Best Business Loans for Bad Credit of January 2026
Even if you have a lower credit score, you may still qualify for certain business loan options.
Sort by:
| Lender | NerdWallet rating | Best For | Max loan amount | Min. time in business | Min. interest rate | Term length | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Read expert review | No credit check | $10,000 | 3 months | Undisclosed | Up to 6 months | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Read expert review | Low interest rates | $50,000 | Undisclosed | 8% | Up to 7 years | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Read expert review | B2B businesses | $5,000,000 | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | 1 to 3 months | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Working capital | $300,000 | 6 months | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | with Fundera by NerdWallet | |
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Equipment purchases | Undisclosed | 6 months | 7.5% | 24 months to 6 years | with Fundera by NerdWallet | |
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Read expert review | Flexible terms | $250,000 | 12 months | 9.99% | 18 months to 3 years | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Read expert review | Short-term, one-off purchases | $400,000 | 12 months | 35% | 18 to 24 months | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Read expert review | Fast funding | $1,500,000 | 6 months | Undisclosed | 4 to 24 months | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
 with Fundera by NerdWallet | Read expert review | Flexible spending | $100,000 | 6 months | 39% | 12 to 24 months | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
best business loans for bad credit: More details
Giggle Finance: Best for No credit check
Giggle Finance doesn’t require a credit check. Instead, eligibility is based on your bank statements, and you’ll need at least three months in business to qualify.
Giggle Finance - Merchant cash advance
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
$10,000
Min. credit score
300
Term length
Up to 6 months
Pros
- No minimum credit score requirement.
- Same-day funding available.
- Specifically designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals.
Cons
- Funding maxes out at $10,000 ($20,000 for repeat customers).
- Factor rate and fee information not available on website.
- Charges an origination fee.
Pros
- No minimum credit score requirement.
- Same-day funding available.
- Specifically designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals.
Cons
- Funding maxes out at $10,000 ($20,000 for repeat customers).
- Factor rate and fee information not available on website.
- Charges an origination fee.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
U.S. Small Business Administration: Best for Low interest rates
SBA microloans are offered through nonprofit, community-based organizations which can be more willing to work with borrowers with fair or bad credit. Interest rates on these loans typically range from 8% to 13%.
SBA microloan
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
$50,000
Min. credit score
620
Term length
Up to 7 years
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of funding purposes.
- Designed to finance traditionally underserved businesses.
- Startups and business owners with bad credit may be able to qualify.
- Competitive interest rates, low fees and long repayment terms.
- Intermediaries typically offer business training and educational resources.
Cons
- Loan amounts max out at $50,000.
- Can’t be used to pay existing debt or purchase real estate.
- Collateral is likely required.
- Slow funding timeline.
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of funding purposes.
- Designed to finance traditionally underserved businesses.
- Startups and business owners with bad credit may be able to qualify.
- Competitive interest rates, low fees and long repayment terms.
- Intermediaries typically offer business training and educational resources.
Cons
- Loan amounts max out at $50,000.
- Can’t be used to pay existing debt or purchase real estate.
- Collateral is likely required.
- Slow funding timeline.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
AltLINE: Best for B2B businesses
AltLINE can provide funding for B2B businesses who have capital tied up in unpaid invoices. Because AltLINE focuses on the creditworthiness of your customers during underwriting, it has no set minimum credit score requirement.
AltLINE - Invoice factoring
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
$5,000,000
Min. credit score
300
Term length
1 to 3 months
Pros
- Capital available within 24 to 48 hours.
- No collateral required.
- Manages payment collection from your customers.
- Accepts startups and businesses with bad credit.
Cons
- Fees can become expensive the longer it takes your customers to pay.
- Difficult to compare factoring costs to other types of business loans.
- Charges an origination fee.
Pros
- Capital available within 24 to 48 hours.
- No collateral required.
- Manages payment collection from your customers.
- Accepts startups and businesses with bad credit.
Cons
- Fees can become expensive the longer it takes your customers to pay.
- Difficult to compare factoring costs to other types of business loans.
