SBL is America’s #1 marketplace for business financing, gathering the top financial institutions from across the country and delivering solutions in seconds. Using intelligent routing, we match small and medium-sized businesses with the top financing providers for their unique needs.

Our platform offers a variety of financing products, including:

• Working capital
• Term loans (short- and long-term)
• Lines of credit
• Equipment financing
• SBA loans
• Credit cards

Businesses that meet the following minimum criteria:

• Based in the United States
• In operation for at least 3-6 months (varies by financing provider)
• More than $50,000 in gross annual revenue
• Higher than 500 personal credit score for business owner(s)

1. You complete one secure online form.
2. We match you with financing providers in our network who cater to your needs and profile.
3. You select the option that best suits your preferences.
4. You work directly with the financing provider to finalize funding. Some SBL partners will reach out to you directly, while others provide an online application to initiate their funding process.

Some products (i.e., working capital, lines of credit) can fund in as little as 24–48 hours.³ SBA loans and larger term loans may take 1–6 weeks, depending on documentation.

Your credit score helps SBL match you to financing providers who cater to your profile. Exploring your financing options with us does not impact your credit score.¹ When applying for financing, our financing partners use a soft credit pull for matching, which does not impact your score. If you proceed with a financing provider, they may perform a hard credit inquiry as part of funding.

Requirements vary by financing provider, but commonly requested documents include:

• Signed application
• At least 3 months of business bank statements
• Copy of ID and business license (if applicable)
• Some longer-term products will require tax returns (business and/or personal) and financial statements (P&L, balance sheet)

No, customers are not charged a fee to use SBL. We match you with your best options free of charge. SBL may receive compensation from a financing provider if you accept their offer, but this does not increase your cost.

Yes. We use bank-level encryption and security standards to protect your data.

Your business may qualify for a small business loan from $5,000 to $500,000 or more, depending on qualifying factors including your loan type, credit standing, and annual gross sales. SmallBusinessLoans connects you to the nation’s top financial providers, all in one place. Fill out our quick form to see your matches.

Alternative lenders tend to have shorter payback periods, faster approvals, and more online options than traditional lenders. This is because there is less red tape. Although the interest rates may be higher, the shorter payback periods may help to balance the total cost.

Depending on your situation, a down payment may or may not be required on your loan. Every lender has its own requirements. These would be communicated to you during the financing process.

Yes, you can get a working capital loan with poor credit if you have strong financial records, assets to use as collateral, and other ways to reduce your risk as a borrower. Each lender is different and if a working capital business loan is not available because of a poor credit score, we can help you find a different form of small business financing.

The difference between a working capital loan and a term loan is that working capital loans are typically short-term with high interest rates and used for immediate needs. Meanwhile, a traditional term loan is usually extended over a longer period with lower interest rates, takes longer to get approved, and is used for long-term planning.

Yes, you can get a working capital loan for a start-up if you meet the qualifications of a given lender or financing provider. In the event you don’t meet all the typical requirements, like three months in business, at least $50,000 in annual gross sales, and a good credit score, a personal guarantee may help. If you get declined for a working capital loan, an SBA start-up loan may be a good alternative.

No, a hard money loan is primarily used by real estate investors to purchase a property and renovate it so they can sell it for a profit and pay the loan back. A business bridge loan is used for any short-term business purpose to cover an immediate gap in cash flow. They are similar in that they’re primarily given by alternative lenders and have quick approval processes.

A good alternative to a business bridge loan will be financing that is customized to your specific situation. This can include:

• Inventory financing to replenish inventory if sales are stronger than expected or to stock up for a busy season.
• Working capital loans for covering operational expenses including rent, utilities, payroll, and other short-term expenses where you need a bit longer to pay the principal back.
• Equipment financing when you need to buy or lease new or used equipment. Bridge loans make sense when you need the equipment for a short-term project and will pay the debt off quickly, but equipment financing makes sense when you plan on owning or using the equipment for the long run.

Although personal loans and business term loans have similarities like fixed payment schedules, a lump sum of money up front, and regular interest payments, they are not the same. A business term loan can only be used for business purposes, whereas personal loans are used for personal expenses like home improvements or consolidating personal debt. Further, the rate of interest varies between personal and business loans, affecting the total cost of financing.

Short-term business loans typically have payback periods that range from 6 months to 3 years, but this varies by lender. Meanwhile, a traditional business loan or term loan may range from 3 to 10 years.

Using a short-term business loan makes more sense than other types of short-term financing, including business credit cards and business lines of credit, for expenses where you won’t be able to pay off the balance before interest comes due. When choosing a financing option, be sure to check the interest payments.

Short-term business loans may have lower max funding amounts because they’re designed for short-term expenses. Lower amounts decrease the provider’s risk and ensure the loan can be funded as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, short-term loans can still provide funding up to $500,000² in many situations, depending on the lender.

Yes, you can use the Section 179 tax deduction on financed equipment to deduct the entire purchase price up front rather than incrementally over several years. You’ll get bigger tax savings up front and improve overall cash flow for the next year.

Any equipment purchased before the end of the calendar year qualifies for Section 179, meaning you can set your business up for success by saving cash and giving yourself a bigger tax break.

Yes, you can finance used or pre-owned equipment for your business. Typically, you only need a price quote from a vendor and to meet your lender’s requirements in order to qualify for equipment financing, whether the piece is new or used.

Equipment loans are generally easier to qualify for, as they have minimal requirements such as at least six months in business and a price quote from a vendor. The loan is secured by the piece of equipment itself, meaning you don’t necessarily have to provide additional assets as collateral or documentation to prove your business’s risk level.

SBA loans are different from traditional business loans offered by banks in that SBA loans have lower interest rates and flexible credit requirements, are backed partially by the government, and have longer repayment terms. Also, SBA loans typically take longer to get approved.

The timeline for SBA loan approval changes based on the type of loan you apply for. SBA 7(a) loans can take 60-90 days for approval, whereas SBA 504 loans can take up to 6 months.

SBA loans are highly competitive and have stringent requirements, making them difficult to get approved for. To increase your chances of getting approved, you’ll want to have a business credit score of 650 or higher, strong financials, a detailed business plan, and an approved lender that knows your industry.

SmallBusinessLoans can help you find the best lender or financing provider for your unique needs, as we match you with your top options based on your profile.

The maximum amount of money you can get for an SBA loan varies as follows:

• SBA 7(a) loans allow for a maximum of $5 million.
  • 7(a) small is $350,000.
• 504 loans have a maximum of $5.5 million.
• Express has a maximum of $500,000.
• Microloans have a cap of $50,000.
• Disaster SBA loans have a maximum of $2 million.

The best alternatives to an SBA loan if you get declined are short-term business loans from alternative lenders if you need a fast approval and want a short payback period; equipment financing if you need funds to purchase or lease equipment and vehicles; or working capital loans if you need to cover day-to-day and immediate expenses. Click here to learn about all the different types of small business loans to find the option that best meets your needs.