Bad credit business loans are available from alternative sources, like online or nonprofit lenders. If your credit isn’t great, getting a loan from a bank or credit union may be difficult.
Borrowers with poor credit are considered riskier, so available loans will likely be more expensive as a result. If you need a bad credit business loan, shop around to get the best terms possible and make sure the payments will be manageable.
Here are small-business loans for borrowers with bad credit — defined by FICO as a score between 300 and 629 — and more information on how to qualify for financing.
How Much Do You Need?
Summary of 6 Best Business Loans for Bad Credit of January 2022
| Lender | Best For | Est. APR | Min. Credit Score | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OnDeck - Online term loan See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet | Best for Short-term loan for bad credit | 9.00-99.00% | 600 | See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
Fundbox - Line of credit See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet | Best for Business lines of credit for bad credit | 10.10-79.80% | 600 | See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
BlueVine - Line of credit See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet | Best for Business lines of credit for bad credit | 15.00-78.00% | 600 | See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
OnDeck - Line of credit See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet | Best for Business lines of credit for bad credit | 11.00-61.90% | 600 | See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
Triton Capital - Equipment financing See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet | Best for Equipment loan for bad credit | 4.99-25.00% | 600 | See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
SBA Microloan See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet | Best for SBA loan for bad credit | 8.00-13.00% | 620 | See Your Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet |
Our pick for
Short-term loan for bad credit
If your credit score is at least 600, you may be able to qualify for a short-term loan with amounts up to $250,000. These loans are good for specific, one-time purchases.
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
OnDeck - Online term loan
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
Est. APR
9.00-99.00%
Min. Credit Score
600
OnDeck offers a fast term loan for small-business owners with less-than-stellar credit who want to expand.
Pros
- Cash can be available within the same business day.
- Requires low minimum credit score.
- Less paperwork than most lenders.
Cons
- Fixed-fee structure means early repayment will not save interest.
- Requires frequent (daily or weekly) repayments.
- Requires business lien and personal guarantee.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600.
- Minimum time in business: 1 year.
- Minimum annual revenue: $100,000.
- No bankruptcies in the past 2 years.
May fund quickly
Our picks for
Business lines of credit for bad credit
Lines of credit may be available from online lenders if your credit score is at least 600. You only pay interest on the funds you draw from the credit line, giving you more flexibility than a term loan.
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
Fundbox - Line of credit
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
Est. APR
10.10-79.80%
Min. Credit Score
600
Fundbox offers a business line of credit to fill a cash-flow gap, and qualifying is easier than with other lenders.
Pros
- Financing available within one business day after approval.
- Simple application with minimal documentation required.
- Startup-friendly—accepts borrowers with a minimum of six months in business.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
- No prepayment penalties, account maintenance fees or inactivity fees.
Cons
- Rates are high compared to traditional banks.
- May require personal guarantee.
- Can’t be used to build business credit.
- Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600.
- Minimum time in business: 6 months.
- Minimum annual revenue: $100,000.
May fund quickly
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
BlueVine - Line of credit
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
Est. APR
15.00-78.00%
Min. Credit Score
600
BlueVine's line of credit provides fast working capital for short-term borrowing needs.
Pros
- Cash can be available within 12 to 24 hours.
- Multiple term lengths for different financing needs.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
- Startup-friendly; accepts borrowers with a minimum of six months in business.
Cons
- May require weekly repayments.
- Requires personal guarantee.
- Not available in North Dakota, South Dakota or Vermont.
- Rates can be high compared to traditional lenders.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600.
- Minimum time in business: 6 months.
- Minimum annual revenue: $120,000.
May fund quickly
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
OnDeck - Line of credit
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
Est. APR
11.00-61.90%
Min. Credit Score
600
OnDeck offers a fast line of credit for small-business owners with less-than-stellar credit who need to manage cash flow or buy inventory.
Pros
- Cash can be available within the same business day.
- Requires low minimum credit score.
- Less paperwork than most lenders.
Cons
- Fixed-fee structure means early repayment will not save interest.
- Requires weekly repayments.
- Requires personal guarantee.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600.
- Minimum time in business: 1 year.
- Minimum annual revenue: $100,000.
- No bankruptcies in the past 2 years.
May fund quickly
Our pick for
Equipment loan for bad credit
The equipment you purchase with this type of financing serves as collateral on the loan itself, meaning online lenders may be more flexible with their credit qualifications.
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
Triton Capital - Equipment financing
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
Est. APR
4.99-25.00%
Min. Credit Score
600
Triton Capital offers fast equipment loans up to $250,000 for businesses in a range of industries.
Pros
- Can fund within one to two business days.
- No prepayment penalty.
- Flexible repayment options: monthly, quarterly, annually or semi-annually.
Cons
- Typically requires a personal guarantee and UCC lien.
- Requires high minimum annual revenue.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600.
- Minimum time in business: Two years, but startups may be eligible (with higher costs).
- Minimum annual revenue: $250,000.
Our pick for
SBA loan for bad credit
Microloans are offered through nonprofit, community-based organizations, which may be more willing to work with you if you have low or poor credit.
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
SBA Microloan
See Your Options
with Fundera by Nerdwallet
Est. APR
8.00-13.00%
Min. Credit Score
620
The average microloan is roughly $13,000, according to the Small Business Administration.
