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Best small business loans of June 2025

Updated: June 10, 2025

What to know first: A small business loan can help cover a variety of business-related expenses, including startup costs, working capital or growth opportunities.

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National Funding: Best for early payoff discount

4.4
Loan amount
$5k-$500K
Term: 4 - 24 months
Interest rate
Factor Rates Starting at 1.10
Fastest funding
1 business day
Apply nowArrow Right

on partner site

Credibly: Best for bad credit

4.6
Loan amount
$25k-$400K
Term: 3 - 15 months
Interest rate
1.11 factor rate
Fastest funding
1 business day
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

iBusiness Funding: Best for flexible repayment terms

4.6
Loan amount
$25k-$500K
Term: 6 - 84 months
Interest rate
Starting at 7.90% simple interest
Fastest funding
2 business days
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

4.2
Loan amount
$10k-$500K
Term: 4 - 24 months
Interest rate
Varies
Fastest funding
1 business day
Apply nowArrow Right

on partner site

OnDeck: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best lender for startups
4.5
Loan amount
$5k-$250K
Term: 3 - 24 months
Interest rate
Starting at 27.30% APR
Fastest funding
1 business day
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

Fundbox: Best for startups

4.3
Loan amount
$1k-$150K
Term: 3 - 6 months
Interest rate
Starting at 4.66%
Weekly Fee
Fastest funding
1 business day
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

American Express Blueprint: Best for low revenue requirements

4.3
Loan amount
$2k-$250K
Interest rate
N/A
Fastest funding
Not disclosed
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

Bank of America: Best for the bank experience

4.3
Loan amount
Starting at $10k
Term: 12 - 60 months
Interest rate
Starting at 8.50%
Fastest funding
Not disclosed
Wells Fargo Business: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best small business lender for good-to-excellent credit
4.2
Loan amount
Up to $150k
Term: 3 - 24 months
Interest rate
Starting at 10.00%
Fastest funding
1 business day
Accion Opportunity Fund: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best CDFI for small business loans
4.1
Loan amount
$5k-$250K
Term: 12 - 60 months
Interest rate
8.49- 24.99%
Fastest funding
Not disclosed

Fora Financial: Best for fast approval

4.5
Loan amount
$5k-$1.5M
Term: 6 - 18 months
Interest rate
Starting at 1.10 factor rate
Fastest funding
1 business day
Apply nowArrow Right

on partner site

A closer look at our top small business lenders

When you’re comparing the best business loans, it’s important to take multiple factors into consideration.

  • Do you meet the minimum requirements?
  • Is this loan designed for your needs?
  • What is the interest rate?
  • How fast can the loan get funded?

Decide which features of a loan are most important for your business, such as flexible terms or startup support, and then take a closer look at the lenders we mentioned by diving into their features below.

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Best for early payoff discount: National Funding

National Funding stands out from competitors due to its fair lending terms, high loan amounts and solid eligibility requirements. Lenders especially enjoy National Funding's early payoff discounts, which is novel in the small business loans space.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Low interest rates
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Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
$5k–$500k
Min credit score
660
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Possible prepayment discount
  • No collateral on leases
  • Lowest guaranteed payment on leases
× Cons
  • Max interest rate not disclosed
  • No online prequalification tool
  • Limited information on website
Badge Icon

Best for loan variety: QuickBridge

Customers love QuickBridge's wide variety of financial products, from working capital loans to unsecured business loans. On top of that, QuickBridge also offers fast funding, giving borrowers their money in just one business day.

Fast funding
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Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
Not specified
Min credit score
660
Time in business
Not specified
Badge Icon

Best for fast approval: Fora Financial

In addition to fast funding and fair loan terms, Fora Financial is notable because they only do a soft credit check when you apply for a loan. A hard credit check only comes once you've been approved. This makes it highly popular for borrowers shopping around with several different lenders at once.

Fast funding
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Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
$5k–$1500k
Min credit score
570
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Possible early repayment discount
  • Soft credit check at application
  • Minimum FICO score of 570
× Cons
  • Maximum factor rate is fairly high
  • Few types of loans
  • Steep annual revenue requirement
Badge Icon

Best for flexible repayment terms: iBusiness Funding

iBusiness Funding is popular with borrowers because of their flexible repayment terms. The term lengths on their loans range anywhere from six months to 30 years, giving businesses of all kinds and sizes an opportunity to access fresh capital.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
$25k–$500k
Min credit score
660
Time in business
24+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Approvals as little as one day
  • Lower annual revenue requirement
  • Timely payments build credit
× Cons
  • Relatively high credit score requirement
  • Origination fee up to 10.49%
  • Startups aren't eligible
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Best for startups: Fundbox

Fundbox offers unique loan terms in the sense that they eschew traditional interest rates in favor of an amortized weekly fee. Fundbox also has a simple, fast application process through their website, making it highly popular with small businesses shopping around for loans.

