Best Fast Business Loans in September 2024

Find financing for your business in as little as 24 hours.

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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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By Jill A. Chafin | Edited by Abigail Bassett and Janet Schaaf | August 30, 2024

Fast business lenders at a glance

Credibly: Best for same-day funding

$5,000 to $600,000

1.11 factor rate

6 to 24 months

Pros
  • Low minimum credit score requirement
  • Ideal for startups and well-established businesses
  • Quick approval times
Cons
  • High annual revenue
  • Charges a one-time 2.50% origination fee
  • Most products provided by third-party partners

Why we picked it

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Credibly takes the lead with same-day business loans — with approvals taking four hours or less and funds typically available within 24 hours. If you’ve been turned down for a traditional bank loan, Credibly is ready to help with flexible eligibility requirements and a solid support team. In addition to working capital loans and merchant cash advances, you can work with one of Credibly’s partners to get SBA loans, lines of credit, equipment loans, invoice factoring and other financing solutions for your small business. To qualify, your business must be located in the U.S., with a minimum of $180,000 in annual revenue.

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: Six months
  • Time to funding: Same-day funding available

OnDeck: Best for short-term loans

$5,000 to $250,000

27.30%

18 to 24 months

Pros
  • Fair to low credit accepted
  • Can help build business credit
  • Funds can be available within same business day
Cons
  • Requires daily or weekly repayments
  • Doesn’t fund all industry types
  • Not available in North Dakota

Why we picked it

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OnDeck provides short-term business loans of up to $250,000 to help cover expenses like expansions, inventory, payroll or capital to keep your business afloat during seasonal lulls. With OnDeck’s streamlined application process, you could receive funds the same business day you’re approved. Since OnDeck reports to the major credit bureaus, on-time payments could improve your business credit profile and help you qualify for more business financing in the future. Your business must generate at least $100,000 in annual revenue to qualify. Note that OnDeck isn’t available in all states and doesn’t fund all industries.

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
  • Time to funding: Same-day funding available

Headway Capital: Best for quick working capital loans

$5,000 to $100,000

Not disclosed

12, 18 or 24 months

Pros
  • Can use funds for any legitimate business purchase
  • No prepayment penalties
  • No annual or monthly service fee
Cons
  • Not available in all states
  • Only one product offered
  • Lack of transparency regarding estimated interest rates

Why we picked it

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A Headway Capital working capital loan could be a good fit if your business earns $50,000 or more in annual revenue and has been operating for at least six months. Loan amounts go up to $100,000 and can cover payroll, marketing, inventory, hiring staff or purchasing equipment. While Headway Capital doesn’t disclose minimum credit score requirements, it follows a holistic approach when evaluating your application and looks at factors beyond your credit score.

How to qualify

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

  • Minimum credit score: Not disclosed
  • Minimum time in business: Six months
  • Time to funding: Next business day

Bluevine: Best for lines of credit

$6,000 to $250,000

7.80%

6 or 12 months

Pros
  • Credit decision made within minutes
  • No monthly or maintenance fees
  • Low minimum credit score
Cons
  • High annual revenue requirement
  • May require weekly repayments
  • Not available in Nevada, North Dakota or South Dakota

Why we picked it

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A Bluevine business line of credit can provide your business quick access to flexible funds as needed. With amounts up to $250,000, you can tackle day-to-day and long-term business expenses, such as renovations, payroll services, marketing campaigns and equipment. Bluevine doesn’t charge any monthly or maintenance fees, only charging interest on the funds you withdraw. To qualify, your business must operate for at least 12 months and generate at least $120,000 in annual revenue.

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
  • Time to funding: Same-day funding available

Fora Financial: Best for borrowers with bad credit

$5,000 to $1,500,000

1.10 to 1.40 factor rate

Up to 18 months

Pros
  • Low minimum credit score
  • Prepayment discounts
  • Can increase loan amount after repaying 60% of original loan
Cons
  • Only two funding products
  • Factor rate makes it difficult to compare loan costs
  • High monthly revenue to qualify

Why we picked it

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Fora Financial is one of our top picks for a bad credit business loan with a low minimum credit score of 570 and only six months of business history required. Additionally, you don’t need to provide collateral and could receive funds of up to $1,500,000 as quickly as 24 hours after approval. Businesses must generate at least $180,000 in annual revenue to qualify. Contact Fora Financial for a free quote with no commitment to see how its small business loan can help your cash-flow management.

