Easy-to-get business loans have looser qualification requirements and are faster to fund than traditional bank loans. The catch? They often come with higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms. Compare top options below.
Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business loans
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 by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona University (formerly Iona College).
Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business loans
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 by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona University (formerly Iona College).
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
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250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
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NerdWallet's small-business loans content, including ratings, recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business lending. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
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Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business loans
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 by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona University (formerly Iona College).
Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business loans
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 by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona University (formerly Iona College).
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
50+ categories of the best business loan selections.
NerdWallet's small-business loans content, including ratings, recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business lending. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
Advertiser disclosure
You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or
financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance
we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are
objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence
which products we review and write about (and where those products
appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or
advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our
partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products
or services. Here is a list of our partners .
Not available in North Dakota, South Dakota or Nevada.
Rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.
Bluevine stands out for its fast funding speed 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. Bluevine also offers a larger credit line maximum compared to some competitors and doesn’t charge draw or account maintenance fees.
Not available in North Dakota, South Dakota or Nevada.
Rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.
Bluevine stands out for its fast funding speed 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. Bluevine also offers a larger credit line maximum compared to some competitors and doesn’t charge draw or account maintenance fees.
Charges a factor rate that makes it more difficult to compare costs with other lenders.
Can’t build business credit.
Longest loan term is 18 months.
Charges an origination fee.
Fora Financial stands out as a fast funding option for borrowers who may fall short of qualifying for traditional bank financing. The lender can work with startups and borrowers with bad credit — as long as they have strong revenue. Fora offers large maximum loan amounts and can provide prepayment discounts for those who repay early.
In business for at least six months.
At least $20,000 per month in revenue.
No open bankruptcies or dismissed bankruptcies within the past year.
Charges a factor rate that makes it more difficult to compare costs with other lenders.
Can’t build business credit.
Longest loan term is 18 months.
Charges an origination fee.
Fora Financial stands out as a fast funding option for borrowers who may fall short of qualifying for traditional bank financing. The lender can work with startups and borrowers with bad credit — as long as they have strong revenue. Fora offers large maximum loan amounts and can provide prepayment discounts for those who repay early.
In business for at least six months.
At least $20,000 per month in revenue.
No open bankruptcies or dismissed bankruptcies within the past year.
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
Rates are high compared with traditional banks.
Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).
Fundbox is one of the best online line of credit options for startups. Businesses with just three months in business may be able to qualify. Fundbox is also a good option for borrowers with bad credit and businesses with low revenue. The lender offers a flexible short-term line of credit that can fund within two business days after approval.
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
Rates are high compared with traditional banks.
Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).
Fundbox is one of the best online line of credit options for startups. Businesses with just three months in business may be able to qualify. Fundbox is also a good option for borrowers with bad credit and businesses with low revenue. The lender offers a flexible short-term line of credit that can fund within two business days after approval.
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.
Expansion Capital Group stands out as a merchant cash advance option for startups and borrowers with bad credit. The company has a simple and streamlined application process and may be able to issue funding within hours of you signing your agreement. Expansion Capital Group also offers prepayment discounts if you’re able to repay your advance early.
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.
Expansion Capital Group stands out as a merchant cash advance option for startups and borrowers with bad credit. The company has a simple and streamlined application process and may be able to issue funding within hours of you signing your agreement. Expansion Capital Group also offers prepayment discounts if you’re able to repay your advance early.
Minimum credit score: 500.
Minimum time in business: Six months.
Minimum annual revenue: $100,000.
Accion Opportunity Fund Small Business Working Capital Loan
Slower processing speed compared with online lenders.
Charges an origination fee.
Not available in all U.S. states.
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, long repayment terms and flexible qualification requirements. Startups and borrowers with bad credit may qualify. This lender also targets its funding efforts toward minority-, women- and low-to-moderate-income entrepreneurs.
Minimum credit score: 600.
Minimum time in business: 12 months.
Minimum annual revenue: $50,000.
Accion Opportunity Fund Small Business Working Capital Loan
Slower processing speed compared with online lenders.
Charges an origination fee.
Not available in all U.S. states.
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, long repayment terms and flexible qualification requirements. Startups and borrowers with bad credit may qualify. This lender also targets its funding efforts toward minority-, women- and low-to-moderate-income entrepreneurs.
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.
OnDeck’s short-term loan is a good option for making one-time investments in your business, 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. OnDeck’s short-term loan can also be used to establish and build business credit — as the lender reports your payment history to the three commercial credit bureaus.
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.
OnDeck’s short-term loan is a good option for making one-time investments in your business, 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. OnDeck’s short-term loan can also be used to establish and build business credit — as the lender reports your payment history to the three commercial credit bureaus.
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.
Headway Capital offers a fast and flexible business line of credit that’s a good option for those who can’t qualify for traditional financing. The lender can work with startups and businesses with low revenue. Headway can fund applications as fast 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.
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.
Headway Capital offers a fast and flexible business line of credit that’s a good option for those who can’t qualify for traditional financing. The lender can work with startups and businesses with low revenue. Headway can fund applications as fast 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.
Minimum credit score: 625.
Minimum time in business: Six months.
Minimum annual revenue: $50,000.
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A closer look at our top picks
Bluevine
Best for quick approval
📋 Key details:
Loan type: Line of credit.
Maximum loan amount: $250000.
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: $120000.
Fora Financial
Best for bad credit
📋 Key details:
Loan type: Term loan.
Maximum loan amount: $1.5 million.
Repayment term: 4 to 18 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.
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: $30000.
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.
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 8.49%), 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: 600.
Minimum time in business: 12 months.
Minimum annual revenue: $50000.
OnDeck
Best for short-term loans
📋 Key details :
Loan type: Term loan.
Maximum funding amount: $250000.
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: $100000.
Headway Capital
Best for working capital
📋 Key details :
Loan type: Line of credit.
Maximum funding amount: $100000.
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: $50000.
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 lendersMost are issued by online or alternative lenders, which offer the greatest flexibility.
Flexible requirementsMore likely to have lenient personal credit, time in business and collateral requirements.
Fast to fundSimple and streamlined application processes, which leads to quicker funding times.
Higher interest ratesFast 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.
💬 From a lending expert: Does your business need fast funding?
If your business needs funding fast, look no further. Our in-house team of experts has streamlined the business funding process, securing funds in as little as one day, sometimes even on the same day as a submitted application.
We work with a trusted network of lenders to connect you with the best rates and flexible terms, and we do it fast. Get started today.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Small-business grants . Although it’ll likely take longer to receive funding than one of the easy business loans on our list, grants provide free money for qualifying business owners. They often have looser requirements than many small-business loans, especially if you’re part of an underrepresented group in society, like veterans or individuals with disabilities.
Business credit cards . 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.
Peer-to-peer business loans . If you can’t qualify for more traditional forms of funding, peer-to-peer lending may be an option. 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
Is it easy to get a small-business loan?
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 service.
What is the easiest SBA loan to get?
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.
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 September 15, 2025
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.
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