Best Of
Online lenders offer business lines of credit up to $250,000 for short-term financing needs.
When you need to manage cash flow, buy inventory or pay for an unexpected expense, then a business line of credit makes sense.
A business line of credit is a type of small-business loan that provides flexibility that a regular business loan doesn’t. A line of credit works like a credit card. With a business line of credit, you can borrow up to a certain limit — say, $100,000 — and pay interest only on the portion of money that you borrow. You then draw and repay funds as you wish, as long as you don’t exceed your credit limit.
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Our pick for
Business lines of credit up to $100,000
OnDeck offers business lines of credit up to $100,000 for short-term financing needs.
11.00 - 61.90%
600
Pros
Cons
Qualifications:
Our pick for
Business lines of credit up to $250,000
15.00 - 78.00%
650
Pros
Cons
Qualifications:
| Lender | Best For | Est. APR | Min. Credit Score | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OnDeck - Line of credit | Best for Business lines of credit up to $100,000 | 11.00 - 61.90% | 600 | See Your Loan Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
BlueVine - Line of credit | Best for Business lines of credit up to $250,000 | 15.00 - 78.00% | 650 | See Your Loan Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
A business line of credit differs from a term loan, which provides a one-time lump sum of cash upfront, repaid over a fixed period, or term.
With a line of credit, you can keep reusing and repaying it as often as you’d like, as long as you make payments on time and don’t exceed your credit limit. Most lenders allow you to repay your full balance early to save on interest costs.
Line of credit borrowing limits — ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 — are smaller than a term loan.
Business lines of credit with lower credit limits are typically unsecured, which means collateral such as real estate or inventory is not required.
Most traditional lenders, such as banks, require businesses to have strong revenue and at least a few years of history to qualify for a line of credit. Larger lines of credit may require collateral, which can be seized by the lender if you fail to make payments.
To apply, lenders typically require the following documentation: personal and business tax returns, bank account information and business financial statements, such as profit-and-loss statements and a balance sheet.
Online business lenders typically have looser qualifications than banks. However, these lenders are also likely to charge higher rates than banks and may have lower credit limits.
At a minimum, you’ll need at least six months in business and $25,000 in annual revenue to qualify for a business line of credit. Although some lenders don’t set a minimum credit score, borrowers most likely will need a score of 500 or higher to qualify.
A secured business line of credit means you are putting up assets such as inventory or property as collateral. If you fail to pay back the credit line, a lender could seize your assets.
Obtaining an unsecured business credit line doesn’t require collateral, but some lenders may still require a personal guarantee or a lien on a business’ assets.
A personal guarantee gives a lender the right to go after your personal assets, such as a house, if you default on a loan. A lien is similar; a lender can seize your business assets if you haven’t repaid a loan.
When comparing lenders, ask whether they require a collateral, personal guarantee or a lien so that you can find the option that’s best for your business.
Business credit cards are also lines of credit, but differ from a traditional business line of credit in several ways.
A business line of credit provides a higher credit limit, may be secured by collateral and provides actual cash to your bank account when you make a draw. You can get cash through a business credit card, but you’ll be charged fees and a higher APR to do so. Other common fees for business credit cards include annual fees and late-payment fees.
Business credit cards work best for smaller ongoing expenses and for newer businesses without established finances, while a business line of credit works best for larger ongoing expenses and more mature businesses.
Just like personal credit cards, business credit cards can provide rewards or cash back for spending. Rewards are typically related to business expenses, such as office supplies, gas, internet and cable. They may also offer 0% interest promotions, which allow you to pay no interest on your balance for a specific time period after signing up for the card.
To recap our selections...
A business line of credit works best when you need to finance short-term expenses, such as replenishing inventory or covering unexpected costs. A small-business term loan finances large one-time expenses, like equipment purchase.
Online lenders, banks and credit unions offer business lines of credit. Banks and credit unions typically require strong business revenue and at least a few years of history to qualify. Online lenders have looser qualifications, but may charge higher rates. Compare your options to find the one that best fits your financing needs.
For newer businesses, it can be difficult to get a small-business line of credit. Traditional lenders, such as banks, typically require businesses to have several years of operations, revenue and strong finances to secure any type of financing.