Here is a roundup of our 2018 best picks for Business Loans and an explanation of how we chose them.
Locating the Best Services
To determine the best alternative lenders, we started with a pool that included all the lenders on the comprehensive list below as well as other lenders that were industry leaders or requested to be analyzed and reviewed by Business News Daily. After preliminary investigation, including a look at other best-pick lists and initial research into each lender, we whittled this list down. After several rounds of research and other considerations, we arrived at a shortlist of companies to consider for best picks. These companies underwent customer service calls, further research and other testing until we arrived at our six best picks: OnDeck, Crest Capital, SBG Funding, Noble Funding, Kabbage and RapidAdvance.
Choosing the Best Services
Ultimately, we settled on 12 alternative lenders to research as our best picks: Balboa Capital, Fora Financial, Kabbage, Reliant Funding, Noble Funding, SBG Funding, LoanMe, altLINE, OnDeck, RapidAdvance, Crest Capital and Paypal. (See below for the full list of alternative lenders.)
Researching Each Service
We researched each lender by investigating the types of loans it offers, the amount of money that can be borrowed and for how long, the application and approval process, and repayment procedures. We also considered any general term rates listed on these lenders' websites. After narrowing the list to 18 contenders, we contacted each lender's customer service department by phone (and live chat if possible) and posed as business owners to gauge the support each company offers. We also considered how available information was on each company's website. For new or busy business owners, it's difficult to find the time to call each company and basic loan information, like ballpark rates or general terms. We prioritized online transparency in this round of reviews.
Full List of Business Loans
Here is a full list of Business Loans providers and a summary of what each company claims to offer. This alphabetical list also includes our best picks, which are marked with badges.
- Full List
- Best Picks
1st Merchant Funding
1st Merchant Funding provides merchant cash advances and short-term business loans of $5,000 to $250,000. After completing an application, borrowers receive funding options within just a few minutes, with funding available the following business day.
6th Avenue Capital
6th Avenue Capital is a data-driven Merchant Cash Advance firm. To apply, provide 6th Avenue Capital with an estimated amount of your monthly credit card receipts, total monthly revenue, and the cash advance amount you’re requesting. The lenders funding experts can review your application and make a funding decision in less than 24 hours. Eligible businesses must have been open for at least six months, have at least $10,000 per month in revenue, have significant potential for future business growth and bank accounts in good standing.
800Fund.com
800Fund.com is a provider of merchant cash advances, working capital solutions, alternative financing solutions, and other alternatives to credit lines and small business loans through the purchase of future receipts, ACH programs, and numerous other alternative lending solutions and programs.
Accion
Accion is a small business microloan lender. The company provides two types of loans: one for established businesses and one for startups. Loan types, amounts and requirements vary by state. Each loan type is secured and features fixed interest rates.
Accountable Capital
Accountable Capital specializes in loans for small and midsize businesses throughout the United States. The company offers merchant cash advances, business loans, lines of credit and working capital loans. In addition, it has funding programs specifically for liquor stores and the medical and restaurant industries. There are no application fees. The company offers 24-hour approvals, and bad credit is not an automatic disqualification.
Advance Funds Network
Advance Funds Network (AFN) offers a number of flexible business-financing options for small and midsize businesses, including bad credit business loans, cash advances, invoice and purchase-order factoring, and equipment leasing. AFN's products are available to all businesses, regardless of credit score.
Advantage+
Advantage+ is an equipment-leasing direct lender that serves businesses throughout the country. Most new loans, which range from $2,000 to $200,000, come through equipment manufacturers, distributors and dealers that use the lender's financing to help their customers buy equipment. About 40 percent of its loans come from existing or previous borrowers, with a growing number of requests coming directly from borrowers, through the Advantage+ website and word of mouth.
Advantage Lease
Advantage Lease is a nationwide provider of commercial financing products and services focused on small and midsize businesses. Advantage finances commercial equipment in most major market segments. The lender has expertise in certain markets, including office technology, industrial equipment, food services, office furniture, security and surveillance, health care, information technology, and software.
American Express
American Express offers a suite of financing solutions merchant financing, working capital loans and business loans to American Express OPEN card members. The merchant financing is a commercial loan, not a purchase of receivables or a cash advance. A business must repay the loan in full, together with the loan fee, regardless of its future credit and debit card charge volume. Working capital loans of between $1,000 and $750,000 are available for 30,60 and 90 day terms. The business loans program offers unsecured loans of up to $50,000. Businesses can apply for the loans through an online process and receive a decision in as little as 60 seconds.
American Finance Solutions
American Finance Solutions purchases businesses' future credit card transactions, and advances that money to the businesses. After a business receives the advance, this lender deducts a fixed percentage of the business's daily credit card sales until the advance is paid in full. To qualify, businesses must have been in operation for more than a year and process at least $5,000 in credit card sales each month.
