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Best Business Loans for Bad Credit of March 2023

By Ryan Lane, Randa Kriss, Edited by Sally Lauckner | Last updated on March 15, 2023
Online lenders can provide small-business loans for borrowers with bad credit. Rates are typically higher than on bank loans.

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If your credit isn’t great, it can be difficult to get a loan from a bank or credit union. But alternative sources, like online and nonprofit lenders, can offer bad-credit business loans to borrowers with personal credit scores as low as 500.
Interest rates on these products are often higher than on traditional small-business loans, so you’ll want to shop around to get the best terms possible and make sure the payments will be manageable for your business.
Below, you’ll find our picks for the best business loans for bad credit — a score of around 300 to 629 — plus information on how to qualify for financing.

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Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

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Here are 8 bad credit business loans

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Lender
NerdWallet Rating
Max loan amount
Min. credit score
Next steps

Fora Financial - Online term loan

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4.5/5

Best for Working capital loan for bad credit

$1,400,000500

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OnDeck - Online term loan

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5.0/5

Best for Short-term business loan for bad credit

$250,000625

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Fundbox - Line of credit

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5.0/5

Best for Business line of credit for bad credit

$150,000600

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Bluevine - Line of credit

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5.0/5

Best for Fast business loan for bad credit

$250,000625

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OnDeck - Line of credit

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5.0/5

Best for Unsecured business loan for bad credit

$100,000625

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Accion - Business Loans

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4.0/5

Best for Long-term business loans for bad credit

$100,000300

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Triton Capital - Equipment financing

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4.0/5

Best for Equipment loan for bad credit

$250,000600

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SBA Microloan

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Best for SBA loan for bad credit

$50,000620

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Here are 8 bad credit business loans

Best for Working capital loan for bad credit

Fora Financial

Max Amount

$1,400,000

Min. Credit Score

500

Best for Short-term business loan for bad credit

OnDeck

Max Amount

$250,000

Min. Credit Score

625

Best for Business line of credit for bad credit

Fundbox

Max Amount

$150,000

Min. Credit Score

600

Best for Fast business loan for bad credit

Bluevine

Max Amount

$250,000

Min. Credit Score

625

Best for Unsecured business loan for bad credit

OnDeck

Max Amount

$100,000

Min. Credit Score

625

Best for Long-term business loans for bad credit

Accion

Max Amount

$100,000

Min. Credit Score

300

Best for Equipment loan for bad credit

Triton Capital

Max Amount

$250,000

Min. Credit Score

600

Best for SBA loan for bad credit

U.S. Small Business Administration

Max Amount

$50,000

Min. Credit Score

620

Our pick for

Working capital loan for bad credit

If you have a credit score of 500 or higher, you may be able to qualify for a working capital loan. You can use a loan from Fora Financial to purchase inventory, make payroll or manage cash flow gaps.

Fora Financial - Online term loan

4.5
NerdWallet rating 
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Max Loan Amount
$1,400,000
Min. credit score
500
Fora Financial can be a good fit for borrowers who may fall short of qualifying for traditional bank financing or young but established small businesses looking for speedy financing.
4.5
NerdWallet rating 

Max loan

$1,400,000

Min. Credit score

500

Fora Financial can be a good fit for borrowers who may fall short of qualifying for traditional bank financing or young but established small businesses looking for speedy financing.
Read Review

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Our pick for

Short-term business loan for bad credit

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 are good for specific, one-time purchases.

OnDeck - Online term loan

5.0
NerdWallet rating 
Read Review

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Max Loan Amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
625
Est. APR
29.90-97.30%
OnDeck offers a fast term loan for small-business owners with less-than-stellar credit who want to expand.
May fund quickly
5.0
NerdWallet rating 

Max loan

$250,000

Min. Credit score

625

Apr range

29.90-97.30%

OnDeck offers a fast term loan for small-business owners with less-than-stellar credit who want to expand.
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Our pick for

Business line of credit for bad credit

A business line of credit may be available from Fundbox if your credit score is at least 600. You only pay interest on the funds you draw from the credit line, giving you more flexibility than a term loan.

Fundbox - Line of credit

5.0
NerdWallet rating 
Read Review

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Max Loan Amount
$150,000
Min. credit score
600
Est. APR
10.10-79.80%
Fundbox offers a business line of credit to fill a cash-flow gap, and qualifying is easier than with other lenders.
May fund quickly
5.0
NerdWallet rating 

Max loan

$150,000

Min. Credit score

600

Apr range

10.10-79.80%

Fundbox offers a business line of credit to fill a cash-flow gap, and qualifying is easier than with other lenders.
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Our pick for

Fast business loan for bad credit

Bluevine can approve applications and offer financing in as little as 24 hours. You’ll need a minimum credit score of 625 to qualify.