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: Six months
  • Time to funding: 24 to 48 hours

Fundbox: Best for startups

Up to $150,000

4.66% for 3-month terms
8.99% for 12-month terms

3 or 12 months

Pros
  • Short time-in-business requirement
  • No prepayment penalties
  • Available in all U.S. states
Cons
  • Maximum borrowing amount is relatively low
  • Offers only one product
  • Short repayment terms

Why we picked it

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If you’re looking for a fast startup business loan with a low minimum credit score and short time-in-business requirement, consider a business line of credit with Fundbox. Newly established businesses can access up to $150,000 in revolving funds, only paying interest on the amounts withdrawn.Businesses must be based in the U.S. and earn at least $100,000 in annual revenue to qualify. You can also upgrade to Fundbox Plus to unlock 20% less on fees while taking advantage of extended repayment terms and other exclusive benefits.

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: Six months
  • Time to funding: Next business day

Funding Circle: Best for secured loans

$25,000 to $500,000

15.22%

6 to 84 months

Pros
  • No prepayment penalty
  • No hard credit check for most applicants
  • Low annual revenue requirement
Cons
  • Collateral and personal guarantee required
  • Hard credit check for partnerships
  • Doesn’t report payments to all credit bureaus

Why we picked it

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Funding Circle’s secured business loan can provide up to $500,000 with competitive rates, low monthly payments, no prepayment penalties and a two-day funding timeline. Additionally, Funding Circle helps level the playing field for diverse business owners, offering affordable small business loans for women and minority business loans. Companies must provide collateral and have an annual revenue of $50,000 or more to qualify. A dedicated Account Manager can help identify your funding needs and discuss the next steps.

How to qualify

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

  • Minimum credit score: 660
  • Minimum time in business: 24 months
  • Time to funding: Two business days

National Funding: Best for unsecured loans

$5,000 to $500,000

1.11 factor rate

4 to 24 months

Pros
  • No down payment or collateral needed
  • Early payoff discounts
  • Personalized service with your own Funding Specialist
Cons
  • High annual revenue requirement
  • Factor rate makes it hard to compare to other lenders
  • Misleading website marketing makes it appear like the lender offers more than two loan options

Why we picked it

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National Funding offers unsecured business loans of up to $500,000 with no collateral or down payment required. Funds can go toward working capital, marketing, inventory, payroll, business taxes and more.In addition to providing a dedicated Funding Specialist to help you take your business to the next level, National Funding offers early payoff discounts, flexible repayment terms and a low minimum credit score requirement. You must have $250,000 or more in annual sales to qualify.

How to qualify

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

  • Minimum credit score: 600
  • Minimum time in business: Six months
  • Time to funding: Next business day

CIT: Best for equipment financing

Up to $500,000

6.49%

24 to 60 months

Pros
  • Up to 100% financing for new and used equipment
  • Flexible payment schedules
  • Streamlined application process
Cons
  • Lack of transparency about minimum credit score requirements
  • Rates can vary based on your credit
  • No minimum time in business specified

Why we picked it

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CIT, a division of First Citizens Bank, provides equipment financing up to $500,000 to help replace or purchase essential equipment and machinery for your business. The speedy application process takes as little as three minutes, with funds hitting your business bank account as quickly as one business day after approval. In addition to heavy equipment loans, First Citizens offers business credit cards, business loans, lines of credit and SBA loans. You can choose from monthly, seasonal or deferred payment options.

How to qualify

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

  • Minimum credit score: Not disclosed
  • Minimum time in business: Not disclosed
  • Time to funding: One business day

AltLINE: Best for invoice factoring

$30,000 to $5,000,000

Up to 90% 

0.75% to 3.50%

Pros
  • Ideal for startups and established businesses
  • Backed by an established banking institution
  • Factor rates start as low as 0.75%
Cons
  • Charges origination and wire fees
  • Requires client’s customers to be creditworthy
  • Factor rate makes it hard to compare to other business loans

Why we picked it

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If you need fast access to capital, consider using an invoice factoring company like altLINE to turn unpaid invoices into cash advances. Once approved, you can receive up to 90% in cash advances within 24 to 48 hours. Funds can help pay debts, cover payroll, cover startup expenses and more. Although altLINE runs a background and credit check for all applicants, you don’t need to meet minimum credit score or business history requirements. Instead, altLINE focuses on your invoice balances, due dates and your clients’ credit profiles during the approval process.

