Things to Consider When Applying for a Small Business Loan
If you secure your bad credit business loan with collateral, you’re giving the lender the right to seize collateral to recover their losses if you’re unable to pay your loan back. The loans are also commonly referred to as secured business loans. They are usually secured with invoice or equipment financing.
Merchant Cash Advances
If you’re a small business owner in need of quick capital, a merchant cash advance offers a lump-sum loan in exchange for a percentage of future credit and debit card receivables. While a merchant cash advance is often easy to apply for, the option may not be suitable for every business. Merchant cash advances tend to have steeper interest rates, making them one of the more expensive financing options over the lifetime of the loan.
Working Capital Loans
are used to finance everyday business operations like wages, inventory, taxes and a range of other costs that keep your business going day-to-day. Unlike some other types of loans, they are not used to pay for investing or other long-term assets. Working capital loans from National Funding can provide your business up to $500,000 to support your needs right now, quickly and with minimal paperwork.
If you’re looking for a business loan and have bad credit, there are several factors that may influence your approval odds as well as the terms of your loan. Before applying for a bad credit business loan, here are a few things to consider.
1. The Relationship of Personal Credit to Business Loan Approval
If your business has no credit history, traditional lenders will use your personal credit score as a numerical representation of your overall creditworthiness. Your personal FICO score will be used exclusively to determine your eligibility for a small business loan. For that reason, it’s a good idea to work on improving your personal credit score so you’ll have plenty of options when applying for a small business loan.
2. The Relationship Between Credit Scores and Interest Rates
Business owners with great credit generally receive the best interest rates on their loans. If your personal or business credit score is low, there’s a greater chance your loan will include a higher annual percentage rate (APR), which describes the interest you pay for a year.
The good news is that securing a small loan with a manageable APR can help improve your credit score over time. If you are approved for small business loans for bad credit, each on-time payment can help raise your credit score while providing the financing you need to run and grow your business.
3. Online Lenders Vs . Traditional Banks
Traditional lenders like banks and credit unions tend to have strict policies and eligibility requirements for loan approval. They also tend to be slower and require more documentation. Whether you have above-average or less-than-perfect credit, here are just a few benefits of alternative and online lenders compared to traditional lenders:
- Faster turnaround times
- Less documentation required for approval
- Faster access to funds, if approved
- Flexible terms that meet your specific needs as a borrower
- Higher approval rates
4. Age of Business and Startup Businesses
Traditional banks tend to lend to well-established businesses to reduce their risk. As a result, younger or startup businesses may have a harder time meeting a bank’s strict lending standards. Alternative and online lenders, on the other hand, actively cater to underserved business owners. National Funding offers financing for businesses that have been in operation for just one year.
- Business credit cards. These cards can be a practical solution for building your business credit score while having access to extra capital. To obtain one, you’ll need a federal tax ID number and business bank account.