8 Best Small Business Loans For Startups With Bad Credit

Lendio is an easy-to-use online loan matchmaking service that lets you compare and apply to multiple business loans in just 15 minutes and get funded as soon as 24 hours. Even if you have a credit score as low as 550, you can likely find some financing options through Lendio. By using this service, you can prequalify for short-term loans (STLs), lines of credit (LOCs), merchant cash advances (MCAs), equipment financing, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and more. Lendio is especially helpful if you’re new to business financing and aren’t sure which options you might qualify for or would work for your business.

Lendio’s network includes more than 75 lenders, including big names like Kabbage, OnDeck, Amex, and BlueVine. As of September 2020, Lendio is also still accepting PPP loan applications in hopes that Congress will extend funding for the program.

Any business can apply for Lendio, but for the best chance of getting funded, Lendio recommends that in addition to a 550+ credit score, you have 6 months in business and make at least $10K monthly. Read our Lendio review to learn more about Lendio’s business lending marketplace.

Pros

Saves time by sending your application to multiple lenders at once
Helps you figure out which financing product is best for your needs
Lets you compare different loan offers so you can choose the best one

Cons

Not all lenders in Lendio’s network accept bad-credit applicants

Get Started with Lendio

2. Credibly: Best For Startups With Poor Credit & Strong Business Revenues

Credibly

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Get Started with Credibly

Credibly originates several types of short-term loans, including working capital loans and merchant cash advances up to $400K, business lines of credit up to $250K, and others. This company is startup-friendly–though you do need to have been in business for six months–and will accept you even if you have very poor credit. Woo-hoo!

Credibly’s working capital loans and MCAs have a minimum required credit score of just 500, while business lines of credit are offered to applicants with 560+ personal credit. Note that some of Credibly’s products, including their lines of credit, are made available through Credibly’s network of external funding partners rather than through Credibly directly.

Credibly’s revenue requirements vary based on product, but they are on the high side compared to those of some other online lenders; your business must be bringing in $15K/month ($180K/year) to qualify for a working capital loan or MCA; however, the money comes through fast and the amounts you can borrow are pretty high considering the relaxed borrower requirements. Credibly is also transparent about its rates and requirements, listing all the information you need to know on their website. Visit our Credibly review for more information.

Pros

Can borrow up to $400K
Will accept very poor credit
Transparent rates and fees

Cons

High revenue requirements

3. BlueVine: Best For B2B Startups With Unpaid Invoices

BlueVine

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Get Started with BlueVine

BlueVine is one of our favorite online lenders in the small business lending space. That’s in part because BlueVine has relaxed borrower requirements for invoice factoring services, and partly because BlueVine’s terms are fair and transparent. BlueVine is also very easy to apply for, and you can get approved and start submitting invoices within 24 hours. Unlike some invoice factoring lenders, BlueVine doesn’t require you to use invoicing software; just upload your unpaid invoices in BlueVine’s convenient online dashboard.

As far as borrower requirements, for BlueVine’s invoice factoring service–perfect for B2B and B2G (business to government) startups with unpaid invoices–you only need a score of 530. Note that for BlueVine’s invoice factoring only available to startups already generating revenue, you need to make $10,000/month to qualify.

Down the road, once you are in business at least three years and have raised your credit score to 650, you can apply for a revolving line of credit through BlueVine. Previously, their LOCs were also available to startups but they recently changed their terms. (Your business also needs to be a corporation or LLC and bring in $40,000/month.)

Pros

Transparent advertising
Invoice financing is easy to qualify for
You don’t need to use invoicing software

Cons

LOCs not available to startups

4. Accion: Best For Minority & Women Owned Businesses

Accion

Accion is a nonprofit CDFI offering short- and medium-term installment loans to startups and existing businesses. These loan products mostly include microloans that are under $50K, but there are also some offers for loans as large as $1 million. Accion specializes in lending to minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses.

If you have poor personal credit but need a small startup loan, Accion is one of the few reputable online lenders that can help you without screwing you over. The only caveat is that loans are offered on a regional basis. You’ll only be able to apply to whichever loans (if any) are available in your area.

To qualify f0r an Accion loan, you need a credit score of 575, or 550 in some areas, and sufficient cash flow to repay the loan. Startups also need to have less than $3K in outstanding debt, a business plan with a 12-month cash flow projection, and a partner referral (such as SCORE or SBDC). Read our Accion review to learn more about this nonprofit lender and visit their website to see loan offerings in your area.

