Small Business Blog Posts | Page 16

To obtain a small business loan, lenders often require the borrower to pay a percentage out of pocket as a down payment. But why do you have to pay money upfront when you need to borrow money? Is there a way around this apparent catch-22? What loans require down payments, and what are your options if you don’t have the funds to pay it?

Some loans, such as long-term installment loans and SBA loans, are difficult to qualify for and have lengthy application and approval processes. However, there are other loans like short-term loans, lines of credit, and merchant cash advances that are easier to qualify for, even if you have a short time in business, low revenue, or poor credit.

Getting a commercial real estate loan takes time, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. By shopping around, knowing what rates and terms to look for, and working with a reputable lender, the process for obtaining a loan can go smoothly, providing business owners with the funding they need to grow their businesses.

A microloan is defined as a small loan that is typically for $50,000 or less. Microloans offer an alternative to traditional bank loans. These loans are for smaller amounts, so they are easier to qualify for, opening up options to small businesses that aren’t eligible for conventional loan options, either due to low revenue or lack of establishment.

Collateral is an asset used to secure a loan and ensure that the lender gets paid. The asset used as collateral is something of value that shows a lender that you’re prepared to pay off your loan. In the event that you are unable to make your loan payments, the lender can seize your collateral and sell it to cover the remainder of your loan.

Short-term loans and merchant cash advances are typically the easiest to get. Certain business credit cards and lines of credit may also be easy to get. One thing to note that many business loans that are fast and easy to obtain come with shorter repayment terms and higher rates and fees.

Due to their low borrowing limits, SBA Microloans are one of the easiest loans to receive. However, there are borrowing requirements in place, the application and approval process can be time-consuming, and there may be extensive documentation requirements based on the policies of the lender.

If you have questions about completing your loan application, you can always ask your SBA-approved lender. If you haven’t yet found a lender to work with, SCORE is a great resource. This nonprofit organization provides resources and services including free business mentors that can help you through every step of the process.

The Small Business Administration provides invaluable resources to small business owners, from educational materials to low-interest loan programs. One of those programs is CAPLines, which provides qualified business owners with a flexible line of credit up to $5 million. 

Credit bureaus arose to help lenders quickly gauge the reliability of a potential borrower. In the past, you could go to the good ol’ general store and the owner would know you, your character, and whether or not putting your items on “charge” (or on credit) was a good idea. That method may have worked in the past, when communities were small and isolated, but there had to be a better way moving forward. Thus credit bureaus were born.