Bluevine - Line of credit

5.0
NerdWallet rating 
Read Review

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Max Loan Amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
625
Est. APR
20.00-50.00%
Bluevine's line of credit provides fast working capital for short-term borrowing needs.
May fund quickly
5.0
NerdWallet rating 

Max loan

$250,000

Min. Credit score

625

Apr range

20.00-50.00%

Bluevine's line of credit provides fast working capital for short-term borrowing needs.
Read Review

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Our pick for

Unsecured business loan for bad credit

OnDeck doesn’t require you to put up physical collateral to secure your loan. However, the lender will file a lien on your business assets and require you to sign a personal guarantee.

OnDeck - Line of credit

5.0
NerdWallet rating 
Read Review

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Max Loan Amount
$100,000
Min. credit score
625
Est. APR
29.90-65.90%
OnDeck offers a fast line of credit for small-business owners with less-than-stellar credit who need to manage cash flow or buy inventory.
May fund quickly
5.0
NerdWallet rating 

Max loan

$100,000

Min. Credit score

625

Apr range

29.90-65.90%

OnDeck offers a fast line of credit for small-business owners with less-than-stellar credit who need to manage cash flow or buy inventory.
Read Review

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Our pick for

Long-term business loans for bad credit

Nonprofit lender Accion Opportunity Fund doesn’t require a minimum credit score for business financing and uses other factors to determine eligibility. Repayment terms range from one to five years.

Accion - Business Loans

4.0
NerdWallet rating 
Read Review

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Max Loan Amount
$100,000
Min. credit score
300
Est. APR
7.70-24.89%
Accion Opportunity Fund loans are an option for established businesses that haven’t been able to secure traditional financing due to poor credit, no credit history or a small loan amount.
4.0
NerdWallet rating 

Max loan

$100,000

Min. Credit score

300

Apr range

7.70-24.89%

Accion Opportunity Fund loans are an option for established businesses that haven’t been able to secure traditional financing due to poor credit, no credit history or a small loan amount.
Read Review

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Our pick for

Equipment loan for bad credit

The equipment you purchase with this type of financing serves as collateral on the loan, meaning online lenders may be more flexible with their credit qualifications.

Triton Capital - Equipment financing

4.0
NerdWallet rating 

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Max Loan Amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
600
Est. APR
5.99-35.00%
Triton Capital offers fast equipment loans up to $250,000 for businesses in a range of industries.
4.0
NerdWallet rating 

Max loan

$250,000

Min. Credit score

600

Apr range

5.99-35.00%

Triton Capital offers fast equipment loans up to $250,000 for businesses in a range of industries.

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Our pick for

SBA loan for bad credit

Microloans are offered through nonprofit, community-based organizations, which may be more willing than some other lenders to work with those who have bad to fair credit.

SBA Microloan

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Max Loan Amount
$50,000
Min. credit score
620
Est. APR
8.00-13.00%
The average microloan is roughly $13,000, according to the Small Business Administration.

Max loan

$50,000

Min. Credit score

620

Apr range

8.00-13.00%

The average microloan is roughly $13,000, according to the Small Business Administration.
Read Review

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What is a bad credit score?

A bad credit score typically lands around the range of 300 to 629 (on a scale of 300 to 850), according to the most common credit scoring models, such as FICO and VantageScore.
Personal credit scores ranging from 630 to 689 are generally considered fair credit.
Individual small-business lenders may have varying guidelines for what defines a bad credit score; however, bad-credit business loans usually cater to borrowers with FICO scores below 630.
Although lenders tend to focus on your personal credit score, some may also use your business credit score to evaluate your loan application. Your business credit score reflects your business’s payment history with banks, vendors and other creditors.
» MORE: How to calculate and monitor your business credit score

Types of bad-credit business loans

Here are some of the most common types of bad-credit business loans.
Loan type
Overview
Use cases
Short-term loan
Lump sum of capital you borrow from a lender and repay, over a set period of time, with interest. Online lenders tend to have flexible qualification requirements.
Short-term expenses, specific projects or purchases.
Line of credit
Gives you access to a set amount of funds, which you can draw from as needed. Lines of credit are also available from online lenders with flexible requirements.
Working capital, cash flow gaps, seasonal slows, emergency funding.
Equipment financing
Asset-based financing where the equipment you purchase serves as collateral on the loan. You may not need to rely as heavily on traditional eligibility criteria because equipment secures the loan.
Purchasing equipment and machinery for your business.
Invoice factoring
Unpaid invoices are sold to a factoring company at a discount in exchange for a cash advance. Lenders can be lenient with qualifications because your invoices provide security.
Business-to-business companies that have cash tied up in unpaid invoices.
Merchant cash advance
Company gives you an upfront sum of capital that you repay using a percentage of your debit and credit card sales, plus a fee. MCA companies tend to focus on sales and cash flow when evaluating applications.
Businesses that have substantial debit and credit card sales. However, MCAs can have extremely high APRs, so they should be used as a last resort option.