- Charges an origination fee.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Expansion Capital Group: Best for Working capital
Expansion Capital Group can provide fast access to working capital for borrowers with a minimum credit score of 500 and at least six months in business under their belt.
Expansion Capital Group - Merchant cash advance
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
$300,000
Min. credit score
500
Term length
Undisclosed
Pros
- Simple application with minimal documentation required.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
- Daily or weekly repayment available.
- Offers prepayment discounts.
Cons
- Business assets required as collateral in some cases.
- Factor rate and fee information not available on website.
- Charges an origination fee and a monthly servicing fee.
Pros
- Simple application with minimal documentation required.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
- Daily or weekly repayment available.
- Offers prepayment discounts.
Cons
- Business assets required as collateral in some cases.
- Factor rate and fee information not available on website.
- Charges an origination fee and a monthly servicing fee.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
eLease: Best for Equipment purchases
The equipment you buy with this type of financing serves as collateral on the loan, meaning online lenders, like eLease can be more flexible with its credit qualifications. For example, you may qualify if you have a credit score as low as 550.
eLease - Equipment financing
4.0 NerdWallet rating
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
Undisclosed
Min. credit score
550
Term length
24 months to 6 years
Pros
- No loan or leasing maximums.
- No minimum revenue requirement.
- Startups and low credit scores accepted.
Cons
- Must apply over the phone.
Pros
- No loan or leasing maximums.
- No minimum revenue requirement.
- Startups and low credit scores accepted.
Cons
- Must apply over the phone.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Accion: Best for Flexible terms
Nonprofit lender Accion Opportunity Fund may approve borrowers with a credit score as low as 620. Monthly repayment terms range from 18 months to three years, and interest rates start at 9.99%.
Accion Opportunity Fund Small Business Working Capital Loan
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
620
Term length
18 months to 3 years
Pros
- Loan amounts from $5,000 to $250,000.
- Customized loan terms.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- Slower processing speed compared with online lenders.
- Charges an origination fee.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
Pros
- Loan amounts from $5,000 to $250,000.
- Customized loan terms.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- Slower processing speed compared with online lenders.
- Charges an origination fee.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
OnDeck: Best for Short-term, one-off purchases
If your credit score is at least 625, you may be able to qualify for an OnDeck loan of up to $250,000. These short-term business loans must be repaid within 24 months, making them a potential option for specific, one-time purchases you can repay quickly.
May fund quickly
OnDeck - Online term loan
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
$400,000
Min. credit score
625
Term length
18 to 24 months
Pros
- Cash can be available within the same business day (does not apply in California or Vermont).
- Accepts borrowers with a minimum credit score of 625.
- Streamlined application process with minimal documentation required.
- Can be used to build business credit.
Cons
- Cannot fund North Dakota-based businesses.
- Requires frequent (daily or weekly) repayments.
- Interest rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.
- Charges origination fee.
Pros
- Cash can be available within the same business day (does not apply in California or Vermont).
- Accepts borrowers with a minimum credit score of 625.
- Streamlined application process with minimal documentation required.
- Can be used to build business credit.
Cons
- Cannot fund North Dakota-based businesses.
- Requires frequent (daily or weekly) repayments.
- Interest rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.
- Charges origination fee.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Fora Financial: Best for Fast funding
You may be able to qualify for a loan from Fora Financial with a minimum credit score of 570. Fora can also offer large loan amounts and funding in as little as 24 hours.
Fora Financial - Online term loan
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
$1,500,000
Min. credit score
570
Term length
4 to 24 months
Pros
- Cash can be available quickly.
- Get a discount for prepaying.
- No collateral required.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
Cons
- Charges a factor rate that makes it more difficult to compare costs with other lenders.
- Can’t build business credit.
- Longest loan term is 24 months.
- Charges an origination fee.
Pros
- Cash can be available quickly.
- Get a discount for prepaying.
- No collateral required.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
Cons
- Charges a factor rate that makes it more difficult to compare costs with other lenders.
- Can’t build business credit.
- Longest loan term is 24 months.
- Charges an origination fee.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Headway Capital: Best for Flexible spending
A business line of credit allows you to tap into funds on an as-needed basis. You may qualify for one from Headway Capital if your credit score is at least 625 and you have six months in business or more.
