Pros
- High borrowing amounts
- Rates tend to be inexpensive
- Few extra fees
- Long-term financing options available
- Financing is suited for small businesses
Cons
- The application process can be time-consuming
What Is Ready Capital?
Ready Capital, a subsidiary of as ReadyCap Lending LLC, is a non-bank lender that specializes in Small Business Administration loans, USDA lB&I loans, and commercial real estate loans.
Ready Capital offers SBA 7(a) loans and is the nation’s #4 SBA preferred lender. Ready Capital has a proven track record with over $1.6B of SBA funds delivered.
Ready Capital has a reputation for helping small business owners receive affordable loans with low rates, longer terms, and more flexibility than other options on the market today, making it a worthwhile contender if you’re in the market for SBA or commercial real estate loans.
Services Offered By Ready Capital
Ready Capital provides SBA loans and a large selection of commercial real estate loans. Borrowing amounts are competitive and fit a wide variety of business needs. The only downside is that there are no mobile apps offered by Ready Capital, resulting in a section rating of 4.3/5 stars.
SBA 7(a) Loans
Through the 7(a) program, you can use your funds for almost any business purpose, including purchasing or refinancing commercial real estate, consolidating high-interest debt, acquiring a business, buying a franchise, purchasing equipment, or funding startup costs.
USDA B&I Loans
USDA B&I loans are designed for “underbanked” rural communities that need more flexible lending options, who otherwise may not qualify for an SBA loan, or want to save their SBA qualification for a different business funding need.
Commercial Real Estate
Ready Capital offers the following types of commercial real estate funding:
- Commercial bridge loans
- Multifamily bridge loans
- Freddie Mac SBL
- Construction loans
- Solution capital financing
- Note-on-note financing
- Bridge-to-agency financing
- Affordable multifamily loans
If you opt for a commercial real estate loan, don’t forget to check out our content on the cost segregation tax credit to see if your business is eligible for significant savings on your tax return.
Ready Capital Borrower Qualifications
Ready Capital does not provide all borrower requirements for its loans directly on its website. However, the lender states that the debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) for its SBA loans should be 1.15 to 1.30, depending on how loan proceeds will be used and the borrower’s industry. Learn more about calculating DSCR and how lenders use it.
Additional borrower qualifications are available from the SBA. The SBA sets basic requirements for its loan programs, and this information is readily available on the association’s website, which can be accessed via Ready Capital’s site.
Learn more about the requirements for each program below.
7(a) Loan Program
To qualify for the SBA 7(a) loan program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Qualify as a small business based on SBA size standards
- Be a for-profit business
- Must use loan funds for business purposes
- A credit score of 680 or above
In addition to your personal credit score, your credit history will be evaluated. Your credit report should be free of liens, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and defaults on government-backed loans.
Collateral may be required to secure your loan. Business assets typically serve as collateral. However, personal real estate or property may be used as collateral if you fall short. It’s also important to note that the SBA will not turn down applications solely based on a lack of collateral, provided the borrower meets all other requirements.
USDA B&I Loans
USDA B&I loans have more flexible requirements than SBA loans. To qualify for this type of lending, you need to be a part of a rural community with less than 50,000 people and your business must occupy at least 51% of the property or building you’re looking to get a loan for.
Commercial Real Estate Loans
Commercial real estate loans with Ready Capital vary in terms of borrower requirements. DSCR can range from 1.10x – 1.40x and collateral is often required. Luckily, Ready Capital is much more transparent than other lenders, so you’ll be able to find most of the information you need on their website.
You’ll want to pay particular attention to the asset types required for collateral on each type of commercial real estate lending option to choose the right one for your business. You can also contact a Ready Capital lending agent for additional support.
Ready Capital Terms & Fees
Ready Capital is much more transparent with its rates and fees than other lenders. While not all information is disclosed (for example, Ready Capital doesn’t give any interest rate information), you’ll still find most of the loan terms and fees information on their site.
SBA Loans
Ready Capital does not provide much information about SBA loan terms and fees on its website, but you can find most of this information on the SBA’s website.
For SBA 7(a) loans, you can borrow $350,000 – $7,000,000 with loan terms up to 25 years. There are no prepayment penalties and you can roll your closing costs into the loan if needed. One stand-out feature of Ready Capital is that the company waives packaging fees for veterans.
One of the best things about SBA loans is that maximum rates are set by the SBA, keeping them affordable for small business owners. Take a look at the loan rates for SBA 7(a) and 504 loans for current interest rates.
SBA partners such as Ready Capital may also charge their own fees, such as closing costs, referral fees, packaging fees, or others. All fees, interest rates, and terms can be discussed with a professional at Ready Capital.
USDA Loans
For USDA B&I loans, you can borrow $1,000,000 – $10,000,000 with loan terms of 10-30 years. There’s not much information about USDA B&I fees.
Commercial Real Estate Loans
Luckily, there is much more information regarding fees when it comes to Ready Capital’s commercial real estate loans.
Ready Capital has detailed website pages for each type of commercial real estate loan it offers that cover most of the information regarding rates and fees for each loan. The only information not disclosed is interest rates.