Amerifund
Amerifund has been providing equipment financing of between $5,0000 and $5,000,000 to companies across the United States for new or used equipment since 1995. The lender tailors specific leasing or finance programs to best assist companies in meeting their financial goals. Amerifund's lease, finance and working capital programs provide flexibility, including structured terms that cater to the seasonality of your business, or programs that allow you to use the equipment for three to six months without any out-of-pocket payments.
American Microloan
American Microloan provides small business financing and funding via merchant advance loans for Visa and MasterCard merchant account holders. The cash advance or loan amount is based on the merchant's previous six-month average credit card sales volume. The typical loan amount is 70 to 100 percent of the monthly average, with the typical term at six months.
Apple Capital Group
Apple Capital Group Inc. is an asset-based lender that specializes in equipment leasing and financing ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 for up to 60 months. It also offers small business, bridge and hard-money loans on projects of under 12 months. It can evaluate loan requests in less than two hours, with funding available in three days.
ARF Financial
ARF Financial offers a diverse selection of loan products, including working capital loans, lines of credit, bridge loans and mezzanine credits. Its loans range from $5,000 to $1,000,000. Approvals are granted quickly; funds are available in seven to 10 days, and collateral is not required on loans up to $750,000.
Ascentium Capital
Ascentium Capital is a solutions provider for equipment and technology financing. Its finance platform paves the way for fast, flexible financing for virtually any business need. The lender provides financing and leasing for manufacturers, distributors, resellers and franchise organizations, as well as direct financing options for small, midsize and Fortune 500 companies.
Balboa Capital
Balboa Capital offers several small business loan products, including working capital loans, franchise loans, equipment leasing and flexible small business loans. The company makes quick credit decisions, offers loans of up to $250,000 and has no restrictions on how businesses can use the money.
Biz2Credit
Biz2Credit is an online marketplace for small business funding. The company connects small businesses in need of funding with lenders. It can help small businesses obtain a variety of loans, including SBA loans, equipment financing, business acquisition loans, commercial loans, lines of credit, franchise loans, real estate financing, disaster loans and merchant cash advances.
Bizfi
Bizfi provides real-time preapprovals and multiple funding options to businesses from a wide variety of funding partners. Bizfi's funding options include short-term financing, franchise funding, equipment financing, invoice financing, medium-term loans and long-term loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
BizLender
BizLender is a provider of alternative funding solutions for businesses throughout the United States. This lender offers business cash advances, merchant cash advances, and both secured and unsecured business loans. Funding of $5,000 to $500,000 is available through BizLender.
BlueVine
BlueVine helps businesses free up cash trapped in their invoices by providing an advance on the amount due. There are no hidden fees, paperwork or obligations. The application is completely online, and there are no long-term contracts or termination fees. Once it approves a business, BlueVine sets a credit line for the business to use as needed.
BoeFly
BoeFly is an online marketplace for small business loans. This loan exchange connects small business owners with more than 4,000 business lenders. BoeFly is a subscription service that does not charge any transaction fees.
Bond Street
Bond Street offers term loans up to $1,000,000, with interest rates starting at 6 percent and terms from one to three years. To qualify, your business needs to have been open for at least two years and have annual revenue of at least $200,000. Businesses whose owners have a credit score of at least 640 are most likely to qualify. The online application takes 10 minutes to complete, with offers arriving within three days.
The Business Backer
The Business Backer specializes in small business financing. This lender offers a variety of loan types, including factoring, purchase financing, specialty financing, equipment leasing, traditional loans and lines of credit. To qualify, businesses must have been operating for at least a year, and must have annual revenue of at least $150,000 and a personal credit score of 550 or higher.
Business Capital USA
Business Capital USA is a provider of merchant cash advances of up to $500,000. To qualify, borrowers must have been in business for at least six months and have steady monthly cash flow, or at least $5,000 in monthly revenue. Borrowers can apply for an advance online.
Business Credit & Capital
Business Credit & Capital specializes in offering merchant cash advances to retailers, restaurants and service businesses. The lender purchases a percentage of future revenue and advances those funds to businesses. There are no restrictions on how the money can be used. For businesses to repay the loan, the lender collects a daily percentage of sales.
Business Finance Advance
Business Finance Advance provides unsecured cash advance funding to small and midsize merchants based on their future credit card sales. The lender determines cash advance amounts based on a borrower's average monthly credit card sales. It generally funds between $2,000 and $1 million.
Business Loans Direct
Business Loans Direct offers a wide range of loans, including business cash advances, merchant cash advances, small business loans, merchant loans, restaurant financing, bar and nightclub financing, and medical practice financing. The application process is free, and upon approval, businesses receive their funds in as little as 72 hours.
