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Published: Mar 14, 2024 18 min read

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Applying won’t affect credit score

  • Loan Amounts: $5,000 to $250,000
  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements:$100,000
  • Minimum Credit Score: 625 FICO
  • Minimum Time in Business to apply: 1 year
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Loans best for small to mid sized businesses who need capital, FAST

  • Loan Amounts: $10,000 to $500,000
  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements: $250,000
  • Minimum Credit Score: 600 FICO
  • Minimum Time in Business to apply: 6 months
Our Partner

Merchant cash advances, invoice factoring, equity financing, and debt financing option

  • Loan Amounts: Up to $5 million
  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements: $120,000
  • Minimum Credit Score: 620 FICO
  • Minimum Time in Business to apply: 1 year
Our Partner

No cost and no credit check application that can be filled out in minutes

  • Loan Amounts: Up to $3 million
  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements: $200,000
  • Minimum Credit Score: 620 FICO
  • Minimum Time in Business to apply: 1 year
Our Partner

Named "Best Small Business Loan with a Low APR" by Money.com in January 2020

  • Loan amounts: $25K - $500K
  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements: $50,000
  • Min. Credit Score: 620 FICO
  • Min. Time in Business to apply: 2 years

Fast business loans provide companies with quick cash-flow injections, often within 24 hours of the initial application.

While these loans can prove helpful in certain circumstances, the loans come fraught with hidden dangers like high interest rates and short repayment schedules. That's why business owners must understand how to identify the best fast business loan providers and products before beginning the application process.

Keep reading to learn more about how fast business loans work, typical eligibility requirements, the affordability of fast business loans and how quickly you may receive funding in order to determine if this is the right option for your business needs.

Our Top Picks for the Best Fast Business Loans

The companies listed below are organized alphabetically.

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Best Fast Business Loans Reviews


Pros
  • Up to $250,000 business line of credit
  • Application decision may be as quick as a few minutes
  • Credit line increase possible with on-time payments
  • No monthly maintenance fee
Cons
  • High annual revenue requirement compared to other companies we evaluated
  • Personal guarantee required
  • Line of credit may be frozen if you take on additional debt
  • 1.5% - 2.9% fee every time you withdraw funds
HIGHTLIGHTS
Term lengths
6 or 12 months
Loan amounts
Up to $250,000
APR
Not specified
Minimum credit score required
625+ FICO
Minimum Annual revenue
$480,000

Why we chose it: Bluevine stands out for providing businesses with fast access to lines of credit of up to $250,000, an amount greater than other companies we evaluated.

Bluevine’s $250,000 lines of credit have repayment terms of six or 12 months. Additionally, the company can provide you with fast funding. Its online application takes under two minutes to complete, and a decision could come as quick as five minutes. Plus, there’s no hard credit pull to apply.

Read our full review of Bluevine small business loans.

See rates on Bluevine's Secure Website >>


Pros
  • Simple and easy loan application
  • Low credit score cut-off
  • High ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  • No origination or application fees
  • No prepayment penalty
Cons
  • $150,000 loan limit
  • Aggressive repayment schedule
HIGHTLIGHTS
Term lengths
12 or 24 weeks
Loan amounts
Up to $150,000
Interest rates
Starting at 4.66% for 12-week repayment and 8.99% for 24-week repayment
Minimum credit score required
600+ FICO
Minimum Annual revenue
$100,000

Why we chose it: Fundbox tops our list as the best lender for startups because businesses only need to be in operation for six months with an annual revenue of $100,000, as opposed to the higher requirements set by other lenders we evaluated.

Fundbox provides capital for small businesses through business lines of credit. Repayment terms are 12 or 24 weeks, and you can change these terms each time you draw funds.

Read our full review of Fundbox small business loans.

See rates on Fundbox's Secure Website >>


Pros
  • Competitive interest rates
  • Quick loan application process
  • No hard credit pull to apply
Cons
  • FTC warning concerning misleading claims
  • May take borrowers extra time to decide on the right lender
  • Variable revenue and credit requirements
HIGHTLIGHTS
Term lengths
Varies by lender
Loan amounts
$5,000 to $2 million
APR
Varies by lender
Minimum credit score required
Varies by lender
Minimum Annual revenue
Varies by lender

Why we chose it: Lendio works with more than 75 business lenders and credit unions, so borrowers can compare interest rates and other loan specifics to find the best fit for their needs.