Fast funding
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Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
$1k–$150k
Min credit score
600
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Fast funds accessible by app
  • Unsecured option
  • Wide range of loan amounts
× Cons
  • Min. annual revenue may be prohibitive
  • Short repayment terms
  • Weekly fee makes rate comparison hard
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Best for low revenue requirements: American Express Business Blueprint

American Express Blueprint allows business owners to borrow as little as $2,000 or as high as $250,000. American Express is especially popular with startups due to the fact that they have low revenue requirements for borrowers. In fact, you can qualify for a loan with as little as $3,000 in monthly revenue.

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
$2k–$250k
Min credit score
660
Time in business
12+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Fair monthly average revenue requirement
  • No origination or early repayment fees
  • Available across the U.S.
× Cons
  • Only available to established businesses
  • High borrowing costs for longer terms
  • Fees make cost comparisons hard
Badge Icon

Best for bad credit: Credibly

Finding a favorable business loan can be a challenge if you have a low personal credit score. Fortunately, Credibly can help. Applicants need only a minimum credit score of 550 to qualify. Loans of up to $400,000 are also available in as little as one business day.

Fast funding
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Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
$25k–$400k
Min credit score
550
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Potential early repayment discount
  • Prequalify in as little as 10 minutes
  • Funds in as little as one day
× Cons
  • Unavailable in 13 states
  • High minimum revenue requirement
  • High minimum borrowing amount
Badge Icon

Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best lender for startups: Ondeck

Ondeck can be an ideal fit for startups looking for short-term loans. They have relaxed eligibility requirements compared to other lenders and even offer same-day funding in some cases. This is especially useful for companies that need fast capital.

Fast funding
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Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
$5k–$250k
Min credit score
625
Time in business
12+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Same-day funding
  • Early repayment incentives
  • Helps build business credit
× Cons
  • High APRs
  • Loan origination fees
  • Requires personal guarantees
Badge Icon

Best for bank experience: Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the country's oldest and most well-known financial institutions. While there are plenty of competitive online lenders on the market, Bank of America gives borrowers the benefit of face-time at any branch location as well as online or over the phone. For those who value real-time guidance through the loan process, this is exceptionally helpful.

Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Est. APR
8.50%
Max loan amount
Starting at $10k
Min credit score
700
Time in business
24+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Free business credit score monitoring
  • No collateral needed
  • Bank customers can apply online
× Cons
  • Need two years in business
  • $150 origination fee
  • High credit score requirement
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Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best lender for good-to-excellent credit: Wells Fargo Business

Wells Fargo is our 2025 award winner for lenders for good-to-excellent credit borrowers. The bank, which operates in most states, offers competitive rates and lines of credit of up to $1 million. Wells Fargo offers loans and terms to meet the needs of businesses at all stages of their journey.

Low interest rate
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Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Est. APR
Not disclosed
Max loan amount
Up to $150k
Min credit score
680
Time in business
24+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Competitive rates
  • Rewards program
  • Multiple lines of credit
× Cons
  • High credit score requirements
  • Personal guarantee or collateral required
  • Annual fee for some products
Badge Icon

Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best CDFI for small business loans: Accion Opportunity Fund

Since 1994, the Accion Opportunity Fund has been providing far more than just loans to budding small businesses. They also offer hands-on advising for business owners and webinars about a variety of topics related to entrepreneurship. They cater specifically to businesses serving underserved communities, which is why it won our 2025 award for best CDFI for business loans.

Low interest rate
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Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
Est. APR
8.49%–24.99%
Max loan amount
$5k–$250k
Min credit score
Not specified
Time in business
12+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Low interest rates
  • Helps minority businesses
  • Mentoring and educational support
× Cons
  • Only offers a term loan
  • Low maximum loan amount

How Bankrate chooses our best small business loan lenders 

Bankrate's trusted small business loan industry expertise

57

years in business

30

lenders reviewed

22

loan features weighed

770

data points collected

To choose the best small business loans, we ensured all loans featured are broadly available across the United States. We then considered features that make loans affordable and accessible to businesses with different characteristics and needs, including interest rates, required time in business, minimum annual revenue and fees. Additionally, the featured lenders were evaluated for notable qualities such as funding speed and nontraditional eligibility criteria.
 