BFS Capital
BFS Capital offers both small business loans and merchant cash advances. The company provides loans of $4,000 to $2 million to small businesses in a wide variety of industries, including restaurants, retail stores, service providers, manufacturers and wholesalers.
CAN Capital
CAN Capital offers small business loans and merchant cash advances. Loans through CAN Capital range from $2,500 to $150,000 and mature in four to 24 months. No personal collateral is needed, and funds can be transferred in as little as two business days.
CapFusion
CapFusion offers competitive, flexible loans based on data for businesses that need cash to quickly and efficiently fund their growth. To qualify, businesses must have been in operation for at least one year, and have annual revenue above $100,000 and a personal credit score of at least 500.
Capify
Capify is an alternative finance provider that leverages a proprietary underwriting platform to provide working capital solutions to small and midsize businesses. These loans include merchant cash advances, business loans and inventory purchase programs. Business owners can apply online and will receive decisions in 60 seconds or less.
Capital Alliance
Capital Alliance provides loans to small businesses that have been in business for at least a year and have annual revenues over $100,000, regardless of their credit history. Loans are available up to $1 million, with terms typically ranging from six to 12 months. Businesses can apply for loans online, receiving a decision within 24 hours.
CapitalFront
CapitalFront offers a wide array of financial products including merchant cash advances, receivable financing, factoring, SBA lending and fixed-rate term solutions to independent business owners nationwide. Funding amounts and terms vary by loan.
Citi Wide Merchant Funding
Citi Wide Merchant Funding provides small businesses with access to working capital. Funding options include small business loans, merchant cash advances, equipment financing, accounts receivable financing and startup restaurant financing.
Connect2Capital
Connect2Capital is a nonprofit lender for small businesses. It offers small business loans of $50,000 to $4 million for permanent working capital, owner-occupied commercial real estate and leasehold improvements, business equipment, and refinancing existing debt.
Credibility Capital
Credibility Capital is a marketplace lender focused on prime-credit small business borrowers. Its platform matches businesses with institutional investors to fund loans ranging from $10,000 to $150,000. The Credibility Capital Risk Score incorporates a range of data to arrive at a recommendation for a particular interest rate. The lender's borrowers are small businesses seeking capital primarily for business expansion and inventory financing.
Credibly
Credibly offers working capital and expansion loans of $5,000 to $250,000 to small and midsize businesses. Working capital loans have repayment periods of six to 17 months, while expansion loans have 18- to 24-month terms. Both include one-time 2.5 percent fees. There are no application fees, and if your application is approved, you can typically expect funds within 48 hours.
Credit Card Processing Specialists
Credit Card Processing Specialists offers merchant cash advances to small businesses. Its services for merchant cash advance work by providing funds upfront, taking repayment when businesses process credit card payments.
Crest Capital
Crest Capital is a national lender specializing in providing small and midsize businesses with no-hassle equipment financing and leasing. Crest offers a broad array of equipment, vehicle, furniture, and software lease and loan agreements at fixed rates that won't go up with inflation. Crest also provides real quotes instantly with its free monthly payment calculator.
David Allen Capital
David Allen Capital offers business term loans of $10,000 to $500,000. Approvals are made within one day, with funds available as soon as two business days later. To qualify, you must have been in business for at least a year and have a personal credit score over 500 and annual revenue of more than $100,000. Repayment is made on a daily or weekly basis, with funds automatically withdrawn from your business bank account.
Dealstruck
Dealstruck provides a variety of small business funding options, including business term loans, revenue-secured term loans and asset-based lines of credit. The company offers loans of $50,000 to $250,000. To get a loan, businesses must be profitable, with annual sales of at least $250,000, and have more than one year of operating history.
Direct Capital
Direct Capital is a financial technology company that delivers financial solutions for small and midsize businesses, franchisers, and equipment and technology sellers. The company specializes in equipment financing, working capital loans and franchise financing. Direct Capital offers equipment financing and working capital loans of up to $150,000, and franchise financing of up to $250,000. Term lengths range from 30 days to 84 months.
Everest Merchant Services
Everest Merchant Services provides small businesses with merchant cash advances. Its four-dimensional underwriting and approval process focuses on future credit card transactions and receivables revenue as a repayment method. This system allows the lender to quickly estimate and assess its return probability using all the dimensions of a business and not just a credit score. Repayment is based upon future swiped Visa and MasterCard credit card transactions.
Excelsior Growth Fund
Excelsior Growth Fund is a nonprofit alternative lender offering an affordable online loan product. Loans of up to $100,000 can be approved in as little as two business days and fully funded in as little as five business days. Larger loans up to $500,000 can be funded in approximately two weeks. Businesses can also opt to receive free advisory services and one-on-one support from its team of business advisors.
