Best Of
Online lenders provide short-term business loans starting at three months. Compare options for good- and bad-credit borrowers.
Short-term business loans can give your business the fast cash it needs to bridge cash-flow gaps, handle emergencies and other immediate financing needs, or take advantage of a business opportunity.
Think of them as quick-turnaround loans: Borrow what you can pay back relatively quickly so you can focus on running your business rather than managing debt.
Here are short-term financing options from online business lenders. We always recommend comparing small-business loans from multiple loan providers.
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Our picks for
Short-term lines of credit
10.10 - 79.80%
600
Pros
Cons
Qualifications:
15.00 - 78.00%
650
Pros
Cons
Qualifications:
Our pick for
Short-term business loans for fast cash
Business loans are term loans that provide a lump of cash upfront, repaid over a set period of time with fixed, equal payments.
9.00 - 99.00%
600
Pros
Cons
Qualifications:
Our pick for
Short-term business loans for low rates
19.99 - 24.99%
650
Pros
Cons
Qualifications:
| Lender | Best For | Est. APR | Min. Credit Score | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fundbox - Line of credit | Best for Short-term lines of credit | 10.10 - 79.80% | 600 | See Your Loan Options
on Fundbox's secure website |
BlueVine - Line of credit | Best for Short-term lines of credit | 15.00 - 78.00% | 650 | See Your Loan Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
OnDeck - Online term loan | Best for Short-term business loans for fast cash | 9.00 - 99.00% | 600 | See Your Loan Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
Credibility Capital - Online term loan | Best for Short-term business loans for low rates | 19.99 - 24.99% | 650 | See Your Loan Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
Short-term loans for businesses are term loans with short repayment periods, typically ranging from three months to three years.
Because you have a shorter repayment period, your monthly payment (which includes interest and any fees) will be higher than a long-term business loan, which can have repayment terms of up to 25 years in some cases.
While short-term business loans provide fast cash, they do come with some disadvantages, including:
NerdWallet has created a comparison tool of the best small-business loans to meet your needs and goals. We gauged factors including lender trustworthiness, market scope and user experience, and arranged them by categories that include revenue and how long you’ve been in business.
To recap our selections...
A short-term business loan provides a lump sum upfront to a borrower and has a repayment period ranging from three months to three years. The short repayment period means this type of financing is best to manage an immediate cash flow gap, an emergency or immediate financing needs.
Besides a short-term business loan, you can turn to other financing options. Business credit cards can offer immediate funding, especially if you need smaller amounts than what a business term loan would provide. If you have a business with unpaid invoices, you can turn to invoice financing to turn them into cash.