Best Business Cash Flow Loans

Business cash flow loans can cover all kinds of expenses, from buying inventory to fulfilling payroll.

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Bluevine: Best for repeat funding

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Up to $250,000

7.80%

Up to 12 months

Pros
  • Only pay interest on what you borrow
  • No maintenance or prepayment fees
  • Relatively low starting rates
Cons
  • Same-day funding could incur a fee
  • Newer businesses may have to make weekly repayments
  • Not available in Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota or any U.S. territories

Why we picked it

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If you’re looking for a renewable line of credit to help cover cash flow gaps whenever they might arise, Bluevine is an option worth considering. You’ll only pay interest on what you borrow, and with relatively low interest rates, this is one of the most affordable options on this list.

Approved borrowers can receive their funds quickly — potentially as soon as the same day and typically no later than three business days after loan approval. However, unless you have a Bluevine business checking account, same-day funding will incur a fee. It’s also important to note that Bluevine’s line of credit won’t be available in certain states and territories.

Read our full Bluevine review.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet Bluevine’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 625
  • Minimum time in business: 12 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $120,000

OnDeck: Best for same-day funding

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$5,000 to $250,000

31.30%  Minimum APR offered to at least 5% of customers (not the lowest rate offered)

Up to 24 months

Pros
  • Potential for same-day funding
  • Helps build business credit
  • No prepayment penalties
Cons
  • Doesn’t disclose starting interest rates
  • Requires daily or weekly payments
  • Not available in North Dakota

Why we picked it

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If you can’t afford to wait for financing, OnDeck might be your best option. While other lenders may be vague about the time it’ll take to receive your funds, OnDeck is very transparent about the types of loans that can be funded in less than 24 hours. To qualify for same-day funding, your application must be submitted before 10:30 a.m. on a normal business day (no weekends or holidays) and the requested loan amount cannot exceed $100,000 or be in California or Vermont.

Other terms and conditions may apply, and if approved, your time to funding will be stated in your loan agreement. If you don’t qualify for same-day funding, you should still receive your funds within two to three business days. However, you’ll need to be prepared to make daily or weekly payments on your loan.

Read our full OnDeck review.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet OnDeck’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 625
  • Minimum time in business: 12 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $100,000

American Express: Best for borrowers with good credit

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$2,000 to $250,000

3.00%  3% to 9% for 6-month terms
6% to 18% for 12-month terms
9% to 27% for 18-month terms
12% to 18% for 24-month terms
Each draw counts as a separate installment loan. Single-repayment loans will have different rates and terms.

6 to 24 months

Pros
  • Potential for same-day funding if you have an American Express Business Checking account
  • No prepayment, application or origination fees
  • Lowest starting interest rates on this list
Cons
  • Only select customers can qualify for credit lines over $150,000
  • Requires a personal guarantee
  • High late payment fees

Why we picked it

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American Express offers the lowest starting rates on this list, but only the most qualified of borrowers will be eligible to take advantage of them. This makes the American Express Business Line of Credit a great choice for borrowers with good or excellent credit, allowing them to potentially save on the total cost of their loan.

As a line of credit, this flexible form of financing allows you to withdraw funds as you need them. However, only borrowers with a preexisting relationship with American Express will be able to qualify for initial credit lines over $150,000.

Read our full American Express review.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet American Express’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 660
  • Minimum time in business: 12 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $36,000

Fora Financial: Best for borrowers with bad credit

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Up to $1,500,000

1.13 factor rate

Up to 18 months

Pros
  • Low minimum credit score
  • Potential early payoff discounts
  • Opportunity to borrow more after repaying 60% of the original loan
Cons
  • High annual revenue requirement
  • Doesn’t build business credit
  • Factor rate makes it difficult to compare with other loan offers

Why we picked it

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If your personal credit score is making it difficult to qualify for business financing, Fora Financial might have you covered. Fora Financial’s business loans offer up to $1.5 million in working capital that can be used to cover a variety of expenses, from purchasing inventory to renovating your office space. Borrowers with credit scores as low as 570 are welcome to apply.