FastUpFront
FastUpFront provides completely unsecured business cash advances of up to $250,000. All businesses that accept credit cards are eligible for a cash advance from FastUpFront. The cash advances are based on future sales, not credit scores.
Flash Advance
Flash Advance is a provider of merchant cash advances to businesses around the country. Businesses can apply online and be approved within one hour. In addition to the cash advances, the lender offers SBA bridge loans, small business loans and equipment financing.
First American Merchant
First American Merchant offers merchant cash advances, cash advances for businesses that don't have a merchant account, and consumer financing that can be repaid in three, six or 12 months. The lender approves advances to businesses that have credit scores below 500 and makes funds available to borrowers within 72 hours.
First Working Capital Group
First Working Capital Group specializes in small business funding. The lender offers a variety of loan types, including ongoing lines of credit, merchant cash advances, equipment leasing and franchise financing. First Working Capital Group provides loans regardless of credit history. Instead, this lender gives considerable weight to how long businesses have been open when determining the loan amount.
Fora Financial
Fora Financial provides flexible working capital solutions to small businesses in need of financing. The lender offers both small business loans and merchant cash advances. Fora Financial serves a variety of industries, including manufacturing, medical, retail, wholesale, transportation, restaurants, construction and auto. The lender makes funds available within 24 hours of approval.
ForwardLine
A nationwide supplier of financing to small businesses, ForwardLine uses technology and nontraditional credit algorithms to finance 98 percent of the U.S. businesses that banks consider too small and too risky for a business loan. ForwardLine offers both small business loans and merchant cash advances.
Fountainhead Commercial Capital
Fountainhead Commercial Capital is a lender of Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans. The loans offer long-term, below-market, fixed interest rates for owners of small and midsize businesses to purchase and/or construct their owner-occupied commercial real estate. To qualify, you must be a for-profit, non-publicly traded company with a net worth of under $15 million and a net business income of less than $5 million over the previous two years, and ownership must be 51 percent U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Fundation
Fundation is a direct lender that delivers small-balance commercial loans. Loans are available with one- to four-year repayment periods. Long-term loans are designed for borrowers looking to make large investments in their business, and shorter-term loans are designed to help business owners with everyday operating costs. Both types of loans have fixed interest rates starting at 7.99 percent.
Fundbox
Fundbox offers business owners a way to fix their cash flow by advancing payments for their outstanding invoices. There are no approval processes, forms to fill out, phone calls to make or obligations. Businesses connect their accounting app to add their unpaid invoices and pick the unpaid invoices they want to clear. An advance for the amount automatically transfers to the business's bank account.
Fundera
Fundera gives small businesses access to multiple loan offers through one application. It does not loan money directly to small businesses, but rather connects small businesses with different financing options. The types of loans the company helps set up for small businesses include small business loans of up to $1 million, merchant cash advances, equipment loans, factoring, 401(k) rollover funding and lines of credit.
Funding Circle
Funding Circle uses its technology to match accredited and institutional investors with small businesses looking for financing. You can apply for a loan online in just 10 minutes, and get the money in your bank account within 14 days. All of the loans are secured and require a lien on your business assets and a personal guarantee from the primary business owners.
Fundivo
Fundivo is not a direct lender. It uses its algorithm to find and match a borrower with the best provider for a small business loan. Fundivo then negotiates with lenders to get borrowers the best deal available.
Fundomate
Fundomate offers a platform that allows small businesses to choose financing options from up to 20 different preapproved lenders. It has small business loan and cash advance options. To qualify, businesses need to have been in operation for at least three months and have at least $10,000 a month in deposits.
GoKapital
GoKapital helps entrepreneurs obtain business loans nationwide. With GoKapital, you can apply for a number of business lending options, including SBA loans, short-term loans, lines of credit, merchant cash advances, equipment financing, franchise loans, business acquisitions loans, and loans for minorities and women. Businesses can instantly prequalify for a loan by filling out an online application.
Grameen America
Grameen America is a not-for-profit microfinance organization that provides small loans to women. Since being founded in 2008, Grameen America has expanded to 18 branches in 11 cities and disbursed nearly $340 million to more than 58,000 women. Grameen America can invest in women who have no credit scores or business plans and can provide no collateral. Loans range from $1,500 to $10,000.
Gud Capital
Gud Capital is not a direct lender. It works with small businesses to find the best loan options among its network of 4,000 lenders, which include traditional banks, SBA lenders, community banks and institutional investors, along with a range of alternative business and commercial lenders. Types of loans include asset-based financing, lines of credit, alternative loans, equipment financing, bridge loans, factoring, term loans, merchant cash advances, SBA loans, working capital, commercial real estate loans, and debt refinance and consolidation.
