Personal Business Loans: What You Need to Know

Can you get a personal loan for your business?

A personal loan is money borrowed from a bank, credit union or online lender that can be used for any number of purposes, including to fund a business.

Most personal loans are unsecured, which means they don’t require collateral, and you pay them back in fixed monthly payments — typically over one to seven years.

Benefits of using a personal loan to start a business

Flexibility: As long as your lender has no restrictions against using a personal loan for your business, you can use the money however you want, including to purchase equipment and inventory, stock up on office supplies, kick-start your marketing efforts or cover other costs.

Low rates: Depending mostly on your credit score, personal loans can have lower annual percentage rates than other financing products — such as credit cards — saving you money over the lifetime of the loan. They also have fixed payments that ensure your loan is paid back within a certain time frame so you'll avoid compound interest, or interest on top of the original interest.

Easier to qualify: If you’re just starting your business, you may have more luck qualifying for a personal loan than a business loan. When underwriting business loans, lenders look at your company’s revenue and time in business, along with your personal credit score. For a first-time business owner seeking to fund a new business idea, you won’t have some of the history that small-business lenders are looking for.

Personal loans are underwritten based primarily on your credit score and your income. That means you can include other income sources — maybe you still have your 9-to-5 job, or maybe you have rental properties — to supplement the initial trickle of income you’ll earn from your new venture.

» COMPARE: Best business loans for bad credit

Fast funding: The majority of personal loans are funded within one week of approval, though if you choose to apply with an online lender, you’ll likely receive funds by the next or even same business day. This may be faster than some business loans. For example, the process of applying for and receiving a traditional SBA loan can take 30 days to a few months.

» Get started: Pre-qualify for a personal loan on NerdWallet

Drawbacks of using a personal loan to start a business

May not receive a full tax deduction: Interest paid on a personal loan is typically not tax deductible, unlike interest paid on business loans. However, there’s an exception for when you use a personal loan to cover business expenses. To get the full deduction, you’ll need to make sure no portion of the loan is used for another type of expense.

Personal credit or assets could be at risk: If you take out an unsecured personal loan and fail to repay it, your credit may take a hit. This will make it harder to access affordable financing in the future. If you take out a secured personal loan and tie it to an asset like your car or home, the lender can seize that asset if you default.

Small loan size: Personal loans tend to have smaller loan amounts — ranging from about $1,000 to $50,000 for most lenders — than business loans. For a small startup, the size might be just right, but if you own a more established company or plan on making big purchases, you’ll want to look for loans that offer more financing.

Shorter repayment terms: Most personal loan terms range from one to seven years, so if you need a longer repayment term, you’re better off looking at other small-business financing options. SBA loans tend to have the longest repayment terms, ranging from 10 to 25 years.

Alternatives to personal loans for business

Small-business loan: If you're an established business and want to explore other options, NerdWallet has a list of the best small-business loans. These loans are typically issued only for businesses with a year or more of history and revenue.

Business line of credit: A business line of credit is a type of small-business loan but with more flexibility. It works like a credit card, letting you borrow up to a certain limit and then paying interest only on what you borrow, so it’s ideal for business owners who aren’t sure of the scope of their financial need.