How to qualify

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

  • Minimum credit score: No minimum
  • Minimum time in business: No minimum
  • Time to funding: 24 to 48 hours

Frequently asked questions

A fast business loan is a type of small business financing where the application and funding process is typically completed within one to three business days.Generally offered by online lenders, fast business loans use a streamlined application process to assess your eligibility quicker than traditional banks.

Fast business loans tend to have flexible qualification requirements, making them an excellent option for startups, bad credit borrowers or those who don’t qualify for traditional financing.

Pros and cons of quick business loans

ProsCons
  Get the funds you need within one to three business days

  Ideal for low-credit borrowers and startups

  Various types of loan products to tackle most business needs
  Typically have higher interest rates

  Smaller loan amounts

  Collateral is often required

Types of quick business loans

The following types of small business loans offer fast funding to help you start, grow or expand your business.

Line of credit

A business line of credit allows you to borrow up to a predetermined limit instead of a one-time lump sum. Like a credit card, you can borrow, repay and borrow again. You only pay interest on the withdrawn amount, along with any maintenance, withdrawal or annual fees.

Short-term loans

Short-term business loans have shorter repayment terms of around three to 24 months. They are ideal for fulfilling short-term expenses, such as purchasing inventory or covering seasonal dips in revenue. Depending on the lender and your qualifications, you can borrow anywhere from $1,500 to $1 million or more.

Equipment financing

Equipment financing helps business owners purchase or upgrade machinery or equipment necessary for running their businesses. Since equipment financing uses the equipment as collateral, they are more readily available than other types of business funding.

Merchant cash advance

A merchant cash advance(MCA) company typically partners with your credit card processor, giving you a cash advance while collecting a percentage of your daily credit card and debit card sales. While fast and convenient, this funding method tends to be quite costly.

Invoice factoring

Invoice factoring allows you to unlock money tied up in unpaid invoices. You can get an upfront payment of 70% to 90% of an invoice’s face value, leaving the factoring company to collect payments from your customers.

After the factoring company collects all outstanding payments, you will receive the remaining balance minus a predetermined fee.

When to consider a fast business loan

Fast business funding can help companies struggling with cash flow inconsistencies or needing immediate help covering critical business expenses. Although you can likely secure lower interest rates and more favorable terms with a traditional bank or an SBA loan, not all businesses can qualify or wait for conventional forms of financing.

If you need an emergency business loan, consider one of our best fast business lenders to access the capital you need to keep your business afloat.

How to get a quick business loan

If you’ve decided an instant business loan is right for you, here are the basic steps to get a fast business loan.

1. Decide how much you need

Create a detailed business budget to determine how much you need to cover essential or ongoing expenses. Remember, fast loans for businesses typically have higher interest rates and less favorable terms. If you need to tackle long-term projects, it could be worth waiting until you qualify for an SBA or long-term business loan.

  Use our business loan calculator to estimate how much you could borrow.

 

2. requirements for quick business loans

While business loan requirements vary by lender and loan type, most lenders will typically review the following criteria to determine your eligibility for quick capital funding:

  Credit score: Your personal FICO Score and business credit report are critical in determining your creditworthiness. While alternative lenders typically require a minimum credit score of 500 or higher, having a higher score can help you secure a lower interest rate.

  Time in business: Most lenders require a steady track record of one to two years in operation before approving your loan application — although some private business lenders finance startups after at least six months in operation.

  Annual revenue: You must show reliable income to qualify for small business financing. Some quick business lenders accept annual revenues as low as $50,000, while others require gross yearly sales of $480,000 or more.

You can use LendingTree Spring to check and monitor your credit score before applying for a fast small business loan to know your options. Boosting your credit score can help improve your chances of approval while potentially securing a lower interest rate.

3. Compare fast business lenders

Once you’ve narrowed down your best fast business funding options, pay attention to each lender’s details. Some lenders advertise low interest rates, only to add extra fees later in the application process. Read business lender reviews to ensure a potential lender fits your current and future business needs.

Beware of scams
Don’t work with any lender who tries to pressure you into borrowing more than necessary or those offering no-credit-check business loans. Always look for signs of predatory lending and report any suspicious behavior to the Better Business Bureau.