Headway Capital
Headway Capital offers small businesses lines of credit ranging from $5,000 to $30,000. Once approved, businesses can borrow as much money as needed, whenever it's needed, up to the available credit limit. With each draw, a business can select the repayment schedule that best suits its needs. To be eligible to apply, your business must have been in operation for at least one year and be located in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington or Wisconsin.
Horizon Business Funding
Horizon Business Funding is a direct funder specializing in alternatives to small business loans, regardless of bad credit. This lender offers bad-credit business loan alternatives to businesses in any industry, provided the business has been operating for at least two to three months and has a monthly cash flow of $15,000. Horizon Business Funding provides loans of $1,000 to $1,000,000.
IMM Financial
IMM Financial is primarily a cash-flow lender with loans between $5,000 and $1 million, depending on the type of funding required. The company offers a variety of loan types, including accounts receivable factoring, lines of credit, purchase-order financing, equipment financing, asset-based lending, and mergers and acquisition financing. Businesses with bad or no credit are not necessarily denied. Loans are available as secured and unsecured and in several countries besides the United States.
Infinity Capital Funding
Infinity Capital Funding is a direct funder, providing merchant cash advances, small business loans, and other working capital solutions to small and midsize businesses throughout the United States. The lender approves loans within 24 hours and provides funding within days.
Innovative Lease Services
Innovative Lease Services offers commercial financing to small and midsize businesses throughout the U.S. and Canada. The lender specializes in custom tailored finance programs to fit each business's needs. Specific funding options include equipment financing, working capital loans, inventory financing, merchant cash advances and invoice factoring.
IOU Financial
IOU Financial provides loans of up to $150,000 to small businesses. The automated application and approval system assesses applicants' financial realities, with an emphasis on day-to-day cash flow. To qualify, businesses must have been in operation for at least a year, make at least 10 deposits into a business bank account each month, and have annual revenue of at least $100,000 and an average ending balance of $3,000 per day in their business bank accounts.
Jet Capital
Jet Capital offers merchant advances from $2,500 to $100,000, depending on revenue and other factors, to businesses that have been operating for three months or longer and have average monthly revenue of $5,000 or more. The online application process allows for initial decisions in just minutes. Businesses approved for advances can access the funds as soon as the next business day. Jet Capital bases its decisions on a business's overall track record, not just the owner's credit score.
Kabbage
Kabbage is a provider of lines of credit to small businesses. The lender uses data generated by dozens of business operations to understand performance and deliver fast, flexible funding in real time. Kabbage can support small businesses that make at least $50,000 in annual revenue and have been in business at least one year by analyzing various data sources that you use every day to run your business.
Kalamata Capital
Kalamata Capital is a data-driven, alternative finance company focused on small businesses. The lender offers a wide range of loan types, including working capital loans, business expansion and acquisition loans, SBA loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, inventory financing, accounts receivable factoring, and merchant cash advances. Using automated data aggregation and electronic payment technology, Kalamata Capital can make credit decisions in as little as 24 hours.
Key Equipment Finance
Through approximately 400 financing professionals nationwide, Key Equipment Finance delivers a wide array of business-to-business equipment financing to organizations of many sizes and types, focusing on four distinct markets: businesses of all sizes in the U.S.; equipment manufacturers, distributors and value-added resellers; federal, provincial, state and local governments, as well as other public sector organizations; and lease advisory and syndications support for corporations looking to optimize risk and revenue.
Keystone Equipment Leasing and Finance
Keystone Equipment Leasing and Finance offers equipment leasing and financing to established businesses (two years plus), and its application procedure usually requires no financial statements or tax returns for equipment up to $100,000. Medical practices are encouraged to apply, even as startups.
Kiva
Kiva is a nonprofit that provides entrepreneurs with access to capital through person-to-person lending. Small businesses have the opportunity to raise up to $10,000 in capital with no interest or fees. Through Kiva, anyone who wants to support small business growth and local job creation can choose to lend $5 or more to a small business of their choice.
LeaseQ
LeaseQ offers instant quotes on a free, cloud-based SaaS platform for borrowers looking to finance equipment. The company specializes in deals under $250,000, and it partners with equipment dealers and leasing companies across a variety of industry segments. With LeaseQ, you can compare and prioritize lease quotes by monthly payment or total amount and see all related fees.
Lending Club
Lending Club offers loans to most types of businesses, including professional and personal services, retailers, contractors, health and wellness providers, automotive companies, wholesalers, manufacturers, and restaurants. Its loans can be used for a variety of purposes, including business expansion, inventory or equipment purchases, working capital, and refinancing.
