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Business loans
Jamie Young
Jamie Young
Verified by an expert
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
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Updated 7:29 a.m. UTC Nov. 13, 2023
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A business loan can help launch your startup, expand your enterprise or allow you to stay afloat during the slow season. Depending on your needs, you could apply for funds in a lump sum or as a line of credit.
But no matter how funds get disbursed, make sure you can comfortably repay the debt. Our business loan calculator will crunch the numbers for you, showing how much each potential loan would cost you monthly and overall.
How to use our business loan calculator
You can get the information you need from our business loan calculator in just four simple steps:
- Enter your loan amount.
- Type in your loan term (in months or years).
- Add in your interest rate.
- Click “calculate.”
Then, you’ll see your monthly payment, the amount of interest you’ll pay and the total loan cost. If you want more information, you can expand the sections below the calculator to review a loan breakdown chart and amortization schedule.
Results from our business loan calculator can help you decide which loan offer might be best for your needs. For example, it will show you how much you can borrow without exceeding your monthly debt repayment budget.
Our calculator also highlights the ideal loan term for your financial situation and goals. As you enter different numbers, you’ll see that longer repayment terms have smaller monthly payments, but a higher overall cost to borrow. Conversely, you’ll notice a smaller interest charge over a shorter repayment term, but a higher monthly bill.
Featured business loan offers
Loan amount
$10,000 to $500,000
Time in operation
6 months
Min. credit score
600
Min. time in operation
1 year
Min. credit score
625
How to get a business loan
The business loan application process varies by lender and loan type. However, you’ll likely encounter these steps:
- Establish business credit. Lenders may want to see a positive business credit history — as opposed to your personal credit — before issuing a loan. You can start building business credit by using a business credit card that reports your activity to the commercial credit bureaus. You can also report trade credit from vendors to Dun & Bradstreet.
- Check your personal credit. Business loan lenders may require a personal guarantee from you — especially if you’re borrowing to fund a startup. A personal guarantee means you’ll have to repay the debt if your company can’t, so lenders want to know you’re creditworthy.
- Decide how much money you need. Estimate your project cost and add a small cushion to cover unexpected expenses. While you don’t want to overborrow, you don’t want to come up short either.
- Gather relevant documentation. Your lender may require various information and supporting documentation, such as LLC or Corporation paperwork, a business plan, financial projections, your Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or your D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet.
- Pre-qualify with multiple lenders. Pre-qualification typically doesn’t affect your credit score since it only uses a soft credit check. You should try to pre-qualify with a few lenders at least.
- Compare all your options. Review your loan offers side-by-side to see which one best meets your needs. The business loan calculator is an excellent resource for this step as you can fill in the info for each possible loan and compare offers to find the right one for you.
- Apply for the loan. Once you’ve decided on a loan, submit a formal application with the lender. Be sure to provide any supporting information required, as well (like the documents suggested above).
- Sign the agreement and receive your funds. If approved, you’ll sign the loan agreement and wait for the funds to hit your bank account.
- Enter repayment. Add your loan payment to your monthly budget and set reminders to pay your loan each month. It’s an even better idea to set up automatic payments to ensure you pay your loan on time.
Savings tip: Consider applying for a business loan through the same financial institution where you do your business banking. A current relationship with a lender could work in your favor as many banks or credit unions offer relationship discounts.
Different types of business loans
There are several types of business loans on the market. Here are the options you’ll typically encounter:
- Term loan: Typically, when someone is looking for a business loan, they’re referring to a term loan. These types of loans are issued as a lump sum you must repay over a defined period — usually three years or more. Your monthly payment will be predictable, making it easier to fit into your budget. A term loan usually works best to finance fixed assets, like machinery, equipment or real estate.
- Line of credit: A line of credit functions just like a credit card. You can borrow up to a set limit and only need to repay the portion of the credit line you use. A business line of credit can serve as working capital, covering short-term or day-to-day expenses like supplies, marketing and inventory.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) loan: The SBA is a federal government agency that backs several types of loans. The most well-known SBA loan is the 7(a) program. You can borrow up to $5 million with a 7(a) loan, which can be used for most business purposes.
- Merchant Cash Advance (MCA): “[An MCA] allows businesses to borrow against their future credit card sales,” says Leslie Tayne, founder and principal debt attorney at Tayne Law Group, P.C. “The lender provides a lump sum of cash in exchange for a percentage of future sales. However, [we] strongly advise against this type of financing due to the predatory practices of MCA providers and exorbitant fees.”
Most business loans are secured loans. These loans require collateral, or business assets, that the lender can take possession of if the company fails to repay the debt.