4. Gather required documents

Gathering essential business documents in advance can help speed up the application process. While requirements will vary, it’s a good idea to have the following paperwork ready to go:

5. Apply for a fast business loan

The application and approval timeline for fast loans for business generally happens within a few business days. You may need to provide additional documents after hitting submit, but most online lenders make a final decision within minutes.

Make sure to thoroughly review the business loan agreement before signing on the dotted line. If you don’t understand some of the wording or the repayment schedule, ask for clarification before proceeding.

How to compare fast business loans

When selecting the fastest business loan for your company, it’s a good idea to compare the following details:

  Interest rate: While rates go as low as 4.66%, your actual business loan interest rate will depend on the loan type, your credit score and other criteria. Try to convert factor rates to annual percentage rates (APRs) to accurately compare offers. Also, understand that fast loans typically have higher rates than traditional financing — the price you pay for getting business loans quickly.

  Repayment term: The repayment period for a quick business loan varies by lender, with terms ranging from three to 84 months. Some lenders require daily or weekly payments. Make sure your budget can handle the repayment schedule.

  Time to fund: Check the lender’s timeline for how quickly funds could be deposited into your business bank account. Remember, the fastest business loans aren’t necessarily the most affordable.

  Additional fees: Review the loan contract for origination fees, late charges and business loan prepayment penalties. While leading lenders often don’t charge extra fees for quick business loans, there may be additional maintenance fees.

  Collateral: A secured business loan requires collateral, such as equipment or a down payment. If you fail to repay the debt, the lender could seize your assets. While an unsecured fast business loan doesn’t require collateral, some lenders may require you to sign a personal guarantee, which means you could lose certain assets if you default.

Thing to know
You might struggle to qualify for an unsecured versus secured business loan if your business has not established a solid financial history. Since secured business loans use collateral to reduce lender risk, small business owners can potentially unlock more attractive rates and terms with this option.

Alternatives to fast business loans

Quick loans for business can help in emergencies or when you can’t qualify for traditional financing. But if you can wait, here are some alternative financing options to consider.

Traditional bank loan

Banks and credit unions typically offer a range of small business products, including long-term business loans, lines of credit, commercial loans and more. While rates are generally lower than online speedy loans, eligibility requirements can be more strict with longer funding times.

SBA loans

Backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), SBA loans can provide low-cost funding solutions for small business owners unable to qualify for traditional financing. Popular options include the SBA 7(a) loan and an SBA microloan.

While the application and approval process for SBA loans can take up to two months or longer, you can speed up the process by working with an SBA Preferred Lender.

Business credit cards

Business credit cards can finance everyday costs like low-cost supplies or business meals, with the potential to earn sign-up bonuses and travel rewards. While qualifications are typically more lenient than a small business loan, credit card interest rates tend to go much higher. Because of this, it’s best to pay the balance in full each month. However, you can claim any paid interest on a business credit card as a qualified business tax deduction.

Business grants

The federal, state and local governments and private corporations offer a range of small business grants. While business grants can be competitive, it’s still worth pursuing them to access free money for your business.

How we chose the best fast business loans

We reviewed traditional and online lenders to determine the ten best fast business loans. In addition to application and funding times within one to three business days, lenders on our list must meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum time in business: Options available to startups and those in operation for 24 months or longer.
  • Minimum credit score: Personal credit score requirements of 620 or lower.
  • Rates and terms: We prioritize lenders with competitive rates, limited fees and greater options for repayment terms, loan amounts and APR discounts.
  • Repayment experience: We consider each lender’s reputation and overall business practices. We also favor lenders that report to all major credit bureaus, offer reliable customer service and provide any unique perks to customers, like early payoff discounts and free business coaching.

Frequently asked questions

While some online lenders offer same-day funding, you can typically expect to receive your fast business funds within one to three business days.

Most SBA loans have an extensive application process, with decisions taking up to 10 days or longer. However, the SBA Express loan is a speedier version of the popular SBA 7(a) loan, offering a turnaround time of 36 hours.

Keep in mind that the SBA doesn’t enforce strict guidelines on when a lender needs to disburse funds, so your waiting time could still be significantly longer than our other quick business loan options.

Typically, you need a good credit score in the mid-600s to qualify for small business loans. However, many lenders work with low-credit business owners, including those with scores as low as 500.

Just remember that the higher your credit score, the more likely you will receive a better interest rate.