Lendio is an online lending marketplace with over 75 separate online lenders, such as OnDeck, Mulligan Funding, American Express, Bank of America and Headway Capital. Borrowers can compare financing options, including short-term loans, startup loans, working capital loans, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, business lines of credit and cash advances, through the site or by calling a representative by phone.

Note: In May 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a warning letter to Lendio regarding misleading claims it had made to business owners about their ability to claim PPP loans and other COVID-19 relief funds. Consumers should keep this in mind as they shop for a loan.

Read our full review of Lendio small business loans.

See rates on Lendio's Secure Website >>


Pros
  • Can help build your business credit score
  • Same-day funding times available
  • Prepayment benefits
  • No hard credit pull to check eligibility
Cons
  • 625 minimum credit score
  • High interest rates
  • Requires frequent payments
  • Charges origination fee
HIGHTLIGHTS
Term lengths
12 - 24 months
Loan amounts
$5,000 - $250,000
Average Rates
Term loans 60.9% APR, lines of credit 52.6% APR
Minimum credit score required
625 FICO
Minimum Annual revenue
$100,000

Why we chose it: We chose OnDeck as best for quick funding because the company offers a fast application process and same-day disbursement on some loans.

Loan amounts for a line of credit with OnDeck start at $6,000 with a credit limit of $100,000. Short-term loans range from $5,000 to $250,000.

Once your application is reviewed, a company representative will call you to discuss your funding options. You may be offered a short-term loan, business line of credit, or both. Same-day funding is possible on loans up to $25,000, so long as your loan is processed by 10:30 a.m. EST.

Read our full review of OnDeck small business loans.

See rates on OnDeck's Secure Website >>


Pros
  • Fast and easy application process
  • Early payoff discounts
  • Flexible payment options
Cons
  • High annual revenue requirements
  • Loan origination fees
HIGHTLIGHTS
Term lengths
Not specified
Loan amounts
Up to $500,000
APR
Not specified
Minimum credit score required
All credit scores considered
Minimum Annual revenue
Not specified

Why we chose it: To apply for a loan with QuickBridge, you only need to submit your last three bank statements and your driver’s license. This, plus a fast response decision response time for loans under $200,000, makes Quickbridge our pick for best application process.

You can apply even with bad credit, as Quickbridge considers other factors, such as average monthly revenue, in its determination process. However, your business must have been in operation for at least six months to be considered.

Read our full review of QuickBridge small business loans.

See rates on Quickbridge's Secure Website >>


Pros
  • Requires a 600+ credit score for approval
  • No hard credit check to apply
  • Term loans of up to $10 million available
  • Biweekly and monthly repayment options
Cons
  • Annual percentage rate can be high for borrowers with bad credit
  • High annual income requirement at $350K
  • Origination fee
HIGHTLIGHTS
Term lengths
6 months to 7 years
Loan amounts
Up to $10 million
APR
Starting at 1.75% per month
Minimum credit score required
600 FICO
Minimum Annual revenue
$350,000

Why we chose it: SBG Funding provides quick business loans for borrowers with fair credit. A credit score of 600 may qualify you for a term loan of up to $10 million.

The FICO credit score requirement for SBG Funding’s small business term loan stands at 600, which is lower than many other companies we reviewed. Additionally, SBG allows less established businesses who have been in operation for six months to apply. However, SBG Funding requires an annual revenue of $350,000.

Additionally, the loan application process takes no more than 15 minutes, and fund disbursal can occur within 24 hours of completing the approval process.