However, you’ll need to generate quite a bit of revenue to qualify ($240,000 a year or more). Plus, it’s worth noting that Fora Financial charges a factor rate for its products, which can make it more difficult to compare costs alongside other loan offers.

Read our full Fora Financial review.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet Fora Financial’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 570
  • Minimum time in business: 6 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $240,000

Fundbox: Best for startup businesses

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Up to $150,000

4.66% for 12-week terms
8.99% for 24-week terms

12 or 24 weeks

Pros
  • Low time in business and annual revenue requirements
  • Relatively affordable starting rates
  • No prepayment penalties
Cons
  • May require weekly payments
  • Relatively short repayment terms
  • Lower borrowing limit than other lenders on this list

Why we picked it

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Many lenders require businesses to be in operation for a minimum of six months to a year before they can qualify for a business loan. But with Fundbox, businesses may be approved for a line of credit up to $150,000 after just three months in business. Revenue requirements are also relatively low, making this a viable option for startup companies.

However, borrowers may need to be prepared to make weekly payments on any funds they withdraw, and with relatively short repayment periods, you’ll need to be careful not to borrow more than you can afford to repay.

Read our full Fundbox review.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet Fundbox’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 600
  • Minimum time in business: 3 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $30,000

Credibly: Best for businesses with variable income

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$5,000 to $600,000

1.11 factor rate

3 to 24 months

Pros
  • Approvals in as little as 4 hours
  • Potential for same-day funding
  • Flexible payments fluctuate with your revenue
Cons
  • Charges administrative and underwriting fees
  • High annual revenue requirement
  • Factor rate makes it difficult to compare with other loan offers

Why we picked it

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If you run a seasonal business with revenue that fluctuates throughout the year, fixed debt payments may put an additional strain on your business cash flow. Businesses with variable income may be better off with a merchant cash advance. Credibly offers cash advances up to $600,000.

Unlike with a business loan, you’ll repay your advance through a percentage of your future debit and credit card sales, meaning the size of your payments will fluctuate with your business income. However, merchant cash advances can be an expensive way to borrow money, so you’ll want to calculate the total cost of your loan before you accept an advance.

Read our full Credibly review.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet Credibly’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 500
  • Minimum time in business: 6 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $180,000

altLINE: Best for businesses with unpaid invoices

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$30,000 to $5,000,000

75% to 90%

0.75% to 3.50%

Pros
  • Provides funding by collecting outstanding invoice payments from your customers
  • Willing to work with startups and bad credit borrowers
  • Funding available within 24 to 48 hours
Cons
  • Charges origination and wire fees
  • Fees increase the longer an invoice is left unpaid
  • Eligibility depends on the creditworthiness of your customers

Why we picked it

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If you’re sitting on a stack of unpaid invoices, you may be able to use them to obtain business financing from an invoice factoring company like altLINE. Invoice factoring is the process of selling your unpaid invoices to receive a cash advance. altLINE’s advance rate is typically between 75% and 90% of the invoice’s face value.

After selling an invoice to altLINE, the company will take care of collecting outstanding payments on your behalf. Once an invoice is paid in full, you’ll receive the remaining amount minus any applicable fees. Keep in mind that these fees increase the longer an invoice is left unpaid, so you’ll want to make sure you understand the fee structure ahead of time.

Learn more about altLINE.

How to qualify

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Unlike traditional lenders, invoice factoring companies base eligibility on your invoice history. This means your business won’t need to meet minimum credit score, time in business or annual revenue requirements to qualify. Eligibility will depend on your outstanding invoices and the creditworthiness of your customers.

What is a business cash flow loan?

Cash flow loans for businesses provide a quick source of cash to help businesses cover all kinds of short-term financial needs.