Here is a quick breakdown of the main fees for each Ready Capital commercial real estate loan:
Loan Type |
Borrowing Amount |
Loan Term |
Fees |
Commercial Bridge |
$5M – $75M+ |
Up to 5 years, extensions available |
Origination 1%, exit 0.25%, extensions 0.25% |
Multifamily Bridge |
$5M – $75M+ |
Up to 5 years, extensions available |
Origination fee 1%, exit 0.25%, extension 0.25% |
Freddie Mac |
$1M – $7.5M |
5,7, 10, or 20 years |
Origination 1%, legal fees capped at $10k |
Solution Capital |
$5M – $75M |
Open with minimum interest |
Not disclosed |
Bridge-To-Agency |
$1M – $7.5M |
up to 2 years, extensions available |
No origination, legal fees may apply |
Note-On-Note Financing |
$5M – $75M |
2 years, extensions available |
Not disclosed |
Construction Finance |
$5M – $75M |
12-36 months, extensions available |
Interest unknown, origination 1-2%, exit 1-2%, extension 0.5%-1% |
Residential Finance |
$5M – $20M |
12-36 months, extensions available |
Interest unknown, origination 1-2%, exit 1-2%, extension 0.5%-1% |
Affordable Multifamily |
$3M – $100M+ |
Not disclosed |
1-2% |
Ready Capital Application Process
To start the application process with Ready Capital, you can submit a quote request through the company’s website. You need to provide a small amount of personal information on the request form, including your name, email address, phone number, city, and state. You can also type a message on this form to provide additional details of your request.
Once you’ve submitted your request, a representative will contact you to discuss the financial products that may be a good fit for your business. If you decide to move forward with a loan, you’ll receive more details on the application process, qualification requirements, and documentation needed to complete your loan request.
Unfortunately, Ready Capital does not provide much information about the application process itself, resulting in a 2.3/5 star rating for this section. Timelines for SBA loans are likely long. Timelines for commercial real estate loans vary, but closing date and funding information is available on Ready Capital’s website.
Ready Capital Sales & Advertising Transparency
Ready Capital is about average when it comes to sales and advertising transparency. The company does provide some basic information about its loans, including the types of loans available, how funds can be used, maximum borrowing limits, and some borrower requirements.
Ready Capital’s website does not fully disclose all interest rates, fees, and borrower qualifications for its loans. However, it links to the SBA website, which provides a great deal of information and resources for small business owners new to SBA loans.
Ready Capital Customer Service & Technical Support
Prospective and current customers can contact Ready Capital through its website, which has separate secure forms for applying for loans and general inquiries.
Ready Capital Lending Customer Service |
Availability |
Phone Support |
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Email Support |
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Support Tickets |
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Live Chat |
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Dedicated Support Representative |
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Knowledge Base or Help Center |
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Videos & Tutorials |
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Company Blog |
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Social Media |
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Its parent company, Ready Capital, is also on social media and shares current news and updates through its Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles.
However, the number of customer support options available is quite lacking compared to other lenders resulting in a 2.1/5 star rating for this section.
Ready Capital User Reviews
Ready Capital has very mixed online reviews, though most of them have to do with the company’s participation in the now-defunct Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Most fintech lenders were not equipped or prepared to handle the massive demand for PPP loans in 2020 and 2021. Therefore, PPP-related complaints about an online lender aren’t necessarily reflective of that lender’s quality as a whole.
Ready Capital gets an A+ rating on the BBB with a 1/5 star rating and has also become accredited since our last review update. Ready Capital is also reviewed on other third-party review sites, earning a 4.1/5 star rating on TrustPilot, resulting in a 2.2/5 star review site aggregate rating.
Negative Ready Capital Reviews & Complaints
Ready Capital’s negative reviews primarily have to do with the following issues:
- PPP Loans Never Funded: There are a number of negative Ready Capital reviews surrounding problems faced when applying for or receiving a PPP loan through Ready Capital. While some reviews had to do with being rejected by Ready Capital for a PPP loan, an alarming number of businesses complained that Ready Capital approved them for a PPP loan but then never sent the funds. Sadly, more than one reviewer stated they would more than likely lose their business due to this mixup.
- SBA Loan Denied: Several companies that claim to have good credit history were frustrated that they were denied an SBA loan through Ready Capital.
- Poor Customer Service: Ready Capital customer service reps have been described as rude and unresponsive, particularly regarding problems with PPP loans.
Positive Ready Capital Reviews & Testimonials
There are also positive reviews online for Ready Capital. Ready Capital also has customer testimonials on its website. Overall, customers are pleased with:
- Helpful Customer Service: In contrast to the negative reviews complaining about the quality of customer service, some Ready Capital reviewers said they experienced kind and helpful customer service agents.
- Smooth, Easy Funding Process: Some reviewers said they experienced a fast and efficient loan approval, aided by Ready Capital’s simplification of the SBA loan application process.
Final Verdict: Is Ready Capital Right For You?
Ready Capital offers an impressive number of commercial real estate lending options with transparent rates and requirements, low fees, and large borrowing amounts. The company also offers SBA loans and is a preferred SBA lender with a proven track record of successful small business funding.
The downsides of Ready Capital are that the company’s customer support is lacking, information about the application process is lacking, and there are fewer positive reviews than we like to see. The company has also stopped offering SBA 504 loans since our last review, making it less of an SBA lending powerhouse than it used to be.
That being said, Ready Capital can still be a good option, especially for commercial real estate loans. If you want to check all your options, see how Ready Capital compares to the best small business loans or the best SBA loans.
To learn more about how we score our reviews, see our