- Default
- NerdWallet rating (high to low)
- Max loan amount (high to low)
- Min. time in business (low to high)
- Min. interest rate (low to high)
- Term length (high to low)
best business loans for bad credit: More details
Giggle Finance: Best for no credit check
Giggle Finance doesn’t require a credit check. Instead, eligibility is based on your bank statements, and you’ll need at least three months in business to qualify.
Giggle Finance - Merchant cash advance
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Pros
- No minimum credit score requirement.
- Same-day funding available.
- Specifically designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals.
Cons
- Funding maxes out at $10,000 ($20,000 for repeat customers).
- Factor rate and fee information not available on website.
- Charges an origination fee.
Pros
- No minimum credit score requirement.
- Same-day funding available.
- Specifically designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals.
Cons
- Funding maxes out at $10,000 ($20,000 for repeat customers).
- Factor rate and fee information not available on website.
- Charges an origination fee.
U.S. Small Business Administration: Best for low interest rates
SBA microloans are offered through nonprofit, community-based organizations which can be more willing to work with borrowers with fair or bad credit. Interest rates on these loans typically range from 8% to 13%.
SBA microloan
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of funding purposes.
- Designed to finance traditionally underserved businesses.
- Startups and business owners with bad credit may be able to qualify.
- Competitive interest rates, low fees and long repayment terms.
- Intermediaries typically offer business training and educational resources.
Cons
- Loan amounts max out at $50,000.
- Can’t be used to pay existing debt or purchase real estate.
- Collateral is likely required.
- Slow funding timeline.
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of funding purposes.
- Designed to finance traditionally underserved businesses.
- Startups and business owners with bad credit may be able to qualify.
- Competitive interest rates, low fees and long repayment terms.
- Intermediaries typically offer business training and educational resources.
Cons
- Loan amounts max out at $50,000.
- Can’t be used to pay existing debt or purchase real estate.
- Collateral is likely required.
- Slow funding timeline.
AltLINE: Best for B2B businesses
AltLINE can provide funding for B2B businesses who have capital tied up in unpaid invoices. Because AltLINE focuses on the creditworthiness of your customers during underwriting, it has no set minimum credit score requirement.
AltLINE - Invoice factoring
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Pros
- Capital available within 24 to 48 hours.
- No collateral required.
- Manages payment collection from your customers.
- Accepts startups and businesses with bad credit.
Cons
- Fees can become expensive the longer it takes your customers to pay.
- Difficult to compare factoring costs to other types of business loans.
- Charges an origination fee.
Pros
- Capital available within 24 to 48 hours.
- No collateral required.
- Manages payment collection from your customers.
- Accepts startups and businesses with bad credit.
Cons
- Fees can become expensive the longer it takes your customers to pay.
- Difficult to compare factoring costs to other types of business loans.
- Charges an origination fee.
eLease: Best for equipment purchases
The equipment you buy with this type of financing serves as collateral on the loan, meaning online lenders, like eLease can be more flexible with its credit qualifications. For example, you may qualify if you have a credit score as low as 550.
eLease - Equipment financing
with Fundera by NerdWallet
Pros
- No loan or leasing maximums.
- No minimum revenue requirement.
- Startups and low credit scores accepted.
Cons
- Must apply over the phone.
Pros
- No loan or leasing maximums.
- No minimum revenue requirement.
- Startups and low credit scores accepted.
Cons
- Must apply over the phone.
Expansion Capital Group: Best for working capital
Expansion Capital Group can provide fast access to working capital for borrowers with a minimum credit score of 500 and at least six months in business under their belt.
Expansion Capital Group - Merchant cash advance
with Fundera by NerdWallet
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.
Fora Financial: Best for fast funding
You may be able to qualify for a loan from Fora Financial with a minimum credit score of 570. Fora can also offer large loan amounts and funding in as little as 24 hours.
Fora Financial - Online term loan
with Fundera by NerdWallet
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.
- Aggressive repayment schedule (daily or weekly).
- 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.
- Aggressive repayment schedule (daily or weekly).
- Charges an origination fee.
Fundbox: Best for startups
You may be able to qualify for a Fundbox line of credit with a minimum credit score of 600 or higher. Plus, this lender has one of the lowest time in business requirement on our list — making it ideal for startups.
May fund quickly
Fundbox - Line of credit
with Fundera by NerdWallet
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.
Accion: Best for flexible terms
Nonprofit lender Accion Opportunity Fund may approve borrowers with a credit score as low as 620. Monthly repayment terms range from 18 months to three years, and interest rates start at 9.99%.