When evaluating lenders, we use a 22-point scale to measure quality in five key areas:

How to get a small business loan through Bankrate

Getting the capital your business needs doesn’t have to be complicated. Let Bankrate walk you through the process and help you find the right loan for you. 

Determine if a small business loan is right for your business

Business loans are one of the more straightforward lending products. Like a personal loan, you apply with a lender and get approved for funds depending on your income (in this case, business revenue) and credit history.  

Business loans are useful because they can cover a variety of expenses, including:

  • Operating expenses
  • Real estate leases
  • Payroll
  • Inventory
  • Equipment
  • Acquisitions 
  • Expansions

In addition, business loans can have fewer restrictions than products like equipment financing, lower interest rates than credit cards or invoice financing and get you financing in larger amounts than a line of credit. 

In general, a business can work for you if:

  • You need a lump sum of money. 
  • You can make the monthly payments. 
  • You’re looking for a relatively low interest rate. 
  • You have good credit and business income. 
  • You need the loan for operating expenses, payroll or something that doesn’t come with collateral. 

What are small business loans and how do they work?

Small business loans can be used for a variety of purposes, making them a versatile and popular lending product.

Learn more
A business loan makes sense when it helps a company grow or overcome a business challenge without creating unsustainable level of debt. Taking out a loan can be a very prudent way to raise capital, assuming the business has a strong credit profile, consistently positive cash flows and a well-defined plan for using the money and repaying the debt.
Bankrate logo Thomas Brock: CFA, CPA

Pros and cons of small business loans

Small business loans can be a good or less-optimal option, depending on your situation.

Green circle with a checkmark inside

Pros

  • Longer terms. Installment loans make it possible to pay for an expense over a long period of time. Business loans often extend up to five to 10 years, depending on the lender.
  • Flexible use. Most loans let you use the funds for a variety of expenses as long as they directly benefit your business.
  • Borrower incentives. Some lenders offer unique features to benefit their borrowers, such as an early repayment incentive or rewards program for a business line of credit.
Red circle with an X inside

Cons

  • Not ideal for startups. Newer businesses or businesses with poor credit may have limited options.
  • Documentation requirements. You’ll need ample financial documentation to show you can repay, which can be challenging for new companies to provide.
  • Lengthy approval timelines. Some lenders or types of loans take weeks to approve due to rigorous underwriting processes.

Calculate how much debt your business can handle

Taking on too much debt and quickly spell the end for your business, especially if you have a low-revenue month or are low on cash reserves. Before you apply for a loan, it’s a good idea to calculate your debt-to-income ratio and determine how much you’re comfortably able to borrow. 

In general, you shouldn’t borrow more than 36 percent of your business’ annual income. This counts for all debts you hold, so keep this in mind if you have multiple loans and balances. 

Another important factor to keep in mind are your payments. Business loans can have daily, weekly or monthly payments, and taking on a payment schedule and amount that you can handle can prevent you from missing payments or defaulting

For example, if you determine that your business can handle a $1,000 monthly payment on an 8.5 percent APR loan with a term of five years, then the maximum amount you could borrow would be $48,741.

You can use a loan calculator to see how much you would be paying each month with your potential loan balance and interest rate. 

Make sure you meet requirements

Each lender has its own set of eligibility criteria for small business loans. That said, you’ll want to keep some general guidelines in mind as you research your options and prepare to apply for a business loan. Bankrate has additional resources that can help you prepare.

Most lenders will typically evaluate the following to determine if you’re a good fit for a small business loan:

  • Business revenue: You’ll likely need to generate a certain amount of gross annual or monthly revenue to qualify for a small business loan. Meeting this requirement demonstrates to the lender that you have the means to make monthly loan payments without disrupting your company’s cash flow.
  • Business credit history: Some lenders will check your business credit score when evaluating your loan application. Your business credit history will also show the lender your payment history with vendors and service providers.
  • Personal finances: Most small business lenders will check your personal credit score and history to determine the risk you pose. Some lenders may offer business loans for a credit score of 500 or less, but they may come with high interest and fees. A higher credit score means you’ll have better approval odds and lower interest rates with more lenders.
  • Time in business: Expect to provide the number of months or years you’ve been in business. In most instances, you’ll need at least six months of business to qualify for funding. Some traditional lenders require at least two years of business experience to secure a small business loan. But startup loans exist, too.
  • Industry: Lenders want to know you’re operating in a stable industry or one that isn’t at risk for a major downturn that could significantly affect operations and your ability to repay the loan.
  • Business debts: Prepare to provide a business debt schedule, which lists your current outstanding business debt obligations and monthly payments to the lender. This information will be used to determine how much of your revenue is allocated to current debts and if you can afford to take on a new monthly loan payment.
    • Business plan and loan proposal (if applicable)
    • Business license and operating agreement
    • Employer identification number (EIN)
    • Recent personal and business tax returns
    • Recent bank statements
    • Proof of business insurance
    • Payroll records
    • Lease agreement
    • List of accounts payable and accounts receivable
    • Business financial statements (i.e., balance sheet, profit and loss statement)