Headway Capital - Line of credit
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Max loan amount
$100,000
Min. credit score
625
Term length
12 to 24 months
Pros
- Flexible qualification requirements.
- No prepayment penalties.
- Funds available by next business day after approval.
Cons
- Most borrowers are subject to a 2% draw fee.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
Pros
- Flexible qualification requirements.
- No prepayment penalties.
- Funds available by next business day after approval.
Cons
- Most borrowers are subject to a 2% draw fee.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Concerned about tariffs?
Many small-business owners are under increased economic stress and uncertainty following the latest tariff announcements. NerdWallet is here to help you find answers for whatever you're looking for. Here are some resources to help you get started:
- Need emergency funding? Consider a business line of credit.
- Looking for fast access to working capital? Discover the best working capital loans.
- Want tips on how to mitigate the impact of tariffs? Read our guide.
A closer look at the top bad credit lenders
Giggle Finance
Best for no credit check
At a glance:
☑️: Advances up to $10,000 ($20,000 for repeat customers).
☑️: Funding in as little as a few hours.
☑️: Requires 3+ months in business and doesn’t check your credit score.
🔍 Why we like it:
Giggle Finance can provide capital up to $10,000 in just minutes. The advance is repaid using automatic debits from your bank account. Giggle is marketed toward freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals, but can be used by any small-business owner with at least 3 months in operation.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Merchant cash advance.
- Repayment term: Payments are based on your business’s revenue. You’ll make weekly payments until you repay the full advance amount.
- Speed: As fast as the same day.
➡️ Good fit for: Startups, businesses with bad credit that can’t qualify for other options.
Read our full Giggle Finance review.
SBA microloan
Best for low interest rates
At a glance:
☑️: Loans up to $50,000.
☑️: Funding in as little as one week.
☑️: Requirements vary based on microlender.
🔍 Why we like it:
SBA microloans are issued by participating intermediaries, such as nonprofit organizations or community lenders, who tend to have more flexibility with their eligibility criteria. Many SBA microlenders offer loans to traditionally underserved borrowers, including those with bad or limited credit.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Term loan.
- Interest rate range: 8% to 13%.
- Repayment term: Up to 84 months.
- Speed: As fast as one week.
➡️ Good fit for: Traditionally underserved business owners; business owners who can wait for funding in order to get the lowest interest rates.
Read more about how to get an SBA loan with bad credit.
AltLINE
Best for B2B businesses
At a glance:
☑️: Up to $5 million in invoices per month.
☑️ Funding in as little as 24 hours.
☑️: No minimum credit score or time in business requirements.
🔍 Why we like it:
Like other factoring companies, AltLINE underwrites your application largely based on the creditworthiness of your customers, the age of your receivables and the value of your invoices — as opposed to more traditional requirements. In fact, AltLINE does not set minimum requirements for your personal credit score, time in business or annual revenue. The lender may, however, still consider these factors as part of your application.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Invoice factoring.
- Speed: As fast as 24 hours after submitting invoices.
➡️ Good fit for: Business-to-business companies with slow-paying customers.
Read our full AltLINE factoring review.
Expansion Capital Group
Best for working capital
At a glance:
☑️: Advances up to $300,000.
☑️: Funding in as little as 48 hours.
☑️: Requires a 500+ credit score and 6+ months in business.
🔍 Why we like it:
Expansion Capital Group (ECG) offers fast access to working capital. ECG’s merchant cash advance can be a good option for businesses that have strong incoming revenue from debit and credit card sales. Like most MCA providers, however, ECG charges interest as a factor rate, which can be expensive. You’ll want to translate your costs into an APR and compare multiple options to ensure this product is a fit for your business.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Merchant cash advance.
- Repayment term: Payments are based on your business’s revenue. You’ll make daily or weekly payments until you repay the full advance amount.
- Speed: As fast as a few hours after approval.
➡️ Good fit for: Businesses with strong revenue from credit card sales that can’t qualify for other funding options.
Read more about working capital loan options.
eLease
Best for equipment purchases
At a glance:
☑️: Loans starting at $3,000.