Pros

Low-interest microloans
Targeted to marginalized business owners
Monthly repayments

Cons

Loan offers limited by region

5. Avant: Best For New Business Owners With Steady Personal Income

Avant

Personal loans are a way brand-new businesses can receive startup funds, even if you have no business credentials to speak of. That’s because these loans are based on your personal creditworthiness, not the strength of your business. Avant is a reputable provider of personal installment loans from $2K to $35K that can be used for business, including startup expenses. It also accepts credit scores that most personal lenders would balk at (as low as 580).

While Avant accepts poor-credit (though not very-poor-credit) borrowers, you may be denied funding for other reasons, such as insufficient personal income to meet the incremental payments. It does not have any business income requirements, however.

Avant’s rates are not cheap, with APRs ranging from 9.95% to 35.99%, but they are fair and not predatory (especially compared to other personal lenders, such as payday lenders). Read our Avant review to learn more about this highly received personal lender.

Pros

No time-in-business or business income requirement
No prepayment penalty
Monthly repayments

Cons

Doesn’t accept scores in low 500s

6. Fundbox: Best For Businesses That Use Accounting Or Invoicing Software

Fundbox

Fundbox has two very-easy-to-qualify-for products: revolving lines of credit and invoice financing.

In case you’re not sure, here is the difference between invoice financing and invoice factoring. As long as you have a credit score of at least 500 and use compatible invoicing/accounting software or have a compatible business banking account, you should be eligible for Fundbox’s services. With its low credit score requirement and no time-in-business requirement (other than using accounting or invoicing software for two months), Fundbox is suitable for both startups and bad-credit borrowers.

You do have to pay the loan quite quickly–over 12 or 24 weeks depending on your offer–and the maximum borrowing amount is $100K. So, larger and more established businesses will get better terms with another lender.

As mentioned, Fundbox requires that you must have been using a compatible accounting or invoicing software for at least two months before applying, or have three months of transactions in a compatible business bank account. Read our Fundbox review to find out if the software or bank account you use is compatible.

Pros

Will accept very poor credit
No revenue requirement
No draw fee, prepayment fee, origination fee, or maintenance fees

Cons

Short repayment terms

Get Started with Fundbox

7. PayPal Working Capital: Best For PayPal Sellers

PayPal Working Capital

PayPal Working Capital offers short-term loans that function similar to merchant cash advances. These loans have no credit score requirements and are good options to consider if you already do business through PayPal.

As with most other short-term lending options, PayPal’s Working Capital doesn’t charge interest. Instead, you are charged a one-time fee that you repay along with the loan. PayPal will then collect a small percentage of your daily sales until you have repaid the loan and the fee.

The application can be easily accessed within your PayPal account and PayPal does not check your credit at all because it’s strictly based on your PayPal sales. If you have a PayPal Business or Premier account that’s been open for at least 3 months and is processing a certain amount of sales ($15K/year for Business accounts or $20K/year for Premier accounts), you can get funded within minutes of accepting a loan offer. PayPal also offers business loans through LoanBuilder, and those loans are open to all businesses and not just PayPal sellers. However, businesses need at least 9 months in business to qualify for a LoanBuilder loan. To learn more about LoanBuilder, check out our LoanBuilder Review.

Pros

No credit check
Easy, automatic repayments
Quick access to cash

Cons

Only available to PayPal sellers

8. Kiva: Best For Pre-Revenue Startups In Need Of Microloan

Kiva U.S.

Kiva U.S. is a nonprofit microlender dedicated to helping small businesses succeed in their communities with interest-free financing. Kiva offers small, crowdfunded loans to entrepreneurs worldwide, but Kiva U.S. is for US-based businesses specifically. Individual lenders back these loans in amounts as small as $25 per lender.

Some benefits of Kiva is that it has no credit check and you don’t even need any time in business or business revenues to qualify. Even better, there is no interest or fees charged, and you can repay with a flexible, convenient repayment plan. However, that doesn’t mean that the service will accept just anyone.

Kiva favors community-minded businesses with a compelling story–after all, you need to convince individuals browsing the site to lend to your business instead of another business. Kiva says the ideal candidate for its services is socially aware and has a strong online and social media presence. It’s probably a good idea to go to Kiva’s website to see the types of businesses that receive funding on the Kiva platform.