See rates on SBG Funding's Secure Website >>

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Best for small to mid sized businesses

Loans best for small to mid sized businesses who need capital, FAST

  • Loan Amounts: $10,000 to $500,000
  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements: $250,000
  • Minimum Credit Score: 600 FICO
  • Minimum Time in Business to apply: 6 months

Loan amounts up to $5 million

Merchant cash advances, invoice factoring, equity financing, and debt financing option

  • Loan Amounts: Up to $5 million
  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements: $120,000
  • Minimum Credit Score: 620 FICO
  • Minimum Time in Business to apply: 1 year

No cost and no credit check applicatio

No cost and no credit check application that can be filled out in minutes

  • Loan Amounts: Up to $3 million
  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements: $200,000
  • Minimum Credit Score: 620 FICO
  • Minimum Time in Business to apply: 1 year

Funding in as fast as 24 hours

Applying won’t affect credit score

  • Loan Amounts: $5,000 to $250,000

  • Average Yearly Revenue requirements:$100,000

  • Minimum Credit Score: 625 FICO

  • Minimum Time in Business to apply: 1 year

Other companies we considered


Fora Financial

Pros
  • Only six months in business required
  • Funds typically disbursed within 48 hours
  • Does not require good credit score
  • No collateral required
Cons
  • Debt repayment with a portion of monthly sales revenue
  • Short repayment terms: four to 15 months
  • Lack of transparency in its fee structure
  • Charges 2.5% processing fee

Fora Financial is a direct lender that offers short-term business loans and revenue advances to businesses that have been in operation for at least six months. The company also requires an annual gross income of $180,000. Loan amounts start at $5,000, with maximum loan amounts at $1.4 million. If you meet the requirements, check your rates, as Fora Financial could still be an option for getting a business loan offer fast.

Why Fora Financial didn’t make the cut: No information on interest rates or repayment structures (e.g. weekly payments or monthly payments) is publicly available.

See rates on Fora Financial's Secure Website >>


Triton Capital

Pros
  • No early payment penalty
  • Flexible repayment options
  • Up to 60 months to repay
Cons
  • No minimum credit score information available
  • No minimum annual revenue information available
  • No information on time in business requirement

Triton Capital works with banks to offer small business financing — working capital, equipment loans and SBA loans — ranging from $5,000 to $250,000. Funds may be disbursed as soon as two days from approval.

Why Triton Capital didn’t make the cut: While Triton Capital is upfront about its loan terms and starting interest rates, the company doesn’t provide any information about eligibility requirements on its website. To find out more, you must call a Triton Capital representative by phone.

See rates on Triton Capital's Secure Website >>


Balboa Capital

Pros
  • Fast decision process
  • Loans up to $250,000
  • Quick funding process to get small business loans fast
Cons
  • $300,000 annual revenue requirement
  • May require a personal guarantee
  • Origination as high as 5% of the loan amount
  • Hard credit pull as part of the application process

Balboa Capital, a division of Ameris Bank, offers short-term small business loans from $10,000 to $250,000. A FICO score of 620 is required to be eligible, and the business must be in operation for at least one year. Repayment term lengths are three to 24 months.

Why Balboa Capital didn’t make the cut: Balboa Capital does not publicly disclose any information about its interest rates or minimum annual revenue requirements.

See rates on Balboa Capital's Secure Website >>


Funding Circle

Pros
  • Repayment terms up to ten years
  • Several types of business loans available
  • No prepayment penalties
Cons
  • Minimum two years in operation to qualify
  • Costly loan origination fees

Funding Circle functions similarly to Lendio in that it connects borrowers to lenders. To qualify for a loan, the business must be in operation for at least two years.

Why Funding Circle didn’t make the cut: The company’s requirements for business funding eligibility (two years in business, FICO 660) are more rigid than those of other fast short-term business loan companies we evaluated.

See rates on Funding Circle's Secure Website >>


Fast Business Loans Guide

We've compiled the following guide to help you make an informed decision about the best fast cash loans for your business. Below you’ll find details on how fast business loans work, typical eligibility requirements, the affordability of fast business loans and how quickly you may receive funding.

What is a fast business loan?

Fast business loans provide companies with financing within one to three business days. No single definition exists for fast business loans; many loan programs fall under this umbrella, including lines of credit, equipment financing and merchant cash advances (MCA). Unlike traditional loans, obtaining a fast small business loan is a relatively streamlined process. Businesses with bad credit and startups may be eligible for fast business loans.