☑️: Requires a 550+ credit score and accepts startups.
🔍 Why we like it:
ELease can help you finance a variety of essential business equipment or machinery. Because the equipment you purchase serves as collateral on the loan, the lender can work with startups and borrowers who have lower credit scores.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Equipment loan.
- Interest rate range: 7.5% to 22%.
- Repayment term: Up to 72 months.
➡️ Good fit for: Businesses that need to purchase equipment or machinery.
Read more about equipment financing for bad credit.
Accion
Best for flexible terms
At a glance:
☑️: Loans up to $250,000.
☑️: Funding takes six days, on average.
☑️: Requires a 620+ credit score and 12+ months in business.
🔍 Why we like it:
Accion issues business loans with repayment terms of up to 36 months, longer than many other bad credit business loans. The lender has flexible qualification requirements, but also offers competitive interest rates.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Term loan.
- Interest rate range: 9.99% to 28.95%.
- Repayment term: Up to 36 months.
- Speed: Six days, on average.
➡️ Good fit for: Low-income and traditionally underserved entrepreneurs, such as women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses.
Read our full Accion review.
OnDeck
Best for short-term, one-off purchases
At a glance:
☑️: Loans up to $400,000.
☑️: Funding in as little as hours after approval.
☑️: Requires a 625+ credit score and 12+ months in business.
🔍 Why we like it:
OnDeck’s short-term business loan can be a good choice for specific, one-time investments in your business. Although OnDeck requires daily or weekly repayment, payments are fixed and don’t change over the course of your loan.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Term loan.
- Interest rate range: 35% to 99% (minimum provided is for rates that at least 5% of customers received).
- Repayment term: Up to 24 months.
- Speed: As fast as the same day.
➡️ Good fit for: Fast access to capital to be used for a specific purpose.
Read our full OnDeck review.
Fora Financial
Best for fast funding
At a glance:
☑️: Loans up to $1.5 million.
☑️: Funding in as little as 24 hours.
☑️: Requires a 570+ credit score and 6+ months in business.
🔍 Why we like it:
Fora Financial is an online lender that has flexible qualification requirements, making it a good option for startups and borrowers with bad credit. Fora also doesn’t require physical collateral, which can be helpful if your business doesn’t have significant assets to offer as security.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Term loan.
- Repayment term: Up to 24 months.
- Speed: As fast as 24 hours.
➡️ Good fit for: Startups, businesses that need fast access to funds.
Read our full Fora Financial review.
Headway Capital
Best for flexible spending
At a glance:
☑️: Credit lines up to $100,000.
☑️: Funding in as little as 24 hours.
☑️: Requires a 625+ credit score and 6+ months in business.
🔍 Why we like it:
Headway Capital offers a business line of credit that’s a good choice for those who can’t qualify for traditional financing. The lender has a simple application process and flexible qualification requirements. Headway also offers three repayment term options — more than other similar competitors.
📋 Key details:
- Loan type: Line of credit.
- Interest rate range: 39% to 82%.
- Repayment term: 12, 18 or 24 months.
- Speed: As fast as the next business day.
➡️ Good fit for: Startups or low-revenue businesses that want a fast, flexible line of credit.
Read our full Headway Capital review.
How much do you need?
We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.
Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.
What is a bad credit business loan?
A bad credit business loan is a loan that’s targeted toward business owners with a personal credit score below 630. These loans allow entrepreneurs to access capital despite credit challenges, but they typically have higher interest rates, shorter repayment terms and lower loan amounts.
What is a bad credit score?
Individual small-business lenders may have varying guidelines for what's considered a bad credit score, based on which scoring model they use. A bad credit score is a score between 300 and 629 (on a scale of 300-800), according to NerdWallet's general guidelines. NerdWallet considers scores of 630 to 680 to be fair credit.
How to get a business loan with bad credit
Here are steps you can follow to get a business loan if you have bad credit.
1. Calculate how much debt you can afford
First, determine how much debt you can reasonably afford. Lower credit scores may result in higher interest rates, which can make it difficult to repay a new loan — and leave you worse off financially than you were when you started.