Business loan requirements

Here’s what you need to know before you apply.

Learn more

Prequalify through Bankrate

When shopping for loans, consider prequalifying with us. Bankrate offers multiple benefits if you decide to prequalify on our site, including:

  • Instant prequalification based on your credit profile
  • Compare multiple lenders at once instead of one lender at a time
  • No hard checks
  • Get expert insights based on unbiased reviews and analyses 
  • Access loan information and applications in one place
  • Build a profile you can access later in the process

 

How to compare small business loans

There are a huge variety of loans, lending products and lenders to choose from in the business loan sphere. Which one is right for your business will depend on your needs, limits and priorities. Here’s what you should consider.

If your most important deciding factor is… …then you should consider
Interest rate
  • A low-interest LLC loan, which is typically offered by online lenders.
  • An SBA loan, which has a fixed interest rate.
Funding flexibility
  • A business line of credit, which offers revolving cash withdrawal instead of lump sum borrowing.
High amounts
  • A term loan, which offers higher loan limits based on revenue and credit history.
Low amounts
  • A line of credit, which can offer lower and more flexible funding.
  • An SBA microloan, which offers funding under $50,000
Ease of approval
  • A secured LLC loan, which can have more flexible approval terms in exchange for collateral
  • A merchant cash advance or invoice financing, which are based on cash flow instead of credit history.
Speed of approval
  • An LLC loan from an online lender, which can come with approval in minutes.
  • An SBA Express loan, which offers SBA loans with a faster approval process.

Types of small business loans

There are several types of small business loans to choose from. Some have more stringent requirements than others, particularly those offered by traditional banks. But online lenders typically have options available for new businesses and business owners with fair or bad credit.

Here’s a closer look at the different business loan options available.

9 types of business loans

From lines of credit to microloans, find the right lending product for your unique business needs.

Learn more

Types of business lenders

Selecting the right lender for your business loan can set you up for long-term success, especially if you decide to use your lender for multiple loan products in the future. 

When considering a lender, you’ll want to think about the following factors:

Quick definitions

Loan rates and fees.
Some lenders will offer lower interest rates or limited fees.
Loan terms
How much you can borrow, whether the line of credit is revolving and your draw limit will vary depending on the lender. 
Product offerings
Lenders can have a wide variety of loan products, such as traditional loans, business credit cards or business lines of credit. 
Requirements
Different lenders can have stricter or more relaxed borrowing requirements. 
Speed of approval
Some lenders will offer approval in less than 24 hours. 
Customer service
Some lenders can offer features such as personalized loan matching, 24/7 customer service or access to a mobile app. 

While lenders will differ in their offerings and approaches, different types of lenders can offer different pros and cons. 

Lender type Pros Cons
Banks
  • Variety of lending products
  • More personalized service
  • Opportunity to build a relationship with the lender
  • Higher interest rates
  • Business hours can be limited
  • Slower approval times
Credit unions
  • Lower interest rates and fees
  • More personalized service
  • Locally-focused service
  • Business hours and locations can be limited
  • Products may be limited
  • Slower approval times
Online lenders
  • Fast approval
  • 24/7 availability and service
  • Lower interest rates and fees
  • Lacks opportunity for building a relationship
  • May be unavailable in certain states
  • Lending products may be limited
Small Business Administration (SBA) approved lenders
  • Limited interest rates
  • Variety of loan and line of credit options
  • Lower credit requirements
  • LCan be difficult to qualify for
  • Long approval times
  • Stricter business qualifications
Community lenders
  • Fixed interest rates and fees
  • Non-profit focused
  • Offers opportunities for underserved communities
  • Limited funds
  • Competitive to apply for
  • Unique requirements

Bankrate can help you find the right lender by allowing you to compare rates, fees, limits and requirements all in one place. Use our loan calculator to get started and get matched with the best lender for your needs. 

Frequently asked questions about small business loans