Best Working Capital Loans of September 2025

Compare different lender options to find the best working capital loan for your needs. Select your business type to get started.

best working capital loans: More details

U.S. Small Business Administration: Best for large loan amounts icon

U.S. Small Business Administration: Best for large loan amounts

Low interest rate
SBA 7(a) loan

SBA 7(a) loan

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Max loan amount
$5,000,000
Min. credit score
650
Term length
Up to 25 years

Pros

  • Large borrowing maximums.
  • Interest rates are capped.
  • Long repayment terms available.

Cons

  • Collateral is typically required.
  • Longer processing times than online lenders.

Pros

  • Large borrowing maximums.
  • Interest rates are capped.
  • Long repayment terms available.

Cons

  • Collateral is typically required.
  • Longer processing times than online lenders.

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Fora Financial: Best for bad credit borrowers icon

Fora Financial: Best for bad credit borrowers

Fora Financial - Online term loan

Fora Financial - Online term loan

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Max loan amount
$1,500,000
Min. credit score
570
Term length
4 to 18 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 18 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 18 months.
  • Charges an origination fee.

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Giggle Finance: Best for no credit check icon

Giggle Finance: Best for no credit check

Giggle Finance - Merchant cash advance

Giggle Finance - Merchant cash advance

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Max loan amount
$10,000
Min. credit score
300
Term length
Undisclosed

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.

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Bluevine: Best for lines of credit icon

Bluevine: Best for lines of credit

May fund quickly
Bluevine - Line of credit

Bluevine - Line of credit

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Max loan amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
625
Term length
Up to 6 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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Fundbox: Best for startup businesses icon

Fundbox: Best for startup businesses

May fund quickly
Fundbox - Line of credit

Fundbox - Line of credit

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Max loan amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
600
Term length
3 to 6 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

  • Rates are high compared with traditional banks.
  • Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).

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

  • Rates are high compared with traditional banks.
  • Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).

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iBusiness Funding: Best for established businesses that need fast financing icon

iBusiness Funding: Best for established businesses that need fast financing

May fund quickly
iBusiness Funding - Online term loan

iBusiness Funding - Online term loan

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Max loan amount
$500,000
Min. credit score
660
Term length
6 months to 5 years

Pros

  • Cash can be available within two business days.
  • Competitive rates among online lenders.
  • Terms up to five years.
  • iBusiness Funding also offers SBA loans up to $5 million.

Cons

  • Charges an origination fee.
  • Must be in business for a minimum of 24 months.
  • Minimum credit score is higher than some other lenders.

Pros

  • Cash can be available within two business days.
  • Competitive rates among online lenders.
  • Terms up to five years.
  • iBusiness Funding also offers SBA loans up to $5 million.

Cons

  • Charges an origination fee.
  • Must be in business for a minimum of 24 months.
  • Minimum credit score is higher than some other lenders.

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Headway Capital: Best for flexible repayment options icon

Headway Capital: Best for flexible repayment options

Headway Capital - Line of credit

Headway Capital - Line of credit

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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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Table of contents

How we chose the best working capital loans

NerdWallet’s editorial team evaluates working capital loans based on six major categories. They include:
  • Cost.
  • Transparency.
  • Underwriting and loan flexibility.
  • Credit.
  • Application experience.
  • Customer service.
Working capital loans need to earn at least 4 stars to make our list.
Lenders that receive a NerdWallet rating of 5 stars are outstanding among their peers. They deliver excellent value and excel at each of our evaluation criteria.
Lenders that earn 4.0 to 4.9 stars are excellent. They provide loans that possess all the standard features you'd expect, but are lacking in one or two areas.
Lenders with a rating of 3.0 to 3.9 stars are a good choice, however, they may be lacking in a few areas.
Lenders that we rate below 3 stars are lacking in several key areas, and we won’t typically recommend them as a first choice to secure a loan.

Which working capital loans we consider

NerdWallet’s editorial team has reviewed 60 working capital loans in 2025. We focus on loans widely available to business owners. This typically means options from major banks, like Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Chase, as well as reputable online lenders, such as OnDeck, Bluevine and Fundbox.
We research local and community loan options as well. Our writers and editors may not fully evaluate these options because of their limited availability. Still, these loan options might meet your business’s needs. For instance, community lenders tend to offer startup business loans and business loans for bad credit. We include these options on relevant pages so you find the best choice possible.
Our team has covered or considered the following working capital loan options in 2025 (listed alphabetically by lender name):
A
Accion Opportunity Fund Small Business Working Capital Loan. altbanq - Online term loan. AltLINE - Invoice factoring. American Express® Business Line of Credit*.
B
Backd - Line of credit. Backd - Merchant cash advance. Balboa Capital - Online term loan. Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Secured Line of Credit. Bank of America Business Advantage Secured Line of Credit. Bank of America Business Advantage Secured Term Loan. Bank of America Business Advantage Unsecured Line of Credit. Bank of America Business Advantage Unsecured Term Loan. BHG Financial - Online term loan. Bitty Advance - Merchant cash advance. Bluevine - Line of credit.
C
Capital One Business Line of Credit. Chase - Business line of credit. Chase - Business term loan. Credibly - Merchant cash advance.
E
Expansion Capital Group - Merchant cash advance.
F
Fifth Third Fast Capital - Business Line of Credit. Fora Financial - Online term loan. Fora Financial - Revenue advance. Forward Financing - Merchant cash advance. Fundation - Line of credit. Fundation - Term loan. Fundbox - Line of credit. Fundomate- Business funding. FundThrough - Invoice factoring.
G
Giggle Finance - Merchant cash advance.
H
Headway Capital - Line of credit. Huntington National Bank Lift Local Business Program.
I
iBusiness Funding - Online term loan.
L
Libertas Funding - Revenue-based advance.
K
Kapitus - Merchant cash advance. Kapitus - Term loan. Kiva U.S. - Microloan.
N
National Funding - Online term loan.
O
OnDeck - Line of credit. OnDeck - Online term loan.
P
PayPal Working Capital Loan. PNC Bank - Unsecured business line of credit.
Q
QuickBridge - Online term loan.
R
Rapid Finance - Line of credit. Rapid Finance - Merchant cash advance. Rapid Finance - Online term loan. Reliant Funding - Merchant cash advance.
S
SBA 7(a) loan. SBA CAPLines of credit. SBA Express loan. SBA microloan. SBA Working Capital Pilot lines of credit. Shopify Capital - Merchant Cash Advance. Square - Business loans.
T
TAB Bank - Term loan. Truist Bank - Unsecured Term loan.
U
Uplyft Capital- Merchant cash advance .
W
Wells Fargo BusinessLine® Line of Credit. Wells Fargo Prime Line of Credit. Wells Fargo Small Business Advantage® Line of Credit.

