Financing a new business or helping an existing business grow can be especially difficult for business owners with bad personal credit. Luckily, bad credit business loans can make financing more accessible—even for less creditworthy borrowers and businesses without an established credit history.
Prospective borrowers will typically need a minimum personal credit score of 500 to qualify for bad credit business loans. However, because business loan rates and terms depend on the qualification requirements you meet, you shouldn’t expect to get the most favorable terms with damaged credit.
If you have bad credit, though, your goal should be to find a lender that offers a loan your score qualifies for, not a lender with the lowest rate or most favorable terms. Here are seven lenders that can help you achieve that goal.
Methodology
We reviewed 16 popular lenders based on 14 data points in the categories of loan details, loan costs, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and the application process. We chose the best lenders based on the weighting assigned to each category:
- Loan cost: 25%
- Loan details: 25%
- Eligibility and accessibility: 20%
- Customer experience: 20%
- Application process: 10%
Within each major category, we also considered several characteristics, including available loan amounts, repayment terms and applicable fees. We also looked at minimum credit score and time in business requirements. Finally, we evaluated each provider’s customer support tools, borrower perks and features that simplify the borrowing process—like online applications, prequalification options and mobile apps.
Where appropriate, we awarded partial points depending on how well a lender met each criterion.
Tips for Comparing Business Loans for Bad Credit
Consider these tips when comparing business loans for bad credit:
- Consider minimum credit score requirements. There is not a standard minimum credit score requirement for bad credit business loans. Some lenders may set a minimum requirement of 600 while others set a minimum of 500. When comparing lenders, be sure to find lenders that have a minimum credit score requirement that matches your unique creditworthiness.
- Compare the top-end range of interest rates. Because interest rates largely depend on your qualifying credit score, you’re likely to land a rate at the top end of the range with bad credit. Although most lenders don’t disclose their rates upfront, be sure to prequalify, if possible, and/or confirm rate ranges with each lender you’re considering.
- Determine how you want to receive your funds. It’s likely you’ll receive business financing through one of two ways: as a lump-sum payment or on an as-needed basis. If you want to receive your funds up front, choose a traditional term loan. However, if you want to use funds only as you need them, a business line of credit might be a better option.
- Consider the repayment terms and flexibility. Each business financing lender has its own repayment structures. While some types of financing require monthly payments, others may require daily or weekly payments. Compare different lenders’ repayment terms when choosing your preferred lender and business loan.
- Look out for additional fees. Some lenders charge no origination fees, late payment fees, prepayment penalties or other common loan costs. However, it might not always be the case. Be sure to confirm a lender’s fee structure when shopping for the best terms. Factor in additional fees into your decision-making process.
- Evaluate the lender’s customer support options. If you’ve found a lender that’s prepared to offer the money you need at acceptable terms, consider the lender’s support options before signing the loan agreement. Customer support can make a huge difference down the line if you encounter issues with repayment. Research the lender’s customer service resources and read reviews to make sure it’s a good fit.
What Is a Bad Credit Score?
Lenders typically look at a business owner’s personal credit score and business score when evaluating a business loan application. However, for startups and other businesses without a credit history, the applicant’s personal score is even more important.
A business owner should have a personal FICO Score of at least 500 to qualify for a bad credit business loan. That said, even a FICO Score under 670 is considered fair or poor, and likely won’t qualify a business owner for the most competitive interest rates available.
Can You Get a Business Loan With Bad Credit?
It’s possible to get a small business loan with bad credit, but applicants with low credit scores may have a harder time getting approved for traditional loans. What’s more, small business owners with bad credit—scores as low as 580—typically can only access high interest rates.
Business owners with low credit scores must also demonstrate strong, stable cash flow to qualify for a business loan, and lenders may require collateral. For these reasons, an alternative form of financing like a merchant cash advance may be a better option for business owners with bad credit.
How to Get a Business Loan With Bad Credit
The process of applying for a business loan varies by financial institution, but most banks and online lenders impose similar requirements. That said, it’s more difficult to get a business loan with bad credit, so there are some additional steps to take before submitting a formal application. Follow these steps to get a business loan with bad credit:
- Check your personal and business credit scores. Before you start shopping for lenders, check your personal credit score. Knowing your exact score and the content of your credit report can help you better understand how lenders will evaluate your loan application. If your business is established, also check its business credit score through Experian, Equifax or Dun & Bradstreet (D&B).
- Improve your credit scores. If possible, take time to improve your credit score before applying for a loan for your business. Start by reviewing your credit reports and disputing inaccuracies that are negatively impacting your score. Then, pay down debts to reduce your credit utilization and continue making on-time payments. If you lack a credit history, open a credit account and start making regular payments.
- Prepare your business for due diligence. Lenders conduct extensive due diligence before extending small business loans. This typically involves reviewing the applicant’s business plan, personal and business bank statements and other financial documents. You may also be asked to provide copies of applicable business licenses and legal documents, a description of how you will use the funds and details about available collateral. If you have bad credit, you can improve your approval odds by creating a robust business plan and identifying collateral before you apply.
