Best Easy Business Loans With Low Requirements of January 2026

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Lender	NerdWallet rating	Best For	Max loan amount	Min. time in business	Min. interest rate	Term length	Learn more
See Your Loan Options with Fundera by NerdWallet	4.8 /5 Read expert review	low interest rates	$250,000	12 months	9.99%	18 months to 3 years	See loan options with Fundera by NerdWallet
See Your Loan Options with Fundera by NerdWallet		merchant cash advances	$300,000	6 months	Undisclosed	Undisclosed	See loan options with Fundera by NerdWallet
See Your Loan Options with Fundera by NerdWallet	4.8 /5 Read expert review	short-term loans	$400,000	12 months	35%	18 to 24 months	See loan options with Fundera by NerdWallet
See Your Loan Options with Fundera by NerdWallet	4.7 /5 Read expert review	borrowers with bad credit	$1,500,000	6 months	Undisclosed	4 to 24 months	See loan options with Fundera by NerdWallet
See Your Loan Options with Fundera by NerdWallet	4.8 /5 Read expert review	working capital	$100,000	6 months	39%	12 to 24 months	See loan options with Fundera by NerdWallet
See Your Loan Options with Fundera by NerdWallet	5.0 /5 Read expert review	quick approval	$200,000	12 months	14%	6 to 12 months	See loan options with Fundera by NerdWallet
See Your Loan Options with Fundera by NerdWallet	4.7 /5 Read expert review	startups	$250,000	3 months	36%	3 months to 2 years and 2 months	See loan options with Fundera by NerdWallet

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best easy business loans: More details

Accion Opportunity Fund Small Business Working Capital Loan

4.8 NerdWallet rating

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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.

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Expansion Capital Group - Merchant cash advance

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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.

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May fund quickly

OnDeck - Online term loan

4.8 NerdWallet rating

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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.

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Fora Financial - Online term loan

4.7 NerdWallet rating

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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.

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Headway Capital - Line of credit

4.8 NerdWallet rating

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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.

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May fund quickly

Bluevine - Line of credit

5.0 NerdWallet rating

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See your loan options

with Fundera by NerdWallet

Max loan amount

$200,000

Min. credit score

625

Term length

6 to 12 months

Pros

Cash can be available within 12 to 24 hours.
Can be used to build business credit.
Low minimum credit score requirement.

Cons

Requires weekly payments.
Not available in North Dakota, South Dakota or Nevada.
Rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.

Pros

Cash can be available within 12 to 24 hours.
Can be used to build business credit.
Low minimum credit score requirement.

Cons

Requires weekly payments.
Not available in North Dakota, South Dakota or Nevada.
Rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.

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with Fundera by NerdWallet

May fund quickly

Fundbox - Line of credit

4.7 NerdWallet rating

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with Fundera by NerdWallet

Max loan amount

$250,000

Min. credit score

600

Term length

3 months to 2 years and 2 months

Pros

Financing available within two business days after approval.
Simple application with minimal documentation required.
Low minimum credit score, time in business and annual revenue requirements.
No prepayment penalties, account maintenance fees or inactivity fees.

Cons

Weekly repayments required.

Pros

Financing available within two business days after approval.
Simple application with minimal documentation required.
Low minimum credit score, time in business and annual revenue requirements.
No prepayment penalties, account maintenance fees or inactivity fees.

Cons

Weekly repayments required.

Read Expert Review

See your loan options

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Jump to

A closer look at our top picks

Key takeaways

What is an easy business loan?

When to get an easy business loan

How to qualify for an easy business loan

How to get an easy business loan

Alternatives to easy business loans

Table of Contents

A closer look at our top picks
Key takeaways
What is an easy business loan?
When to get an easy business loan
How to qualify for an easy business loan
How to get an easy business loan
Alternatives to easy business loans

A closer look at our top picks

Accion Opportunity Fund

Best for low interest rates

📋 Key details:

Loan type: Term loan.
Maximum funding amount: $250,000.
Repayment term: 18 to 36 months.
Speed: Average of six days.

🔍 Why we like it:

Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF) stands out as an affordable option for business owners who can’t qualify for traditional financing. AOF offers competitive interest rates (starting at 9.99%), long repayment terms and flexible qualification requirements. This lender also targets its funding efforts toward minority, women and low-to-moderate-income entrepreneurs.

☑️ Requirements:

Minimum credit score: 620.
Minimum time in business: 12 months.
Minimum annual revenue: $50,000.

Expansion Capital Group

Best for merchant cash advances

📋 Key details:

Loan type: Merchant cash advance.
Maximum funding amount: $300,000.
Repayment term: 3 to 12 months.
Speed: As soon as the same day.

🔍 Why we like it:

Expansion Capital Group stands out as a merchant cash advance provider for startups and borrowers with bad credit. The company has a streamlined application process and may be able to issue funding within hours of signing your agreement.

☑️ Requirements:

Minimum credit score: 500.
Minimum time in business: 6 months.
Minimum annual revenue: $100,000.