LendingTree
LendingTree connects consumers to lenders that compete for their business. LendingTree lenders offer an array of loan types, including business loans. The loan amount approved for a business is based on several key factors, such as how long the company has been in business, its annual revenue and its credit score.
Lendio
Lendio is an online service that helps small businesses quickly find the right business loan. It makes business loans by matching qualified small business owners with active banks, credit unions and other lending sources.
LENDonate
LENDoante is an open, online lending platform that unites qualified nonprofits with lenders for quick funding of high quality, low-cost loans. The platform enables nonprofits to secure financing from previously untapped sources, receiving attractive loan rates and donations. Uniquely, marketplace and philanthropic lenders join forces to fund major projects in ways that fulfill both their financial and charitable goals.
LendVantage
LendVantage offers business term loans of $5,000 to $25,000, revenue-based financing of up to $250,000, and merchant cash advances of up to $100,000. The lender also offers business lines of credit of $2,000 to $100,000. LendVantage does not require personal collateral and has funding available within days.
Lendza
Lendza connects businesses with funding partners for a variety of loan options, including accounts receivable financing, acquisition funding, lines of credit, real estate financing, equipment financing, franchise loans, merchant cash advances, SBA loans and traditional term business funding. Lendza helps businesses find loans of up to $350,000. Once it finds you a partner, Lendza guides you through the process of obtaining financing for your business.
Liberty Capital Group
Liberty Capital Group offers a wide variety of business funding programs, including conventional business loans, SBA loans, commercial real estate loans, equipment and machinery financing, lines of credit, asset-based financing, and low-credit financing. Applications can be completed in two minutes, with funding available for some loans as quickly as within 24 hours.
LiftForward
LiftForward operates a marketplace loan platform that provides loans to small businesses of up to $1 million. Funds can be used for asset purchases, purchase-order financing, or working capital with terms ranging from three to 36 months. Utilizing technology and its proprietary LiftSCORE, LiftForward can quickly underwrite loans and get businesses the money they need in as little as 48 hours. Using an online calculator, you can quickly see what your payment might be for your loan amount and term.
LQD Business Finance
LQD Business Finance is a small business lending firm. Unlike traditional banks and other alternative lenders, LQD can approve a loan that is tailored to a client's needs, in just a matter of days. The lender uses custom technology to provide small businesses with quick, convenient and affordable business loans. LQD offers loans for expansion, acquisition and working capital, as well as accounts receivable financing.
Marlin Equipment Finance
Marlin Equipment Finance is a nationwide provider of commercial financing products and services focused on small and midsize businesses. Marlin is a direct lender, providing financing to businesses so they can acquire new equipment and technology while preserving capital. Its customers include equipment dealers, manufacturers, distributors, brokers and small businesses.
Mateo Capital Group
Mateo Capital Group is a commercial finance broker offering financing solutions to entrepreneurs seeking to grow or expand their businesses. The lender specializes in business loan financing for small and middle-market companies that have $150,000 to $100 million in sales. Loan products include alternative business loans, equipment financing, invoice factoring, commercial mortgages, SBA middle-market loans and insurance agency loans.
Maverick Capital
Maverick Capital is a business funding provider that offers loans of up to $250,000 and merchant cash advances. This lender also offers the Hybrid Program, which combines traditional cash advances with microloans. With the Hybrid Program, you pay back the cash advance through a combination of a holdback percentage of your credit card sales and a weekly payment.
Med One
Med One offers flexible financing solutions to small and middle-market companies looking to acquire the equipment to operate their business. The company offers customized leasing programs for both medical and commercial equipment. Med One partners with manufacturers, distributors and product resellers across a variety of industries. Some of its unique lease options are deferred payments, step-up payments, operating leases and capital leases.
Merchant Advisors
Merchant Advisors offers an assortment of loan types, including small business loans, working capital loans, restaurant loans, bad-credit loans, cash advances, SBA loans, restaurant equipment leasing, lines of credit, franchise financing, 401(k) business funding and home-based business loans.
National Business Capital
National Business Capital provides a variety of business financing options, including equipment leasing and financing, small business loans, lines of credit, accounts receivable financing and funding, commercial mortgage financing, SBA loans, purchase-order financing, franchise financing, and doctor, medical and physician loans.
National Funding
National Funding offers small businesses a range of financial services and products, including working capital loans and merchant cash advances. The company's working capital loans for small businesses require no pledge of personal assets.
Newtek
Newtek offers full-service solutions with full end-to-end financing, including term loans, merchant cash advances and accounts receivable financing. The lender provides financing from $50,000 to $10 million. The money can be used for a variety of purposes, including to open a new location, acquire an existing business, launch a new product or marketing initiative, increase working capital, increase cash flow, refinance debt, and upgrade a website.