Pros
- Less strict eligibility requirements than other government loans.
- Available from nonprofit lenders.
Cons
- Personal guarantee is required.
- Collateral is typically required.
- Small borrowing maximum.
Qualifications:
- Be a U.S. business.
- Financial qualifications determined by individual lender.
How Much Do You Need?
Can you get a business loan with bad credit?
It’s possible to get a business loan with bad credit if your company is otherwise in good shape. Lenders have different qualifications, and are likely to consider the following in addition to your credit score:
- How long you’ve been in business.
- What your annual revenue is.
- How strong your cash flow is.
- What kind of collateral you can provide.
The reasons behind your low credit score may also influence a lender’s decision. For example, it will likely be harder to get approved if a recent bankruptcy or loan default is what’s dragging your score down.
How to get a business loan with bad credit
- Check your credit. Before applying for a small-business loan, check your credit to know what lenders are going to see. You can get a free credit score on NerdWallet, and pull your personal credit report from the three major reporting bureaus for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Business credit scores are available from Experian, Equifax and Dun & Bradstreet.
- Wait, if you can. If your credit score is lower than you’d like, consider ways to build it up before applying for business financing. For example, look for any errors on your credit reports and dispute them with the appropriate credit bureau. Other credit-strengthening strategies can include making payments more often and paying down or paying off debt, which can build your business credit as well.
- Shop around. If you need financing now, bad credit will likely mean you’ll have fewer options to choose from. But don’t let that stop you from shopping around. A low credit score may result in a high interest rate, which could make it difficult to repay your new loan — and leave you worse off financially than you started. By working to get the best deal possible, you’ll better position yourself for success.
Where to get a business loan with bad credit
Banks and credit unions likely won’t approve you if you have bad credit. But these alternative sources may let you get a business loan with a spotty credit history:
- Online lenders. Most online lenders require a minimum personal credit score between 500 and 650. But a few have no minimum credit score requirement, focusing on factors like your business’s cash flow instead. Online lenders offer easier approvals and faster funding than other business lending options, but they typically charge higher rates — even for those with good credit.
- CDFIs. A community development financial institution, or CDFI, receives government funding to provide banking access to low-income or underserved communities. CDFIs are often banks and credit unions, but don’t have the same strict credit requirements for lending those financial institutions have. If you’re eligible for CDFI financing, you could get a competitive interest rate. Funding can be slower than online lenders, though.
- Microlenders. If you have bad credit, you may be able to get a microloan for your business. Microloans typically come from nonprofits. Because profit isn’t these organizations’ primary driver, they may be more willing to work with business owners with a thin credit history. The downside of a microloan is right in its name: Funds typically top out around $50,000, which may not be enough for your company’s needs.
- Your business. Invoice factoring or financing can turn unpaid customer invoices into immediate cash and is best for business-to-business companies. While lenders may still check your credit score, approvals are based mainly on the value of your invoices. A merchant cash advance can also let bad credit borrowers tap into their own business for financing. But this kind of loan should be a last resort, as rates can reach triple digits.
If you’re a startup with bad credit
If your company is less than a year old with little revenue, it’ll be tough to find a startup business loan — whether your credit is good or bad.
Nonprofit organizations and CDFIs that participate in the SBA microloan program may be willing to work with newer businesses that have rocky credit histories. Many of these lenders focus on issuing loans to traditionally underserved businesses in their communities.
A few additional lenders offer startup business loans for bad credit, but these options can be expensive. That will also likely be the case for any startup business loans with no credit check or guaranteed approval. Be wary of such promises.
Potential alternative options include business credit cards, which typically provide borrowing amounts up to $50,000. However, approval is based on your personal credit score, and you’ll need a minimum credit score of 630 to qualify for most cards.
If you need to improve your credit score, consider getting a secured personal credit card first.
These cards require a cash security deposit when you open the account. But if you use the card responsibly, you’ll improve your personal credit and get back your deposit.
Compare more small-business loan options
If none of the loans included here works for you, or if you’d like to compare loan options, NerdWallet has a list of small-business loans that are best for business owners. All of our recommendations are based on the lender’s market scope and track record and on the needs of business owners, as well as rates and other factors, so you can make the right financing decision.
Last updated on December 1, 2021
To recap our selections...
6 Best Business Loans for Bad Credit of January 2022
- OnDeck - Online term loan: Best for Short-term loan for bad credit
- Fundbox - Line of credit: Best for Business lines of credit for bad credit
- BlueVine - Line of credit: Best for Business lines of credit for bad credit
- OnDeck - Line of credit: Best for Business lines of credit for bad credit
- Triton Capital - Equipment financing: Best for Equipment loan for bad credit
- SBA Microloan: Best for SBA loan for bad credit
Frequently Asked Questions
Some online and nonprofit lenders accept borrowers with bad personal credit scores (300 to 629 FICO). A lower credit score may result in a pricier loan, so building your credit first may qualify you for cheaper options.
Most lenders require a minimum credit score ranging from 500 to 650 FICO, but some have no minimum requirement. Your annual revenue and time in business may also be considered on your application. Shop around and compare small-business loans to get one that fits your needs.