These small business loans can be helpful for businesses experiencing temporary interruptions in revenue. This may be the result of seasonal slowdowns, having money tied up in outstanding invoices or anything else that prevents expected revenue from coming in.

Types of cash flow loans and how they work

Business cash flow loans come in several shapes and sizes, and the way they work depends on how the loan is structured.

Term loans

Short-term business loans, which are largely provided by online lenders, can help business owners get through all sorts of cash flow issues — from weathering an emergency business expense to managing regular operational costs.

With a term loan, you’ll receive your funds as a lump sum. Repayment periods typically last anywhere from three to 24 months, with payments made daily or weekly. Once approved, businesses can expect funds to be deposited into their bank accounts within just a few days.

Lines of credit

Business lines of credit work a little differently than loans. Instead of receiving a lump sum of cash upfront, a credit line allows the business to withdraw funds on an as-needed basis. Businesses can use those funds for all kinds of expenses, including those related to short-term cash flow issues.

The business owner can borrow up to their credit limit, and will only owe interest on the amount owed. Once the balance is paid down, the credit limit typically replenishes, making this a good option for businesses looking to borrow money regularly.

Invoice factoring

If your business has cash-flow issues because of unpaid invoices, invoice factoring could be a good way to access capital. Invoice factoring involves selling a batch of outstanding invoices to a factoring company in exchange for a cash advance.

This amount is generally equal to 70% to 90% of the value of the invoices. Once your customer pays the factoring company, you’ll receive the remainder of the invoice minus any applicable fees. Just keep in mind that your customers will be notified of the arrangement, which might suggest that your business is having money problems. Similarly, some customers may not be keen on making payments to a third party.

Merchant cash advance

A merchant cash advance allows you to borrow against your future debit or credit card sales to receive a cash advance. In exchange, the lender receives a percentage of your future sales until your debt is repaid.

This percentage is called the holdback rate, and it can range from 5% to 20%, depending on the lender. Some lenders partner with credit card processors to automatically deduct this fee from your transactions, while others withdraw the funds from a linked business’s bank account. Additional rates and fees may apply.

Business bridge loans

Commercial bridge loans are a form of short-term funding commonly used to close on commercial real estate transactions, but these loans can also be used to buy inventory or complete a business acquisition.

Repayment terms are usually short, and interest rates may be higher when compared to other business loans. This type of cash flow loan typically requires collateral, usually in the form of real estate.

How to get a cash flow loan

If a cash flow loan sounds right for your business, the next step is finding a lender and applying.

1. Determine your funding needs

Begin by evaluating why you need funding in the first place. Is it due to something you expect to pass relatively quickly, like a slow sales season? Determine if this is a short-term financial hiccup or a larger, long-term cash flow problem. Cash flow loans are typically used for short-term problems, and aren’t a good solution for a long-term problem.

2. Figure out how much you need to borrow

If you do decide to move forward with a cash flow loan, evaluate both how much money you need and how much you can afford to repay when determining how much to borrow.

3. Evaluate your borrowing eligibility

Once you’re clear on how much capital your business needs, you’ll need to determine whether you meet the loan requirements for a cash flow loan. Eligibility requirements vary from lender to lender, but you’ll likely need to demonstrate steady monthly revenue.

Lenders that provide business cash flow loans typically look at revenue to assess the business’ ability to repay the loan. There are also requirements in place for time in business and minimum credit score, though these requirements also vary. With that said, business owners who have strong credit and have been operating for a while may have an advantage.

4. Compare lenders

The next step is to see which lenders can meet your needs — and then compare their business cash flow loans. Be sure to consider the loan type that is best suited for your needs.

For example, if your business revenue fluctuates throughout the year, a merchant cash advance might be a good choice — as opposed to set payments, you’ll repay your advance through a percentage of your ongoing sales. On the other hand, if you prefer predictable, fixed loan payments, a term loan might be your best option.