To figure out how much debt you can afford, you should consider how much funding you need, possible interest rates, additional fees, as well as the repayment schedule (daily, weekly or monthly). You can use NerdWallet's business loan calculator to help estimate these costs.
Your repayment schedule and term length will dictate the size of your payments, but also how much interest you end up paying. A shorter term means larger payments, but less interest, whereas longer terms mean smaller payments, but more interest over the life of the loan.
2. Work to improve your credit score, if you can
Start by checking your score (you can check your personal credit score for free on NerdWallet), and pulling your credit report from the three major reporting bureaus for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Established companies should also check their business credit scores from Experian, Equifax and Dun & Bradstreet.
The higher your credit score, the easier it will be to get a loan, especially one with competitive rates and terms. If you're able to wait for financing, take the time to build your score.
Credit-building strategies include looking for errors on your credit reports and disputing them with the appropriate credit bureau, making debt repayments more frequently and being added as an authorized user to a credit card belonging to someone you know and trust who has a good credit score.
3. Strengthen other areas of your application
Although business loan requirements vary, most lenders will use similar criteria when evaluating your application. If you have a lower credit score, these other requirements will be even more important to help you access financing.
Most lenders will consider the following:
- How long you’ve been in business.
- What your annual revenue is.
- How strong your cash flow is.
- What kind of collateral you can provide.
Prepare to bolster your business profile in any way possible to help increase your chances of approval.
For example, if you have significant collateral available, consider offering more than the minimum — or offer collateral even if the lender doesn’t require it. Your business’s strengths may make your application more attractive to lenders, even if your credit score is lagging.
You might also consider finding a cosigner to help you secure a loan. If you default on the loan, the cosigner assumes responsibility for repayment. The cosigner should have a higher credit score and ideally strong personal assets to improve your chances of approval.
4. Research and compare bad credit loan options
You may be able to find bad credit business loans from online or nonprofit lenders. As you explore different options, you should compare them based on:
The type of lender you work with may have an effect on building your credit and maximizing your business’s potential for growth. Online lenders can usually streamline your application and offer fast financing, while a CDFI or nonprofit lender may provide hands-on support and offer additional coaching.
APRs on bad credit business loans can vary widely — ranging anywhere between 5% and 99%. You should consider the total cost of borrowing, including the interest rate and any fees — origination fees, closing fees or prepayment penalties — associated with the loan. If your lender provides a factor rate, you can calculate your borrowing costs by multiplying the factor rate by the total loan amount, then adding any additional fees your lender may charge you.
Some lenders don’t require physical collateral to secure a loan, but they will place a blanket lien on your assets and ask for a personal guarantee. Lenders may not always be upfront about these two items, so it’s a good idea to ask about them in your research.
Some types of loans and lenders fund much faster than others. Online lenders typically offer ultra-streamlined processes and fast deposits. Other lenders may take a few days to collect and process an application and take longer to fund. No matter which type of lender you choose, if you are on a timeline, it’s prudent to let them know as soon as possible.
5. Gather your documentation and apply
To complete your loan application, you may need to provide some, if not all, of the following:
- Basic information about you and your business.
- Personal and business bank statements.
- Personal and business tax returns.
- Business financial statements.
- Detailed information about your collateral, if applicable.
Types of bad credit business loans
There are several types of business loans available for bad credit. These loans may have low credit score requirements or include collateral, which can make it easier for bad credit borrowers to qualify.
A short-term business loan is a lump sum of capital you borrow from a lender and repay, over a set period of time, with interest. These loans typically have repayment terms ranging from three to 12 months, but may extend as long as 24 months.
Best for: Short-term expenses, specific projects or purchases.
Business lines of credit give you access to a set amount of funds, which you can draw from as needed. You only pay interest on the funds you draw, and once you repay what you’ve borrowed, you can continue to draw on the line.
Best for: Working capital needs, managing cash flow gaps or seasonal slows and emergency funding.
Equipment financing is designed specifically for purchasing equipment or machinery for your business. This is a form of asset-based financing where the equipment you purchase serves as collateral on the loan. Because of this security, you may not need to rely as heavily on traditional eligibility criteria to qualify for equipment financing.