Noble Funding
Noble Funding provides working capital loans that range from $50,000 to $2 million. It has a quick application process that includes a free quote. Rather than apply online, you'll work with one of Noble's loan specialists, who will gather information about your business, including annual revenue, credit score, etc. Noble's loan specialist will then provide you with an initial quote.
OCM Financial Group
OCM Financial Group provides capital equipment leasing to a wide range of businesses. It helps businesses finance or lease new equipment, as well as refinance existing equipment. This includes any type of capital equipment your business might use in manufacturing and retail applications.
OnDeck
OnDeck offers loans to small and midsize businesses. The company uses data aggregation and electronic payment technology to evaluate the financial health of businesses when deciding whether to approve a loan request. The company's proprietary credit models look deeper into the health of a business, focusing on overall business performance rather than the owner's personal credit history.
Opportunity Fund
Opportunity Fund is a nonprofit small business lender that offers small business, micro, commercial vehicle and mobile food truck loans. The loans range from $2,500 to $250,000. Currently, this lender only provides loans in 13 states California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.
PayPal
PayPal offers working capital loans to small businesses that already process payments through PayPal. In most cases, the maximum loan amount is 8 percent of the sales a business has processed through PayPal in the past 12 months. The loan balance is repaid automatically as businesses make sales through PayPal.
P2Binvestor
P2Binvestor (P2Bi) provides crowdsourced, asset-secured working capital of up to $10 million per borrower to U.S.-based growth companies. P2Bi's revolving lines of credit are secured by accounts receivable and/or inventory. Accredited investors participate in funding each line of credit and earn a return through P2Bi's proprietary investment platform.
Prompt Advance Lending
Prompt Advance Lending offers business cash advances based on a business's average gross monthly revenue. The amount you qualify for depends on your average monthly credit card processing receipts, or your average monthly check and cash deposits. Prompt Advance requires no collateral or personal guarantee and has no prepayment penalty.
Prosper
Prosper loans are not traditional small business loans; they are personal loans based on applicants' credit scores and are issued to individuals, not businesses. These loans are desirable in a variety of cases, such as when a business doesn't yet have a proven track record. Prosper loans are unsecured and don't require any collateral.
QuarterSpot
QuarterSpot can deliver working capital into your account in as little as one business day. Applying is free and won't affect your credit score. In addition, this lender does not require personal guarantees or file a lien on collateral. To qualify, you must have been in business for one year, make at least $8,000 a month in sales and have a minimum personal credit score of 580.
RapidAdvance
RapidAdvance offers small businesses a variety of financing options, including loans, merchant cash advances, lines of credit and SBA bridge loans. Businesses can be approved for loans in 24 hours and receive funds within three days. RapidAdvance has provided more than $700 million in financing to thousands of small businesses.
Rapid Capital Funding
Rapid Capital Funding specializes in merchant cash advances for small and midsize businesses. It qualifies businesses for advances of $5,000 to $500,000. The exact amount depends on each business' sales and history. Unlike other financing options, Rapid Capital Funding does not require a plan for the money or that it be used for any specific purpose.
RedFynn
RedFynn offers a variety of credit card processing solutions, including business cash advances. Eligibility for cash advances is not determined by credit score alone; the lender also considers a business's current sales and length of time in operation.
Reliant Funding
Reliant Funding provides short-term financing to small businesses. The lender offers loans and merchant cash advances of $5,000 to $500,000. Reliant Funding also offers equipment financing. To be eligible for one of the lender's funding options, businesses must have at least $100,000 in annual revenue, have been operating for at least six months and have no open bankruptcies.
SBG Funding
SBG Funding provides flexible rates and terms for small businesses and startups. SBG Funding provides a qualification process with their loan specialists. Interested business owners can fill out a one-page online application. Once you've applied online, or via phone with an SBG loan specialist, a representative will contact you and discuss financing options.
Santander
Santander offers a complete suite of borrowing solutions to help small business owners manage and expand their companies, including lines of credit, term loans, equipment leasing and commercial mortgage loans. Santander has an easy application process, makes decisions in a timely manner, and offers competitive terms and rates.
Shield Funding
Shield Funding is an alternative lender specializing in bad-credit business loans. To be eligible, you must have been in business for at least four months, and have bank receipts or accept credit cards as a form of payment. A minimum of $5,000 per month in gross revenues is required for companies that accept credit cards, and approximately $20,000 a month in gross revenue is required for those that do not. Shield Funding provides business cash advances and unsecured business loans of up to $500,000 for a variety of purposes.