» MORE: Business loans you can get with a 500 credit score

OnDeck

Best for short-term loans

📋 Key details:

Loan type: Term loan.
Maximum funding amount: $400,000.
Repayment term: 18 to 24 months.
Speed: As fast as the same day.

🔍 Why we like it:

OnDeck’s short-term loan is a good option for one-time business investments, such as opening a new location or renovating your space. This loan offers fast funding (sometimes as quickly as the same day) for borrowers who may not qualify for more traditional financing options.

☑️ Requirements:

Minimum credit score: 625.
Minimum time in business: 12 months.
Minimum annual revenue: $100,000.

Fora Financial

Best for borrowers with bad credit

📋 Key details:

Loan type: Term loan.
Maximum loan amount: $1.5 million.
Repayment term: Up to 24 months.
Funding speed: Within 24 hours.

🔍 Why we like it:

Fora Financial stands out as a fast funding option for startups and borrowers with bad credit — as long as they have strong revenue. Fora offers high maximum loan amounts and can provide repayment discounts for those who repay early.

☑️ Requirements:

Minimum credit score: 570.
Minimum time in business: 6 months.
Minimum annual revenue: $240,000.

Headway Capital

Best for working capital

📋 Key details:

Loan type: Line of credit.
Maximum funding amount: $100,000.
Repayment term: 12, 18 or 24 months.
Speed: Within one business day after approval.

🔍 Why we like it:

Headway Capital offers a fast and flexible business line of credit that’s a good option for working capital needs. The lender can work with startups and businesses with low revenue. Headway can fund applications as soon as the next day after approval. Unlike some online lines of credit, however, you’ll likely have to pay a draw fee to access your funds from Headway.

☑️ Requirements:

Minimum credit score: 625.
Minimum time in business: 6 months.
Minimum annual revenue: $50,000.

Bluevine

Best for quick approval

📋 Key details:

Loan type: Line of credit.
Maximum loan amount: $200,000.
Repayment term: Up to 12 months.
Funding speed: As fast as 24 hours.

🔍 Why we like it:

Bluevine stands out for its fast funding and flexible qualification requirements. To get a line of credit, you can apply quickly online and receive funding in as little as 24 hours. Newer businesses and borrowers with bad credit may be able to qualify.

☑️ Requirements:

Minimum credit score: 625.
Minimum time in business: 12 months.
Minimum monthly revenue: $120,000.

Fundbox

Best for startups

📋 Key details:

Loan type: Line of credit.
Maximum funding amount: $250,000.
Repayment term: 3 to 26 months.
Speed: Within two business days after drawing on your line.

🔍 Why we like it:

Fundbox offers one of the best online lines of credit for startups. Businesses with just 3 months of operation may be able to qualify. Fundbox is also a good option for borrowers with bad credit and businesses with low revenue.

☑️ Requirements:

Minimum credit score: 600.
Minimum time in business: 3 months.
Minimum annual revenue: $30,000.

Key takeaways

Easy business loans offer fast funding and flexible requirements but often carry higher interest rates than bank or SBA loans.
These loans usually come from online or alternative lenders with simpler applications and faster approvals than traditional banks.
They can be a good option if you need quick cash, can’t qualify for a traditional loan or are willing to pay more for speed and convenience.

What is an easy business loan?

An “easy business loan” refers to financing that provides convenient and fast access to money — in other words, it’s easier to obtain than loans offered by traditional lenders such as banks and credit unions. They typically share the following features:

Issued by online lenders

Most are issued by online or alternative lenders, which offer the greatest flexibility.

Flexible requirements

More likely to have lenient personal credit, time in business and collateral requirements.

Fast to fund

Simple and streamlined application processes, which leads to quicker funding times.

Higher interest rates

Fast funding times and flexible qualification requirements usually translate to higher interest rates.

In contrast, many traditional small-business loans require strong credit, high revenue and at least two years in business.

When to get an easy business loan

You can’t qualify for other types of financing. One in four small-business owners struggles to get the funding they need to grow their business or cover expenses, according to NerdWallet’s 2024 Small Business Report. If this describes you, an easy business loan from an online lender might be a good option, as online lenders tend to have more lenient requirements than banks or SBA lenders.
You need cash fast. Bank and SBA loans can take several weeks, or longer, to fund. If you need money to cover emergency expenses or to take advantage of a new business opportunity, for example, it may be worth paying a higher interest rate for the speed and convenience of an easy business loan.
You don’t mind paying higher costs. Although these loans typically have higher interest rates than more traditional funding options, they can provide access to the money you need to cover a variety of expenses. Plus, taking out an easy online business loan and making timely payments on it may help you qualify for more competitive financing options in the future.

How to qualify for an easy business loan

Although each lender is different, easy business loans typically have more lenient qualification requirements when it comes to standard underwriting guidelines.