5. Apply

Once you’ve found the cash flow loan that best suits your needs, it’s time to apply. You can typically apply for a business loan online, though some lenders may prefer to discuss your loan options over the phone.

Cash flow loans are designed to provide fast funding, so the approval process should be relatively quick. You may be able to expedite this process by providing all the necessary documentation upfront. Depending on the loan type, this might include bank statements, tax returns, proof of account receivables or additional details on collateral.

How to compare business cash flow loans

To pick the best cash flow loan for your needs, compare the following loan details:

  • Interest rates: Business loan interest rates vary by lender and by loan type. If the lender charges a factor rate, it’s worth converting it to compare against other loan offers. Keep in mind that most borrowers won’t qualify for the lowest advertised rate, so you may need to apply to get a quote. Shopping around for the best rate can help you save money over the lifetime of the loan.
  • Loan fees: Some lenders charge fees in addition to interest. Watch out for origination, late payment, prepayment and other types of fees, as these can add to the total cost of borrowing.
  • Repayment terms: Terms for business cash flow loans can range from a few months to a few years. Repayment terms impact more than the amount of time you have to repay your debt — they also impact the amount of interest you’ll end up paying. Depending on the lender, you may be required to make daily, weekly or monthly loan payments.
  • Funding speed: Some lenders offer fast funding within 24 hours, while others take several days to issue funds. Keep in mind that while many lenders advertise same-day business loans, this is often a best case scenario and not all borrowers can qualify for the fastest funding speed.

Pros and cons of cash flow loans

ProsCons
Quick funding times

Options for new and established businesses

Borrowers with poor credit may be able to qualify
Typically requires a steady stream of monthly revenue

Interest rates and fee structures can vary from lender to lender

If the business doesn’t get to the source of its cash flow problems, these loans could create a repeating debt cycle

Alternatives to cash flow loans

Business cash flow loans are a great option for short-term needs — but if you’re looking for more long-term funding to help your business scale or expand, consider these options:

SBA loans

Guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA loans are known for their low interest rates and generous repayment terms. However, both the eligibility requirements and application process are more rigorous when compared to term loans from online lenders. It isn’t uncommon for it to take two months or longer; as such, SBA loans aren’t ideal for short-term capital needs. Established businesses with long-term needs are generally better suited.

Long-term loans

As the name implies, long-term business loans have long repayment terms, usually to the tune of five years or more. They also tend to offer higher loan amounts, which makes them especially appealing to small businesses that are looking to grow and expand. Eligibility requirements are typically more rigorous when compared to short-term cash flow loans.

Equipment loans

These loans are designed to help businesses purchase, replace or upgrade vital equipment. This can include items such as vehicles, technology, commercial-grade office equipment and more. The equipment that’s being financed serves as collateral, though some lenders may require a down payment. Equipment loans can make sense for businesses that need to purchase essential machinery.

Commercial real estate loans

Businesses that are looking to purchase land or a physical storefront might consider a commercial real estate loan. They can be used to finance new property (including new construction) or renovate existing property. It’s a commercial mortgage that’s ideal for creditworthy businesses that want a long repayment term.

How we chose the best business cash flow loans

We reviewed more than 20 lenders to determine the overall best business cash flow loans. To make our list, lenders had to meet the following criteria:

  • Eligibility requirements: To include financing options for different types of businesses, we included lenders with a wide range of credit score, time in business and annual revenue requirements.
  • Time to funding: We know cash flow issues can interrupt the regular flow of business operations, so we prioritized lenders with funding times within one to three days.
  • Rates and terms: We prioritized lenders with more competitive fixed rates, fewer fees and greater options for repayment terms, loan amounts and APR discounts.
  • Repayment experience: We considered each lender’s reputation and business practices, favoring lenders that report to all major credit bureaus, offer reliable customer service and provide unique perks to customers, like free wealth coaching.

Best business cash flow loans summary

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