Silver Rock Funding
Silver Rock Funding is not a lender, but rather a broker to help businesses get the funding they need. After a business submits a completed application, a dedicated funding manager works with the business to identify a product that suits that company best. Silver Rock Funding then finds a lender in its network, usually within 24 hours of the application submission. The process is free, and there is no obligation to accept a loan. After a loan is accepted, funds are available within 72 hours.
Small Business Loans Depot
Small Business Loans Depot offers an assortment of loan types, including bank statement loans, small business loans, working capital loans, equipment loans and equipment refinance loans. Loans are available for $5,000 to $150,000. The amount for which a business qualifies depends on business and personal credit, time in business, the amount of equipment owned, and gross sales.
SmartBiz
SmartBiz offers SBA 7(a) commercial real estate loans and SBA working capital and debt refinancing loans of $30,000 to $5 million, with interest rates as low as 5.25 to 7.5 percent and repayment terms of 10 to 25 years. After completing the application, businesses can receive funds in as little as seven days. To increase borrowers' chances of being approved for a loan, SmartBiz has multiple SBA-preferred banks on its platform.
SnapCap
SnapCap is an alternative lender that specializes in unsecured business loans of $5,000 to $600,000 for general purposes, expansion, inventory or equipment. The lender offers a paperless application process and a 48-hour turnaround. There are no collateral or annual revenue requirements, and SnapCap places little emphasis on personal credit when determining whether to grant a loan.
South End Capital Corporation
South End Capital Corporation is a nationwide, nonconforming lender providing small-balance commercial real estate loans, bridge loans, business loans and merchant cash advance consolidation loans. It provides loans of $500,000 to $5 million.
Square
Square offers small business funding to its customers who have active credit card processing accounts with Square. Square capital can be used to increase inventory, buy equipment or open a new location. Businesses make loan repayments to Square automatically as a fixed percentage of their daily card sales. You pay more when sales are strong and less if things slow down.
Strategic Funding
Strategic Funding offers several different financing options, including revenue-based financing and small business loans of $10,000 to $1 million. The lender also offers equipment financing and factoring options.
StreetShares
StreetShares exclusively focuses on short-term loans of $5,000 to $75,000. It connects small business owners with qualified retail and institutional investors, who then compete to fund portions of the requested loan. Business owners can apply in a few minutes and access their funds within a week. To qualify, you should have at least one year in business and $25,000 in revenue.
Sure Funding Solutions
Sure Funding Solutions is a small business financing company that offers loans of up to $500,000, business cash advances and accounts receivable financing. Sure Funding Solutions offers flexible payment options, no early or late payment penalties, no application fees, and 24-hour approvals.
Swift Capital
Swift Capital provides fast business funding, with amounts ranging from $5,000 to $500,000 and interest rates starting at 9.9 percent. Swift Capital streamlines the approval process and eliminates the paperwork. Funds can be deposited to your account in as little as one business day. Repayment is typically made through weekly automatic deductions from each business's checking account.
Taycor Financial
Taycor Financial is a fiscally sound and economically responsible nationwide provider of equipment leasing and financing to the business community. The company offers commercial and technology financing, business financing, and vendor partnerships.
TimePayment
TimePayment is an equipment leasing company that specializes in transactions with selling prices between $500 and $100,000. Through its network of more than 10,000 independent vendors, and utilizing its multilevel credit-scoring model, TimePayment can approve a wide range of customers, from large corporations to small businesses, including new entities.
United Capital Source
United Capital Source offers a variety of loan types, with amounts of $5,000 to $2 million. Businesses with bad credit are not automatically eliminated from loan consideration, and it can grant approvals in as little as 24 hours. United Capital Source's loans are unsecured and don't require a personal guarantee or collateral.
VEDC
VEDC is a nonprofit alternative lender providing SBA Community Advantage loans as well as several small business direct loan programs. The organization provides loans and microfinancing options to small businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities, that don't qualify for traditional bank financing. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution, VEDC's mission is to help create jobs and promote economic development in underserved communities.
ViewRidge Funding
ViewRidge Funding is a provider of working capital loans up to $250,000 and equipment financing for businesses throughout the United States. To access the funding, businesses must complete a few questions online or call one of ViewRidge Funding's account executives, who will guide them through a one-page application to secure the funding or equipment they need within as little as two business days.
VMC Capital
VMC Capital offers merchant and business cash advances. Its merchant cash advances go up to $2 million. The business cash advance program is available to businesses that don't generate income via credit card sales. Business cash advance loans of up to $1 million are available.
WG Financing
WG Financing is a merchant cash advance provider. It requires little or no collateral, and average or bad credit is OK. Cash advances of up to $1 million are available.
If you’d like your company to be added to this list and possibly considered as a best pick for our next round of reviews, please email your request to: b2bconsiderrequest@purch.com.
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