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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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 .
Fundbox - Line of credit
Overview
The bottom line:
Fundbox loans are a good option for fast access to working capital, especially for startups and business owners with bad credit.
Loan details
Min. Loan Amount
$100
Min. Term Length
3 months
Min. APR
36%
Max Loan Amount
$250,000
Max Term Length
6 months
Max APR
99%
Qualifications
Min. credit score
600
Min. Time in Business
3 months
Min. Annual Revenue
$30,000
Pros & Cons
Pros
Financing available within one business day after approval.
Simple application with minimal documentation required.
Startup-friendly — accepts borrowers with three months in business.
Low minimum credit score requirement.
No application fees, inactivity fees or origination fees and no prepayment penalties.
Can be used to build business credit.
Cons
Rates are high compared to traditional banks.
Requires UCC lien and may require personal guarantee.
Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).
Fundbox is an online lender offering small-business loans to entrepreneurs who need to quickly fill a cash-flow gap — you can get approved for a line of credit as soon as the same day you apply. Fundbox is known for its flexible eligibility requirements, offering funding to business owners with bad credit or just a few months in business.
But that flexibility doesn’t extend to its repayment terms — you’ll need to make weekly repayments and pay off the loan in just 12 or 24 weeks. If you need a longer repayment period, look at other online business loan options.
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.
Fundbox is best for borrowers who:
Need cash fast: With minimal documentation required, you can complete Fundbox’s application and receive a decision the same day. Once your application is approved, funds are available within two business days.
Can afford weekly repayments over a short term: Fundbox requires weekly repayments over a 12- or 24-week term.
Don’t have perfect personal credit: Fundbox accepts borrowers with a minimum credit score of 600. While underwriting your loan, Fundbox also looks at your business checking account and/or accounting software data — in addition to your credit report — to get a more holistic look at your financial performance.
Have startup businesses: Many lenders require that you have at least one year in business before you’re eligible for financing. With Fundbox, you may qualify for a line of credit with only 3 months in business.
No application fee, account maintenance fee, inactivity or origination fee.
No prepayment penalties.
Late payment and non-sufficient funds fees may apply in certain cases based on information provided in your loan agreement.
Terms
12 or 24 weeks.
Repayment schedule
Weekly.
Funding speed
Get approved as fast as the same day and receive funds within two business days. Processing may take a little longer on weekends or holidays and may also vary depending on your bank.
Fundbox is a good option for businesses that need fast access to working capital. You can complete an application for a line of credit online by providing basic information about your business and connecting your Fundbox account to your business checking account or accounting software.
Once your application is approved, you can immediately request funds. Fundbox then transfers the cash to your bank account, and you’ll receive your funds within two business days.
Easy to qualify
Fundbox has less stringent qualification requirements compared to other small-business lenders, including both traditional and online lenders.
Whereas many lenders require one year or more in business to qualify for financing, Fundbox only requires a few months in business — making its line of credit a good choice for startup businesses.
Similarly, if you have bad credit (a FICO score of 629 or lower), you may still qualify for a line of credit from Fundbox. Fundbox has a minimum credit score requirement of 600, and it uses data from your credit report and financial services that you connect — such as your business checking account and accounting software — to evaluate your application.
Fundbox allows you to repay your line of credit early to save on fees, and there is no prepayment penalty for doing so.
Fundbox also does not charge inactivity fees, account maintenance or origination fees.
💬 From our Nerds: No prepayment penalties can be a game-changer
"The ability to pay off your balance early without being charged a penalty — something not all lenders allow — can be a game-changer. If your business experiences a month or quarter of strong revenue, you can choose to clear debt faster and reduce borrowing costs."
Ryan Brady, lead writer, Small Business
Where Fundbox falls short
Can be expensive
The APR on Fundbox’s line of credit ranges from 36% to 99%, which is higher than traditional banks and some online lenders. Its line of credit is repaid in equal weekly installments with amortized fees.
Short repayment period
Whereas certain online lenders offer monthly payments, Fundbox only offers weekly payments. The maximum available repayment term is 24 weeks, which is shorter than some competitors.
Fundbox offers flexible lines of credit, but it doesn’t offer other products, such as equipment financing or SBA loans.
Fundbox also provides financing up to $250000 only, which could be problematic for businesses that need to make bigger investments. If you’d prefer a different type of business loan or need access to a larger credit line, you’ll want to consider other lenders.
Minimum time in business: 3 months, though Fundbox may consider newer businesses.
Minimum annual revenue: $30000.
You also must have a business checking account, and your business must be based in the U.S. to qualify for a Fundbox line of credit.
Alternatives to Fundbox
Bluevine offers a larger credit line, with amounts up to $250000. Like Fundbox, Bluevine is a good option for businesses that need quick access to capital, with same-day approval and funds available the next business day.
Unlike Fundbox, Bluevine allows you to choose between weekly and monthly payments and offers terms of up to 6 months.
OnDeck offers a business line of credit of up to $100000 for borrowers with a minimum FICO score of at least 625. You must have at least 12 months in business and $100000 in annual revenue to qualify.
Interest rates on the OnDeck line of credit range from 40% to 91.1%. Unlike Fundbox, OnDeck allows you to choose weekly or monthly payments and terms are available of 12, 18 or 24 months.
If you think a term loan might be a better fit for your business, Fora Financial offers financing of up to $1500000 for business owners with a credit score of just 570 or higher.
While it’s not a line of credit, with Fora’s term loan you may have the option to borrow more money after paying back at least 60% of the original loan.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Fundbox is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating. Fundbox’s loans are funded through First Electric Bank, a Utah chartered Industrial Bank and member of the FDIC.
The lender also has a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot.
Yes, Fundbox reports on-time and missed payments to business credit bureaus and may report missed payments to Experian’s consumer credit bureau. This means you have the opportunity to build business credit by using Fundbox's line of credit. However, late or missed payments may negatively affect your personal credit score.
Yes. Fundbox will do a soft pull on your credit score when you apply for a line of credit. This soft pull will not impact your credit score.
When you draw funds for the first time, Fundbox will perform a hard pull, which will temporarily affect your credit.
Fundbox generally requires that you have a personal credit score of 600 or higher to qualify for financing.