How do fast business loans work?

With a fast business loan, prospective borrowers fill out an online form listing key information about themselves and their businesses. Fast business loans may require a personal guarantee by the business owner, and it's common to check the owner's personal credit history before issuing a loan. However, lenders do not usually report loan payments to the major credit bureaus, meaning they won't contribute to your credit history.

Traditional brick-and-mortar banks typically don't offer fast business loans. Compared to a traditional small business loan, fast business loans can take only a few days to secure. Lenders usually make an approval decision within one to two days, and sometimes funding can be just as fast.

Fast business loan requirements

While fast business loans don't subject applicants to the same scrutiny that traditional bank loans demand, certain metrics still apply.

  • Although there are no standard credit score requirements for fast business loans. Most lenders require a minimum credit score — though some work with borrowers with poor credit. Obviously those with scores north of 700 can expect more favorable terms.
  • Lenders often require that businesses be in operation for six months, a year or longer.
  • Many lenders require a minimum annual revenue amount.
  • Also, certain types of loans, may require collateral. In such cases, the collateral will be specified in the loan contract along with the repayment terms.

Types of fast business loans

Below are some of the most common types of fast business loan products. Keep in mind that different loans and different lenders have different eligibility requirements, including time in business and minimum annual revenue.

Business line of credit

A business line of credit is similar to a credit card, as it allows a company to borrow funds up to a predetermined limit. Unlike a business term loan, businesses can draw funds from the line of credit as needed and only pay interest on the amount borrowed. Lines of credit are good for managing cash flow fluctuations and covering unexpected business expenses.

Online business term loans

An online business term loan is a fixed amount a company borrows from an internet lender. Like traditional term loans, they are repaid in regular installments over a specified period. Online term loan lenders often offer a quicker approval process and more competitive rates compared to traditional banks.

Equipment financing

A business uses equipment financing to purchase or lease equipment necessary to operations. This could include vehicles, machinery or tools. The equipment itself typically serves as collateral for the loan, allowing businesses to access financing that they may not have been able to qualify for. As such, this type of financing helps companies acquire the necessary equipment to operate without needing to pay the full purchase price upfront.

Invoice financing

With invoice financing, businesses can draw a loan from a lender using their unpaid invoices as collateral. The amount the business receives is generally less than the full amount the customers owe. Also known as accounts receivable financing, this option provides businesses with quick access to a portion of capital they are owed. Once the customer pays the invoice to the business, the lender receives the full invoice amount plus fees and interest.

This differs from invoice factoring, which is an arrangement where you sell the unpaid invoice to a factoring agency and it is upon them to collect from the customer.

Merchant cash advances

Merchant cash advances allow businesses that accept credit cards to borrow cash in exchange for a percentage of future credit card sales. They are commonly used by restaurants, retailers, and various other businesses to manage day-to-day operational expenses. Merchant cash advances often come with high fees and can result in significant costs over time. Repayment is typically made daily or weekly through a portion of the business's credit card sales.

When to consider fast business financing

A fast short-term business loan may help if your business requires capital right away. As long as you meet the lender requirements, you’ll generally receive small business loan funding quickly. Here is a list of reasons why you might need fast business financing:

Covering payroll

If your business is facing temporary cash flow challenges and unable to pay payroll, fast business financing can offer a convenient solution. Ensuring employees are paid promptly maintains morale, productivity, and labor law compliance.

Expansion costs

Growth opportunities may not always come at convenient times. Fast business loans offer a rapid infusion of funds which enable businesses to cover sudden expansion costs. Capital can be used to lease a new space, invest in additional inventory, or hire more staff.

Purchase equipment

An equipment financing loan can allow businesses to lease or buy expensive equipment they might not be able to afford. This is because these loans use the equipment itself as collateral. The right equipment is necessary to improve efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness.

Can’t get traditional small business loan

Eligibility requirements for fast business loans are generally more lenient than traditional business loans. This means they may be more favorable to those in bad credit situations. Additionally, fast business loans may have less stringent documentation requirements, making them accessible to businesses with limited credit history or collateral.