Accion Opportunity Fund Small Business Working Capital Loan
with Fundera by NerdWallet
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.
OnDeck: Best for short-term, one-off purchases
If your credit score is at least 625, you may be able to qualify for an OnDeck loan of up to $250,000. These short-term business loans must be repaid within 24 months, making them a potential option for specific, one-time purchases you can repay quickly.
May fund quickly
OnDeck - Online term loan
with Fundera by NerdWallet
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.
Headway Capital: Best for flexible spending
A business line of credit allows you to tap into funds on an as-needed basis. You may qualify for one from Headway Capital if your credit score is at least 625 and you have six months in business or more.
Headway Capital - Line of credit
with Fundera by NerdWallet
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.
Jump to
A closer look at the top bad credit lenders
Giggle Finance
- Funding type: Merchant cash advance.
- Repayment term: Payments are based on your business’s revenue. You’ll make weekly payments until you repay the full advance amount.
- Speed: As fast as the same day.
SBA microloan
- Loan type: Term loan.
- Interest rate range: 8% to 13%.
- Repayment term: Up to 84 months.
- Speed: As fast as one week.
AltLINE
- Funding type: Invoice factoring.
- Speed: As fast as 24 hours after submitting invoices.
eLease
- Loan type: Equipment loan.
- Interest rate range: 7.5% to 22%.
- Repayment term: Up to 60 months.
Expansion Capital Group
- Funding type: Merchant cash advance.
- Repayment term: Payments are based on your business’s revenue. You’ll make daily or weekly payments until you repay the full advance amount.
- Speed: As fast as a few hours after approval.
Fora Financial
- Loan type: Term loan.
- Repayment term: Up to 24 months.
- Speed: As fast as 24 hours.
Fundbox
- Loan type: Line of credit.
- Interest rate range: 36% to 99%.
- Repayment term: 3 to 24 months.
- Speed: Within two business days.
Accion
- Loan type: Term loan.
- Interest rate range: 9.99% to 28.95%.
- Repayment term: Up to 36 months.
- Speed: Six days, on average.
OnDeck
- Loan type: Term loan.
- Interest rate range: 35% to 99% (minimum provided is for rates that at least 5% of customers received).
- Repayment term: Up to 24 months.
- Speed: As fast as the same day.
Headway Capital
- Loan type: Line of credit.
- Interest rate range: 39% to 82%.
- Repayment term: 12, 18 or 24 months.
- Speed: As fast as the next business day.
What is a bad credit business loan?
What is a bad credit score?
- 300 to 579: Very poor.
- 580 to 669: Fair.
- 670 to 739: Good.
- 740 to 799: Very good.
- 800 to 850: Exceptional.
How to get a business loan with bad credit
1. Calculate how much debt you can afford
- How much funding you need.
- Possible interest rates.
- Additional fees.
- Repayment schedule (daily, weekly or monthly).
2. Work to improve your credit score, if you can
- Check your personal credit score for free on NerdWallet.
- Get your credit report from the three major reporting bureaus for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Looking for errors on your credit reports and disputing them with the appropriate credit bureau.
- Making debt repayments more frequently.
- Being added as an authorized user to a credit card belonging to someone you know and trust who has a good credit score.
3. Strengthen other areas of your application
- How long you’ve been in business.
- What your annual revenue is.
- How strong your cash flow is.
- What kind of collateral you can provide.
4. Research and compare bad credit loan options
5. Gather your documentation and apply
- Basic information about you and your business.
- Personal and business bank statements.
- Personal and business tax returns.
- Business financial statements.
- Detailed information about your collateral, if applicable.
Types of bad credit business loans
Pros and cons of bad credit business loans
Pros
- Can help your business access capital you may otherwise not get to boost operations, grow your business or cover gaps in cash flow.
- Offer fast access to capital — some within as little as 12 hours of applying.
- Can help build and improve your business credit (if your lender reports on-time payments), which can help you qualify for more business funding in the future.
Cons
- Typically have higher rates and fees than traditional loans.
- Borrowing limits are usually lower.
- May require collateral to offset lender risk.
Frequently asked questions
How Fundera by NerdWallet works
Fill out one simple application
Answer a 3-minute questionnaire about your business to get personalized lending options. It’s free and won’t impact your credit score.
See your business loan options
Compare interest rates and repayment terms to choose the best product for your needs.
Get your loan
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.






