Where to get a business loan 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.

Online lenders

Most online lenders require a minimum personal credit score from 500 to 650. But a few have no minimum credit score requirement, focusing on factors like your business’s cash flow instead. Online lenders offer easier approvals and faster funding than other business lending options, but they typically charge higher rates — even for those with good credit.

CDFIs

A community development financial institution, or CDFI, receives government funding to provide banking access to low-income or underserved communities. CDFIs are often banks and credit unions, but they don’t have the same strict credit requirements for lending that those financial institutions have. If you’re eligible for CDFI financing, you could get a competitive interest rate. Funding can be slower than with online lenders, though.

Microlenders

If you have bad credit, you may be able to get a microloan for your business. Microloans typically come from nonprofits. Because profit isn’t these organizations’ primary driver, they may be more willing to lend to business owners with a thin credit history.
Some microlenders also participate in the SBA microloan program and may work with newer businesses that have rocky credit histories. Many of these lenders focus on issuing loans to traditionally underserved businesses in their communities.
The downside of a microloan is right in its name: micro. Funds typically top out at $50,000, which may not be enough for your company’s needs.
» MORE: Best business loans for startups with bad credit

How to get a business loan with bad credit

It’s possible to get a business loan even if you have bad credit. Here are steps you can follow to access the financing your business needs.

1. Check your credit

Before applying for a small-business loan, check your credit to know what lenders are going to see. You can get a free credit score on NerdWallet, and pull your personal credit report from the three major reporting bureaus for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Business credit scores are available from Experian, Equifax and Dun & Bradstreet.

2. Build up your credit, if possible

If your credit score is lower than you’d like, consider ways to build it up before applying for business financing. For example, look for any errors on your credit reports and dispute them with the appropriate credit bureau. Other credit-strengthening strategies can include making payments more often and paying down or paying off debt, which can build your business credit as well.

3. Calculate how much debt you can afford

It’s important to note that a low credit score may result in a higher interest rate, which could make it difficult to repay a new loan — and leave you worse off financially than you were when you started.
Therefore, you’ll want to determine how much debt you can reasonably afford before searching for loan options. You should consider how much funding you need, possible interest rates, additional fees, as well as the repayment schedule (daily, weekly or monthly).
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.
» MORE: Estimate loan cost with NerdWallet’s business loan calculator

4. Understand your eligibility requirements

Even if you have a less-than-perfect credit score, you may still qualify for a business loan. However, before comparing different types of bad-credit business loans, it’s helpful to understand the criteria lenders will use to evaluate your business.
In addition to your credit score, small-business lenders are likely to 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.

5. Prepare to bolster your application

You should be prepared to emphasize the areas where your business is successful in your loan application. 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 co-signer to help you secure a loan. If you default on the loan, the co-signer assumes responsibility for repayment. The co-signer should have a higher credit score to improve your chances of approval.
On the other hand, the reasons behind your low credit score may influence a lender’s decision. For instance, it will likely be harder to get approved if a recent bankruptcy or loan default is what’s dragging your score down.

6. Shop around and choose the best loan option for your business

Although a lower credit score may mean you have fewer options to choose from, you should still shop around and compare loan products.
As you research different lenders and their offerings, you’ll want to consider the following factors to find the right fit for your needs:
  • Available loan types.
  • Interest rates and fees.
  • Repayment terms.
  • Funding speed.
  • Qualification requirements.
  • Lender reputation.
Be wary of any lender that tries to rush you through the application process and/or won’t show you loan terms and rates upfront. Predatory lenders tend to take advantage of businesses that are having trouble getting financing — and they may try to promise guaranteed approval or loans with no credit check. 
» MORE: How to apply for and get a business loan

Find the right business loan

The best business loan is generally the one with the lowest rates and most ideal terms. But other factors — like time to fund and your business’s qualifications — can help determine which option you should choose. NerdWallet recommends comparing small-business loans to find the right fit for your business.
Last updated on March 15, 2023

Methodology

NerdWallet reviewed traditional and online lenders to create our list of the best small-business loans for bad credit.
Our list includes various loan options to meet the diverse funding needs of small-business owners, with an emphasis on lenders that offer a streamlined underwriting and approval process.
Each small-business loan option on our list meets the following criteria:
-- Maximum loan amount of at least $50,000. -- Transparent rates and repayment terms. -- Funding available within two weeks of applying. -- Personal credit score requirements of 630 or below. -- No more than two years in business required.

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