Business
Business Loans
SBA loans, lines of credit, startup-stage products — issuer-verified guides to the loan products small businesses actually qualify for.
Compare Business Loans
- Apply at Biz2CreditBiz2Credit
Biz2Credit
A wide product menu — term loan, revenue-based financing, line of credit, and CRE — from one application.
Full review - Apply at Rapid FinanceRapid Finance
Rapid Finance
One of the only factor-rate estimates in this roundup, plus SBA loans up to $5.5M.
Full review - Apply at KapitusKapitus
Kapitus
The biggest published product ceiling in this roundup, with a researched factor-rate estimate.
Full review - Apply at Expansion Capital GroupExpansion Capital Group
Expansion Capital Group
A 500-FICO, 6-month eligibility bar — one of the most accessible in this roundup.
Full review - Apply at BittyBitty
Bitty (formerly Bitty Advance)
A 500-FICO, 6-month, $5,000/month eligibility bar — among the most accessible in this roundup.
Full review - Apply at Mulligan FundingMulligan Funding
Mulligan Funding
No origination fee and a soft-pull application — but a $750K revenue bar to qualify.
Full review - Apply at ROK FinancialROK Financial
ROK Financial
A broker, not a direct funder — one intake routes to a network of lending partners across six product types.
Full review - Apply for a Business Line of CreditBanks and non-bank lenders
Business Line of Credit
Revolving access to capital — draw when you need it, pay interest only on what you use.
Full review - Apply for a Term LoanBanks, credit unions, non-bank lenders
Term Loan ($25K–$500K)
Fixed amount, fixed repayment schedule — best for defined working-capital deployments.
Full review - Apply for Invoice FactoringFactoring companies (specialized non-bank lenders)
Invoice Factoring
Sell your outstanding invoices for immediate cash — no FICO floor, based on customer creditworthiness.
Full review - Apply for Revenue-Based FinancingNon-bank alternative lenders
Revenue-Based Financing (MCA)
Advance against future revenue, repaid as a fixed daily or weekly percentage of receipts.
Full review - Apply for a Short-Term LoanNon-bank lenders, online platforms
Short-Term Loan (6–18 Month)
Defined repayment over 6–18 months — faster to fund and easier to qualify than a bank term loan.
Full review - Apply for Equipment FinancingEquipment lenders, banks, captive finance arms
Equipment Financing as Working-Capital Surrogate
Finance equipment to free cash you'd otherwise spend on it — preserves working capital without raising a working-capital loan.
Full review - Apply at Non-bank alternative lendersNon-bank alternative lenders
Revenue-Based Financing (MCA)
Advance against future revenue — lowest credit floor, highest cost.
Full review - Apply at Non-bank online lendersNon-bank online lenders
Short-Term Loan (6–18 Month)
Fixed repayment over 6–18 months — cheaper than MCA, accessible to 580+ FICO.
Full review - Apply at Fintech and specialty non-bank lendersFintech and specialty non-bank lenders
Revenue-Based Financing (Non-MCA structure)
Repayment tied to revenue percentage — FICO-secondary, cash-flow-primary underwriting.
Full review
Guides
- Best Alternative Business Lenders 2026
- SBA Just Doubled Its Cumulative Loan Limit to $10 Million — What It Means If You're Considering SBA Financing
- Best Working Capital Loans 2026
- Best Business Loans for Bad Credit 2026
- Best Invoice Factoring Companies 2026
- Best SBA Preferred Lender Banks 2026
- Best Business Lines of Credit 2026
- Best Startup Business Loans 2026
What to know before you compare
Business loan decisions split on three axes: who the issuer is (bank vs. non-bank vs. SBA), how fast you need funding (3-7 days vs. 15-30 days vs. 45-60 days), and what the use of funds is (working capital vs. one-time investment vs. seasonal cycle).