How we keep our picks up to date

NerdWallet has a full-time team of small-business writers and editors. Here's how we monitor this page — and the overall small-business loan space:
  • Review information for all loan products regularly. We do a full audit annually. We also update loan details and star ratings as soon as any changes occur. 
  • Survey business lenders. We ask lenders directly for information that matters to business owners, but may not be publicly available. For instance, we ask whether lenders report to the commercial credit bureaus and if they offer an online dashboard for loan management. 
  • Test the borrower experience. We start the loan application process online (when possible) to better understand what’s required and how long the process takes. We also call lenders directly to see what their customer service is like.
  • Gather insights from experts and business owners. Our team regularly interviews experts at banks, nonprofit and community lending organizations and even the U.S. Small Business Administration. We ask them for insights into the lending industry, key trends, as well as the challenges and priorities for small-business borrowers. We also check online channels, such as Reddit, Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau to get a sense of what people are saying about business loan products and their lending experiences.
  • Monitor news and trends. We monitor news and trends using Google Alerts, outreach from public relations contacts, and AI-assisted web scraping. This helps us stay up to date on changes in loan rates, underwriting standards and financing options for small-business owners.

How to choose a working capital loan

The best working capital loan is typically the most affordable option you can qualify for that meets your needs. As you compare different options, you should consider factors such as:
Make sure you understand how much funding you need before applying. If you need a large business loan, bank or SBA lenders may be a more affordable option.
Interest rates vary depending on the loan type and lender. If a lender charges interest as a factor rate, translate it into an APR to get a better sense of how much the loan actually costs.
Be sure to understand any additional fees a lender may charge, such as origination fees, draw fees for lines of credit or prepayment penalties. These fees can increase the overall cost of your financing.
Some working capital loans may require frequent payments on short repayment schedules. Review your budget and cash flow to assess what kind of repayment structure you can realistically manage.
If you need working capital quickly, an online lender may be able to in just a few days. Traditional lenders typically take longer—anywhere from several days to a few weeks—but they often offer lower interest rates.
Reading online reviews or talking to other business owners can help you understand what it’s like to work with a particular lender. Many online lenders are reputable, but be wary of any company that offers “guaranteed approval” or makes promises that seem too good to be true.

Pros and cons of working capital loans

Pros

  • Suitable for cash flow gaps and seasonal slows.
  • Flexible funds that can be used for a variety of purposes
  • Accessible to a wide variety of businesses.
  • Can fund quickly.

Cons

  • Some lenders may require daily or weekly payments.
  • Can be expensive.
  • Lenders may charge interest as a factor rate — which can make it difficult to understand the cost of your financing.
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How to get a working capital loan

The general process for getting a working capital loan is generally similar to that of other business financing. Follow these steps:
1. Understand your financing needs. Working capital loans are typically used for short-term business needs. Start by assessing whether you need funding immediately or if you can wait to qualify for a longer-term, lower-cost loan. If you decide to seek financing now, determine how much capital you need and what you can realistically afford.
🧮 Join the 70,000+ small-business owners who get nerdy with our free business loan calculator to estimate interest costs and payments.
2. Evaluate your qualifications . Review common business loan requirements, like your personal credit score, time in business and annual revenue, to determine which working capital loan options you’re likely to qualify for.
3. Research lenders. Look for lenders that offer working capital loans suited to your business’s specific needs. Reading online reviews and testimonials can help you understand what it’s like to work with each lender.
4. Gather business documents. During the application process, you’ll need to submit financial documents, such as profit and loss statements, bank statements or tax returns, as well as business and legal documents, like your operating agreement and business plan.
5. Submit your application. After you apply, online lenders may review your application within a few hours, while banks take longer. SBA loans may have the longest timelines. If you’re approved by an online lender, you could receive funds within a few days. Bank and SBA funding, however, may take several weeks or even a few months.

Frequently asked questions

A working capital loan is a short-term business loan used to cover your business’s day-to-day expenses. These loans may help you pay for rent, payroll, utilities, supplies, inventory and accrued expenses like taxes.
Working capital loans provide you with funds to cover typical business needs. They’re usually repaid, with interest, over a short period of time. Common types of working capital loans include:
A working capital loan might be a good idea if you need to cover inconsistent cash flow, take advantage of a new business opportunity or pay for unexpected expenses.
The rates on working capital loans can vary widely based on the product, lender and your business’s qualifications. Bank and SBA lenders will typically offer the lowest interest rates.
Working capital loans can come in many forms, including lines of credit. Compared to term loans, working capital lines of credit offer more flexibility for you to borrow what you need, when you need it.
Last updated on September 24, 2025
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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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