- Identify possible co-signers. A co-signer is someone who agrees to repay a loan if the primary borrower defaults. Not all lenders accept co-signers, but finding a co-signer with a high credit score can improve your chances of approval or available loan terms. Before applying for business financing, talk to your other business partners or someone else who might co-sign the loan.
- Compare lenders to find the best deal. To reduce the risk posed by lending to less qualified borrowers, financial institutions impose higher interest rates than those available to more creditworthy applicants. While you may not qualify for the lowest rate, you may still save money by comparing loan amounts, repayment terms and rates offered by multiple lenders.
- Submit an application. Loan application and underwriting processes vary, so contact your preferred lender before you apply. Once you’re ready, submit the necessary information online, over the phone or in person. You may be contacted by a lender representative if they have questions about your application or you need to provide additional documentation. This is especially likely for borrowers with bad credit whose approval depends more heavily on the health of the business than their credit score.
How to Choose a Bad Credit Small Business Loan
When you have bad credit, choosing a small business loan requires more than deciding how much to borrow and shopping for the most competitive rates. Instead, business owners with poor credit must find lenders with less demanding eligibility requirements and then identify the option that best meets their needs. Consider these factors when choosing a bad credit small business loan:
- Qualification requirements. Most small business loans are granted based on the applicant’s personal credit score. For that reason, the most important factor to consider when searching for a bad credit business loan is a lender’s qualification requirements. Check your personal credit score and then compare minimum credit score requirements at various lenders to see where you might qualify.
- Loan offerings. Small business loan offerings vary by lender. Not only do lenders offer a range of loan amounts and repayment terms, but some also offer secured loans that are easier to qualify for than unsecured options.
- Annual percentage rates. Business loan annual percentage rates—or APRs—vary by loan type and lender, and generally range anywhere from 9% to 99%. That said, the lowest rates are only available to the most qualified borrowers, and business owners with bad credit are typically offered rates near the top of the APR range. If you’re likely to qualify through multiple lenders, compare APRs to determine which option offers the most affordable rates.
- Additional costs and fees. Many traditional and online lenders charge origination fees to offset the costs of processing applications and underwriting loans. However, lenders that specialize in borrowers with bad credit often charge more fees than other competitors. For example, you may have to pay higher origination fees, late payment fees or prepayment penalties to help offset the institution’s risk of lending.
- Lender reputation. Having bad credit means you may not get to choose from your pick of top lenders. However, it’s still important to evaluate a lender’s reputation before committing to a loan. To do so, read online reviews and check with other local business owners to see which lenders have the best reputation—and which to avoid.
- Underwriting and funding speed. Many lenders that cater to borrowers with bad credit offer slower underwriting and funding speeds than competitors. However, it can still be helpful to compare lenders and determine which offers a turnaround time that best meets your borrowing needs.
Where to Get a Bad Credit Business Loan
Getting a bad credit business loan is more difficult than qualifying for a loan with a good credit score. For that reason, it may be necessary to look at several lenders—and types of lenders—to find one willing to extend funds to your business. These are some of the best places to get a bad credit business loan:
- Traditional banks and credit unions. It’s typically more difficult to get approved for a small business loan through a traditional bank or credit union; these institutions also may offer a smaller selection of financing options. However, if you have stable cash flow and are already working with a local bank or credit union, you may be able to qualify with a local lender that already has knowledge of your business and revenue.
- Online lenders. Online lenders generally offer more flexible and less competitive borrower qualifications than larger, traditional institutions. Some online lenders even specialize in serving borrowers with bad credit. What’s more, online lenders may provide faster funding speeds than brick-and-mortar banks.
- CDFIs. A community development financial institution is a private financial institution with the primary mission of helping communities that traditionally lack access to banking and investing. These community-centered lenders offer certain business owners funds as a way to strengthen the local community and economy. Search for a local CDFI using the CDFI Fund’s searchable awards database.
- Invoice factoring companies. Invoice factoring is an alternative to traditional business loans that involves selling a business’s outstanding invoices to a third-party company for a cash payment. While the business only receives a portion of the invoice balance—usually between 80% and 90%—the strategy provides access to fast cash without having to qualify for a traditional loan. Search for invoice factoring companies online to find an option that meets your business’s needs.
- Merchant service providers. Similar to invoice factoring companies, many merchant service providers offer financing in exchange for a portion of future credit card sales. If your business experiences a high volume of sales, merchant cash advances (MCAs) may be a good way to access cash quickly. Contact your merchant services provider to determine whether it offers MCAs and, if so, the company’s qualification requirements and terms.
Can Startups With Bad Credit Get Business Loans?
Regardless of the business owner’s personal credit, businesses under a year old—and those with limited demonstrable revenue—may find it difficult to qualify for a business loan. As with small business loans for bad credit, there are some lenders that specialize in startups with bad credit. Still, these loans often come with high interest rates and other fees. If you have a startup with bad credit, consider a financing alternative like a business credit card or, where appropriate, a merchant cash advance or invoice factoring.