Note that these loans are very small. Though Kiva offers loans as large as $15,000, startup businesses that have been in operation for less than a year are only eligible for a $1,000 loan.

Pros

No credit check
No interest or fees
Flexible repayment plans

Cons

$1,000 limit on startup loans

Another Option: Get Fast Startup Financing With A Business Credit Card For Bad Credit

Since most lenders require that you have at least some time in business and an established business revenue stream, you may not qualify for a loan at first. If you aren’t quite ready for a business loan, a business credit card can be a good way to pay for startup expenses while building your credit. Business credit cards are also an effective way to establish business credit history and/or separate your personal credit history from your business credit history. Some cards also offer some type of cashback reward or perk.

If you think a credit card could work for your situation, check out our post on the best credit cards for businesses with bad credit. These cards don’t offer as much cash-back as those for good credit, and some carry a high APR. You might also not be able to borrow that much at first if your credit score is low. However, these cards can help you build your credit while helping you finance your business expenses. If you can pay off your balance every month, then you won’t have to pay any finance charges.

FAQs About Startup Loans & Bad Credit

Is it possible to get a startup loan if I have bad credit?

Yes. In fact, some online lenders and nonprofit lenders cater to new business owners with bad credit. However, loans for borrowers with bad credit tend to carry higher interest and have shorter repayment terms compared to traditional business loans. If you lack strong business credentials, it may also be difficult for you to get a loan larger than a microloan ($50K and smaller).

How can I get a startup loan with bad credit?

Evaluate and compare different lenders that cater to new business owners who have bad credit. Generally, you should be able to find a startup loan as long as you have at least a few months in business and your credit score is at least 500. You’ll also need to show that you have sufficient income (personal or business, depending on the lender’s requirements) to repay the loan.

If you find a loan that you are interested in and are eligible for, it’s easy to apply online. If you meet the minimum criteria and are “pre-approved,” the lender will reach out and ask for more information for the underwriting process. Once you return the requested information, you will hopefully receive a “hard” approval and a loan offer. With most online lenders, you’ll receive your funds as soon as 24 hours to a few days of accepting the offer.

Do I need collateral to get a bad credit startup loan?

Usually not. That is, these loans usually don’t require you to put up any specific collateral or business assets. However, most online startup loans require a UCC-1 blanket lien and/or a personal guarantee.

The blanket lien covers your business assets as a whole–meaning the lender can seize whatever business assets you do have in the event that you stop paying on the loan. The personal guarantee is an agreement that you are personally responsible for repaying the loan even if your business dissolves or is unable to make repayments.

Can I get an SBA loan with bad credit?

Generally, no. You usually need to have at least fair credit to get an SBA loan. The SBA has different credit score requirements for different loans, but the minimums tend to be in the 600s. For example, the SBA 7(a) loan requires a score of 640, while an SBA Microloan has a minimum of 620.

There are some exceptions, though. For example, the SBA did not require credit checks for the temporary Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan program, but participating lenders could pull applicants’ credit and make a lending decision based on the lender’s own requirements.

Which loan company is best for bad credit business loans?

It really depends on your needs–for example, how fast you need the money and how large of a sum you need–and your credentials, such as your credit score, your income, and what stage of growth your startup is in. If your startup is still in the “idea” stage and you just need a few thousand dollars to get off the ground, you may be limited to personal lenders. If your score is in the high 500s and your business is already making money, you’ll have more options, including short-term loans and lines of credit.

To find the best lender you qualify for, be sure to read small business loan reviews to verify that a lender is reputable before you apply. Once you find some good candidates, you can get apply to several loans, and compare pre-approval offers to see which one is best (in terms of the loan amount, interest rate, etc.).

Final Thoughts

The great thing about all of these bad-credit startup loans is that, with a few exceptions, the application process is quick, painless, and entirely online. Also, there’s no risk in getting pre-approved, as this usually only requires a “soft” credit check, which does not impact your credit score. That means you can get pre-qualified for multiple loans and then compare your offers to choose the best one.

If you check out some loan or credit card options and are not pleased with the offers you’re getting, you might consider trying to improve your credit score or looking further into alternative financing ideas. The following resources have some information on how to fund your startup.

Also note that once you’ve been in business for 12 months, many more loan options will be available to you. So it might be worth it to wait a little bit longer to apply for financing if you can. Just make sure you don’t waste your time applying for a bunch of loans that you don’t meet the minimum qualifications for.

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