Are fast business loans affordable?

Interest rates on fast business loans are typically higher than that of traditional business loans, although excellent credit and a high annual revenue may help lower your rate. If you aren’t satisfied with the rate you’re offered, there are alternatives. For more small business loan options, consult our guides to the best LLC loans and best unsecured business loans.

How to choose a fast business loan

The company you do business with will tremendously impact loan requirements, how fast your loan gets approved and how quickly — and how much — you ultimately repay. Consider the following criteria before selecting a loan provider.

  • Interest rates - While you shouldn't expect to see a massive variation in the rates offered, rates for fast business loans are usually high. However, some fast business loan providers will look at your personal credit score as well as your business credit score when considering your application. As with all loans, maintaining a higher credit score will get you access to the best small business loan.
  • Funding speed - Fast business loans typically fund within one to three business days. Larger loan amounts, such as $250,000 or higher, often take a few extra days.

Reviews and reputation - Much like payday lenders, fast business loan providers don't always have the most stellar reputations. Be sure to scour online reviews, read the fine print in your contract, and ask your loan representative questions as needed before committing to a loan.

Fast Business Loans FAQs

How to get a startup business loan with no money

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For startups with no annual revenue yet, the U.S. Small Business Loan Association (SBA) offers microloans of up to $50,000 via approved lenders. New businesses can also consider a startup line of credit. With either option, you might be asked about your business plan, so be sure to have this ready.

You can also consider funding methods that can be used for any purpose. Refer to our guides on the best business credit cards, best personal loans and best debt consolidation loans for additional options.

Is it hard to get a business loan?

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Eligibility requirements for business loans vary, but typically fast business loans are offered by alternative lenders and are easier to qualify for than traditional business loans. Lenders consider factors such as your personal finances, personal credit score, as well as the annual revenue of your business and how long it’s been in operation. Fast business loans are usually approved quickly so long as you meet the lender’s requirements.

If you’re still unsure whether a fast business loan is right for you, consult professional contacts you’ve acquired through business networking. You might find others who have also needed business loans fast, and you can learn from their experiences.

How fast can you get a business loan?

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Fast business loans only take a few days to secure. Lenders usually make an approval decision within one to two days, and sometimes funding can be as quick as 24 to 48 hours.

What is a good interest rate for a small business loan?

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Fast business loan borrowers generally pay higher interest rates than what’s offered to conventional loan borrowers. This can be attributed to less stringent requirements, which equates to more risk for the lender. However, interest rates vary greatly among these fast small business loan lenders. Based on the companies we evaluated, rates could range from 2% to 30%.

Can you get a fast business loan for a startup?

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Yes, while traditional lenders may require startups to meet stringent standards or outright refuse them loans, fast business loan providers use lenient lending standards when evaluating startups. Loan providers still have requirements that might disqualify some startups, though.

Some factors that loan providers look at include the number of months the business has been active, the small business owner's creditworthiness, debt payment capacity, available collateral business cash flow, credit card sales and bank statements.

How We Chose the Best Fast Business Loans

We evaluated each loan provider against the following five criteria.

  • Interest rates: Fast loan providers tend to be online-based. Freed from the cost of physical infrastructure, internet loan providers can offer more competitive interest rates than brick-and-mortar banks. When compiling this list, we only accepted the lenders with the best interest rates.
  • Loan amounts: Loan limits typically vary by lender. We evaluated companies with loan amounts ranging from $150,000 to $500,000 for lines of credit. Other loan instruments like term loans stretched into the low millions of dollars.
  • Application process: We only chose fast short-term small business loan lenders with simple and straightforward application processes.
  • Fees and other costs: We looked at the application fees, loan origination fees, monthly maintenance fees and other common costs associated with fast business loans and business lines of credit.
  • Online customer reviews: We looked at what customers had to say on review websites like the BBB. When evaluating customer reviews, we noted trends regarding customer service, interest rates, repayment flexibility and loan application simplicity. We took note of rating aggregators and paid close attention to median ratings.

Summary of Money's Best Fast Business Loans for Quick Cash in 2024

The companies listed below are organized alphabetically.