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.
Here are 5 American Express® Business Line of Credit competitors
Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Max loan amount | Min. credit score | Next steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OnDeck - Line of credit with Fundera by NerdWallet | 5.0/5 Best for Fast funding | $100,000 | 625 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
Bluevine - Line of credit with Fundera by NerdWallet | 5.0/5 Best for Fast funding | $250,000 | 625 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
Fundbox - Line of credit with Fundera by NerdWallet | 5.0/5 Best for Startup businesses | $150,000 | 600 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
Fora Financial - Online term loan with Fundera by NerdWallet | 4.5/5 Best for Borrowers with bad credit | $1,400,000 | 500 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
Accion - Business Loans with Fundera by NerdWallet | 4.0/5 Best for Longer repayment terms | $100,000 | 300 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
Here are 5 American Express® Business Line of Credit competitors
Best for Fast funding
Best for Startup businesses
Best for Borrowers with bad credit
Best for Longer repayment terms
Our picks for
Fast funding
OnDeck - Line of credit
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
Max loan
$100,000
Min. Credit score
625
Apr range
29.90-65.90%
Bluevine - Line of credit
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
Max loan
$250,000
Min. Credit score
625
Apr range
20.00-50.00%
Our pick for
Startup businesses
Fundbox - Line of credit
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
Max loan
$150,000
Min. Credit score
600
Apr range
10.10-79.80%
Our pick for
Borrowers with bad credit
Fora Financial - Online term loan
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.
Max loan
$1,400,000
Min. Credit score
500
Our pick for
Longer repayment terms
Accion - Business Loans
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.
Max loan
$100,000
Min. Credit score
300
Apr range
7.70-24.89%
Minimum requirements for a loan
The Nerds are here to help you find the right loans for your business needs.
Credit Score
550 or higher
Annual Revenue
at least $50k
Time in Business
6 months or more
How Much Do You Need?
American Express Business Blueprint™ (previously called Kabbage) offers business lines of credit from $2,000 to $250,000 and repayment terms of six, 12 or 18 months. Instead of traditional interest, American Express charges monthly fees depending on your loan’s term.
Total monthly fees incurred over the loan term range are:
- Six-month term: 2% to 9%.
- 12-month term: 7.5% to 18%.
- 18-month term: 15.75% to 27%.
This proprietary fee structure often makes it difficult to compare the cost of an American Express® Business Line of Credit to other products.
To qualify for this line of credit, you’ll need:
- Credit score:640or higher.
- Time in business: One year or more.
- Average monthly revenue: At least $3,000.
You must also be able to link a bank account that shows business revenue to qualify. It’s also important to remember that all businesses are unique and are subject to approval and review.
1. OnDeck
If you’re looking for multiple loan options or a lower minimum credit score requirement, OnDeck might be a good choice to consider.
OnDeck offers both term loans and lines of credit. To qualify for either product, you’ll need:
- Credit score:625or higher.
- Time in business: One year or more.
- Monthly revenue: Approximately $8,333.33 or more.
OnDeck’s line of credit is available in amounts up to $100,000 with weekly payments and terms of 12 months. The short-term loan, on the other hand, is available up to $250,000 with daily or weekly payments and terms up to 24 months.
Although the American Express® Business Line of Credit offers longer terms, monthly payments and higher maximum funding amounts, OnDeck is more transparent about its borrowing costs. The lender charges interest as a factor rate, which can range from 1.037 to 1.45 for term loans and 1.10 to 1.30 for lines of credit.
These term loan factor rates translate to APRs ranging from
29.9
% to 97.3
%, while rates for lines of credit translate to APRs ranging from 29.9
% to 65.9
%. These APRs are based on loans originated in the half-year ending March 31, 2022, and rates change slightly each quarter.Unlike American Express, however, OnDeck charges a $20 monthly maintenance fee on its line of credit. OnDeck can fund applications as quickly as the same day.
» MORE: Best same-day business loans
2. Bluevine
Like American Express, Bluevine offers business lines of credit up to $250,000. Bluevine may be the right competitor for you if you need quick access to funds and a lower minimum credit score requirement.
With Bluevine, you can complete your application and receive a decision in as little as five minutes. Funds can be available within hours if you choose the bank wire option (which requires a $15 fee) — and in one to three business days if you choose an ACH transfer.
The Bluevine line of credit has weekly or monthly payments and terms of six or 12 months. The lender charges a simple business loan rate, starting as low as 6.2% (calculated from total repayments over 26 weeks). Rates calculate to an approximate APR of
20
% to 50
%.To qualify for a line of credit from Bluevine, you’ll need:
- Credit score:625or higher.
- Time in business: Two years or more.
- Monthly revenue: $40,000 or more.
So, although Bluevine might be a better option for those with a lower credit score, its other qualifications are much higher than American Express.
3. Fundbox
Fundbox can be a good option for startups and borrowers with bad credit that might not meet the American Express® Business Line of Credit’s qualification requirements. To qualify for a Fundbox line of credit, you need:
- Credit score:600or higher.
- Time in business: Six months or more.
- Monthly revenue: Approximately $8,333.33 or more.
Fundbox can also be a worthwhile choice for fast financing and smaller funding amounts. Fundbox’s line of credit is available in amounts up to $150,000 with weekly payments over a 12- or 24-week term.
After applying for a line of credit, you can receive approval in as little as three minutes and funds as soon as the next day.
Fundbox charges interest rates that vary based on your qualifications and repayment term. Rates start at 4.66% for 12-week terms and 8.99% for 24-week terms. This line of credit has an approximate APR range of
10.1
% to 79.8
%.4. Fora Financial
Although Fora Financial doesn’t offer lines of credit, the lender’s short-term loan can be a good option for working capital needs. Compared to the American Express® Business Line of Credit, Fora offers larger funding amounts and has more flexible qualification requirements.
Fora Financial’s term loan is available in amounts up to $1.4 million with flexible payment options and terms up to 15 months. Like OnDeck, Fora charges interest as a factor rate; rates range from 1.1 to 1.9.
Fora does not provide an estimated APR range for its loans, so you’ll want to calculate your factor rate into an APR to get a better sense of borrowing costs.
To qualify for a loan from Fora Financial, you’ll need:
- Credit score:500or higher.
- Time in business: Six months or more.
- Monthly revenue: $12,000 or more.
With these eligibility criteria, Fora is more accessible to startups and businesses with bad credit than the American Express® Business Line of Credit.
5. Accion Opportunity Fund
If you’re looking for longer repayment terms than American Express offers, Accion Opportunity Fund may be the right competitor for you.
Accion provides business term loans up to $100,000 with monthly payments and terms up to 60 months. These loans can be used for a variety of purposes and Accion offers educational resources, business coaching and access to support networks.
Accion business loans may also be a more affordable option than the American Express® Business Line of Credit, as APRs range from
7.7
% to 24.89
%.To qualify for an Accion loan, you’ll need:
- Credit score: No minimum requirement.
- Time in business: Three months or more.
- Monthly revenue: Varies.
Compared to other lenders, Accion has more lenient requirements — making it a good option for businesses with bad credit, as well as startups.
Accion can also be a worthwhile choice for traditionally underserved borrowers. According to the lender, over 90% of its borrowers are women, people of color and/or low-to-moderate income individuals.
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 February 3, 2022