Business loan eligibility
Business loan eligibility differs from lender to lender, but typically you must meet a few requirements before you can qualify.
“The lender may require a minimum business or personal credit score,” says Tayne. “Some online lenders will allow a personal score as low as 500, while other lenders may need it to be in the mid-600s. You’ll also need to show a minimum number of years in business and monthly or annual revenue. Some lenders might also require a business plan or proposal that shows how you plan to use the money and how you’ll pay back the loan.”
BUSINESS LOAN PRODUCT TYPE | LOAN AMOUNTS | REPAYMENT TERMS | MIN. CREDIT SCORE | TIME TO FUND (AFTER APPROVAL) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Credibly business loan | Loan | $5,000 to $600,000 | 3 months to 2 years (for short-term loans) or 18 or 24 months (for long-term loans) | 501 | As soon as the same day after approval |
American Express Business Blueprint™ | American Express® Business Line of Credit | $2,000 to $250,000 | 6, 12, 18 and 24 months (Monthly fees for outstanding balances (3% to 9% for 6-month loans, 6% to 18% for 12-month loans, 9% to 27% for 18-month loans and 12% to 18% for 24-month loans) and late fees.) | 660* | Within 1 to 3 business days after approval |
Fora Financial business loan | Loan | $5,000 to $1.5 million | 4 to 15 months | 570 | Within 1 to 3 business days after approval |
OnDeck business loan | Loan | $5,000 to $250,000 | 18 months to 24 months (depending on term length) | 625 | As soon as the same day (for loans up to $100,000) or within 2 to 3 business days (for loans over $100,000) after approval |
National Funding business loan | Loan | $10,000 to $500,000 | 4 months to 5 years (depending on loan type) | 600 | As soon as the next business day after approval |
OnDeck business line of credit | Line of credit | $6,000 to $100,000 | 12, 18 and 24 months | 625 | As soon as the same day after approval |
Balboa Capital business loan | Loan | $20,000 to $250,000 | 3 months to 2 years | 620 | As soon as the same day |
Fundbox business line of credit | Line of credit | Up to $150,000 | 12 or 24 weeks | 600 | As soon as the next business day after approval |
Kapitus business loan | Loan | $10,000 to $5 million | Up to 5 years | 625 (higher requirements for some loan types) | As soon as the next business day |
PayPal business loan | Loan | $5,000 to $150,000 ($100,000 maximum for first-time borrowers) | 17 weeks to 1 year | Does not disclose | As soon as the next business day |
*The required FICO score may be higher based on your relationship with American Express, credit history, and other factors. All businesses are unique and are subject to approval and review.
All rates include discounts where noted by the lender and are current as of July 29, 2024.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The maximum you can borrow with most business loans is usually between $100,000 and $500,000. However, you could borrow up to $5.5 million if you get a loan through the SBA. The actual size of your loan will depend on the lender you choose, your borrowing needs and your company’s ability to repay the debt.
Getting a business loan doesn’t have to be hard as long as you meet the requirements. Many lenders have a relatively quick and easy online application process.
“However, having poor credit or no credit can complicate matters,” Tayne says. “It can also be difficult to get a business loan if your company hasn’t been around for very long, has no established track record or doesn’t bring in consistent revenue.”
The percentage you have to put down on a business loan will vary based on your loan type, lender and financial profile. For example, some loans don’t require a down payment at all, whereas some might require around 10% for a down payment.
Yes, a business loan calculator can help you determine your monthly payments. Simply enter a few basic details about your loan and it will show you how much you can expect to pay every month and over the life of the debt.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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Laura started writing about personal finance in early 2018 when she took a sabbatical from her career in human resources and launched a blog discussing her journey. She realized she could earn a more lucrative and flexible living as a freelance writer, so she soon went all-in on being self-employed. Laura loves to write about managing your money, navigating your career, and running a successful business. Her work has been featured in Forbes, LendingTree, Rocket Mortgage, The Balance, and many other publications. She has also earned an MBA and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.
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Jamie Young is Lead Editor of loans and mortgages at USA TODAY Blueprint. She has been writing and editing professionally for 12 years. Previously, she worked for Forbes Advisor, Credible, LendingTree, Student Loan Hero, and GOBankingRates. Her work has also appeared on some of the best-known media outlets including Yahoo, Fox Business, Time, CBS News, AOL, MSN, and more. Jamie is passionate about finance, technology, and the Oxford comma. In her free time, she likes to game, play with her two crazy cats (Detective Snoop and his girl Friday), and try to keep up with her ever-growing plant collection.
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