Best for: Buying equipment and machinery.
Invoice factoring involves selling your outstanding invoices to a factoring company at a discount in exchange for an advance of cash. The factoring company then collects repayment from your customers, and once it receives that payment, it sends you the difference, minus the agreed-upon fees. Invoice factoring companies often have flexible qualification requirements because your invoices provide security on the funding.
Best for: Business-to-business companies with slow-paying customers.
Microloans are small-dollar loans, typically available in amounts up to $50,000. These loans are generally issued by nonprofit and community organizations who offer flexible qualification requirements. Many microlenders focus their lending efforts specifically on traditionally underserved borrowers, such as those with bad or no credit.
Best for: Startups, borrowers with poor or no credit, women, minority groups, veterans and entrepreneurs located in low-income communities.
With a merchant cash advance, you receive an upfront sum of capital that you repay using a percentage of your debit and credit card sales, plus a fee. Because MCAs are repaid automatically, merchant cash advance companies tend to focus on sales and cash flow (as opposed to credit history) when evaluating applications. These products can have high annual percentage rates, however, so you’ll want to consider all other options before turning to a merchant cash advance.
Best for: Businesses with high volume credit card sales that can’t qualify for other options.
Pros and cons of bad credit business loans
Pros
- Can help your business access capital you may otherwise not get to boost operations, grow your business or cover gaps in cash flow.
- Offer fast access to capital — some within as little as 12 hours of applying.
- Can help build and improve your business credit (if your lender reports on-time payments), which can help you qualify for more business funding in the future.
Cons
- Typically have higher rates and fees than traditional loans.
- Borrowing limits are usually lower.
- May require collateral to offset lender risk.
Where to get business loans with bad credit
Banks and credit unions likely won’t approve you if you have bad credit. But these alternative sources may let you get a business loan with a less-than-ideal credit history.
| Lender type | Best for | Typical credit score requirement | Funding speed | Potential drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast funding, minimal documentation, startups. | 500 to 660. | As fast as the same day. | High interest rates, frequent repayment, short terms. | |
| Underserved businesses, those located in low-income communities. | No specific minimum. | As fast as one week. | Longer application process, slower funding timeline. | |
| Startups, local businesses, additional education and support. | No specific minimum. | As fast as one week. | Smaller loan amounts, limited availability by location. |
Frequently asked questions
Most lenders require a minimum personal credit score ranging from 500 to 660, but some have no minimum requirement. Your annual revenue and time in business may also be considered on your application. You should always shop around and compare your small-business loan options to get one that fits your needs.
Yes, online lenders, CDFIs and microlenders may offer startup business loans to borrowers with bad credit. However, your options will be limited, and they can be expensive. To qualify, you’ll generally need at least six months in business and a minimum credit score of 500 or higher.
It is possible to get a business loan with a 500 credit score from certain lenders like AltLINE or Expansion Capital Group. Be aware that these loans may have collateral requirements, minimum revenue requirements or high fees.
Last updated on January 5, 2026
How Fundera by NerdWallet works
Getting a business loan can be challenging, and several factors —
cost, speed, repayment schedule — can play a role in deciding which
product is right for you. Let us help you through the process.
Get started
Fill out one simple application
Answer a 3-minute questionnaire about your business to get personalized lending options. It’s free and won’t impact your credit score.
See your business loan options
Compare interest rates and repayment terms to choose the best product for your needs.
Get your loan
If the lender approves you, you’ll sign closing documents in order to receive funds. Some lenders can approve and fund loans within one business day.
Methodology
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates small-business loan products from traditional banks and online lenders. We collect over 30 data points on each lender using company websites and public documents. We may also go through a lender’s initial application flow and reach out to company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
To come up with our list of the best bad credit business loans, we selected lenders with a minimum credit score requirement of 629 or lower.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer small-business friendly features, including:
- Transparency of rates and terms.
- Flexible payment options.
- Fast funding times.
- Accessible customer service.
- Reporting of payments to business credit bureaus.
- Responsible lending practices.
We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to small-business owners and how meaningfully they impact borrowers’ experiences.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodology for small-business loans and our editorial guidelines.