The listicles below rank by fit on those axes. For SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, the Preferred Lender Program bank you pick changes the timeline materially. For non-bank lines of credit, the credit-box accessibility vs. cost trade-off is the decision. SBA loan program details are published at sba.gov; the Federal Reserve's Small Business Credit Survey (fedsmallbusiness.org) tracks lending conditions annually. See also business loan vs. personal loan and our personal loan picks. Scored against ClearValue's published methodology. Updated May 2026.
◆ ClearValue editorial analysis
SBA lending hit a program record in FY2025
The SBA closed fiscal year 2025 (October 2024–September 2025) as a program record year: the 7(a) program guaranteed 77,600 loans totaling about $37 billion, and the 504 program guaranteed a further 6,750 loans totaling about $7.8 billion — a combined 84,400 loans worth $44.8 billion nationwide. That's real, current capacity behind the SBA products described above, not a niche or shrinking channel.
Primary sources: U.S. Small Business Administration — FY2025 lending results (legacy.sba.gov)
Analysis by the ClearValue Editorial Team, applying our published scoring methodology.
This analysis combines cited public data (Federal Reserve, FDIC, FTC, CFPB, SBA/USDA, NAIC, ICI, BLS) with ClearValue's own cost math and category comparison — it is not proprietary ClearValue portfolio data. Rates, APYs, fees, and program terms move; figures carry an as-of date and you should verify current numbers at the linked primary sources and with the provider before deciding. Educational information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
What credit score is needed for a business loan?+
The minimum FICO varies significantly by product type. Revenue-based financing and MCA products are accessible starting around 500-550 FICO. Non-bank term loans and lines of credit typically require 600+. Bank loans and SBA 7(a) loans typically require 650-680+ personal FICO. Within each tier, higher FICO drives better pricing — not just approval. Bank statements and business cash flow often matter more than FICO alone for underwriting decisions.
How does a business line of credit work?+
A business line of credit is revolving credit — the lender approves a maximum amount you can draw from as needed, repay, and draw again. Interest accrues only on the balance you've drawn, not the full credit limit. Non-bank lines typically run $10K-$250K at 10-25% APR; bank lines run higher limits at Prime + spread. Lines suit cyclical cash-flow gaps better than term loans, which disburse a lump sum at origination.
What is an SBA 7(a) loan and who qualifies?+
The SBA 7(a) program is the federal government's flagship small business loan, backed by the SBA and originated by private banks. It offers up to $5 million, terms up to 10 years (25 years for real estate), and interest rate caps set by SBA. Typical qualification: 680+ personal FICO, 24+ months in business, operational profitability. The SBA does not lend directly — private lenders originate and fund; SBA provides a guarantee to the lender.
What's the difference between a business term loan and a business line of credit?+
A term loan disburses a lump sum at closing with fixed monthly principal-and-interest payments over a defined term — best for one-time investments (equipment, expansion, acquisition). A line of credit provides flexible revolving access with interest only on drawn amounts — best for ongoing or cyclical working capital needs. Term loans offer cost certainty; lines offer flexibility. Most established businesses use both in their capital stack.
How fast can a small business get a loan?+
Funding speed depends heavily on the product. Revenue-based financing and MCA products can fund in 24-72 hours. Non-bank term loans and lines of credit typically fund in 5-21 days. Bank loans take 2-6 weeks. SBA 7(a) loans take 60-120 days through most lenders; SBA Express programs can close faster (30-45 days). Speed and cost trade off — faster products carry higher pricing to compensate for reduced underwriting depth.
Can a startup get a business loan?+
Very early-stage startups (under 6 months old) have limited options: SBA Microloan programs (up to $50K, administered by CDFI intermediaries), business credit cards (underwritten on personal credit), and some equipment financing for asset-backed purchases. Revenue-based financing and non-bank lines of credit typically require 6-12+ months of operating history and at least $10,000-$15,000 in average monthly deposits. Most traditional bank and SBA 7(a) products require 24+ months of operating history.