Here’s what you might need to qualify based on the lenders we highlighted above:

Credit score	500 or higher.
Time in business	Three to 12 months.
Annual revenue	$30,000 or more.
Collateral	None, though you'll likely have to sign a personal guarantee or have a blanket lien placed on your business assets.
Application process	May be able to apply in minutes.
Paperwork	Business financial statements, business and personal tax returns, and business and personal bank statements may be required.

» Learn more about how to qualify for a small-business loan.

How to get an easy business loan

The best loan for your business ultimately depends on your unique financing needs and how well you meet lenders’ eligibility requirements.

However, if you think an easy business loan might be a good option, follow these steps to get the right one:

1. Determine what type of funding you need. Easy business loans include business lines of credit, term loans, equipment financing and invoice factoring. Consider how much money you need to borrow and how you’re going to use the funds to determine which type of loan is the best fit.

2. Figure out how much debt you can afford. Easy business loans often carry higher interest rates and fees than other types of financing. Review your business finances to estimate how much additional debt you can manage before taking on a new loan.

3. Check your qualifications. Review common underwriting criteria — time in business, credit score, annual revenue — so you have a sense of which loans you have a strong likelihood of qualifying for.

4. Compare multiple loan offers. As you start applying and getting loan offers, make sure you’re getting the best deal for your business by comparing factors like interest rates, repayment terms, fees and prepayment penalties.

🔎 Compare the total cost of your loan offers by using NerdWallet’s business loan calculator.

5. Read your business loan agreement. Once you decide on a loan, ensure that you understand all the terms, including interest rates, fees, repayment terms, potential prepayment penalties and any personal guarantee requirements that may apply. Ask your lender for clarification if you have any questions.

🤓

Nerdy Tip

Stay away from lenders that promise guaranteed approval or "business loans with no credit check.” Although there are many reputable online lenders on the market, predatory lenders tend to target small businesses that are having trouble qualifying for financing. If you think a loan offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Alternatives to easy business loans

Although easy business loans offer fast and flexible access to business capital, they may not be right for every business owner or situation. Here are some alternatives to consider:

If you want to avoid debt. Although it may take longer to secure funding than with one of the easy business loans on our list, small-business grants offer qualifying entrepreneurs free money. Requirements also tend to be more flexible than many small-business loans, especially for veterans, people with disabilities and other underrepresented groups.
If you need to cover daily expenses. Similar to a business line of credit, a business credit card is a revolving source of funds and can be approved quickly. Though they typically come with higher APRs and fees than loans, they can also reward you for your spending.
If you can’t qualify for traditional financing. Peer-to-peer business loans may be a good option if you can’t get more traditional funding.Similar to crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending is when multiple people or institutions each chip in a little bit of money for you to use in your business. Like a normal loan, you pay this borrowed cash back over time, with interest.

Frequently asked questions

Getting a business loan isn’t always easy. Although some lenders have more lenient qualification requirements than others, it’s easier to get a business loan if you have good credit, strong finances or an established business with multiple years in operation.

SBA microloans are one of the easiest SBA loans to get. SBA microloans are issued by nonprofit community lenders, who set their own rates and eligibility requirements (with some guidance from the SBA). These loans are designed to reach traditionally underserved companies, such as startups, minority-owned businesses and businesses with bad credit.

» MORE: How to get an SBA loan with bad credit

If you have good personal credit and strong finances (or cash flow projections), it may be easier to get a startup business loan. In general, however, many lenders require that you have at least six months to one year in business to qualify for financing.

Last updated on January 5, 2026

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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.

Testimonials

"I was on the market for small business funding to help expand my business and they were able to get me funded in record time, with a great amount and better rates than I was getting with other companies."

Osamede Osa Imasuen

See all reviews on

4.7 Excellent

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.

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.

Meet the editorial team

Randa Kriss

Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business lending, business banking

Randa Kriss is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She has nearly a decade of experience in digital content. Prior to joining NerdWallet in 2020, Randa worked as a writer at Fundera, covering a wide variety of small-business topics and specializing in the lending and banking spaces. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The Associated Press, MarketWatch and Nasdaq, among other publications. She has also hosted a webinar as part of the SBA's 2024 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit. Randa is passionate about helping small-business owners make educated financial decisions, especially when it comes to affordable funding. She is based in New York City.

Best Easy Business Loans of January 2026

best easy business loans: More details

Accion: Best for low interest rates

Expansion Capital Group: Best for merchant cash advances

OnDeck: Best for short-term loans

Fora Financial: Best for borrowers with bad credit

Headway Capital: Best for working capital

Bluevine: Best for quick approval

Fundbox: Best for startups

A closer look at our top picks

Accion Opportunity Fund

Expansion Capital Group

OnDeck

Fora Financial

Headway Capital

Bluevine

Fundbox

Key takeaways

What is an easy business loan?

When to get an easy business loan

How to qualify for an easy business loan

How to get an easy business loan

Alternatives to easy business loans

Frequently asked questions

Testimonials

Methodology

Small-Business Grants: Where to Find Free Funding

SBA Loan Overview: Types, Pros and Cons, How to Apply

Best Startup Business Loans of April 2025