Small Business Blog Posts | Page 19

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.

High-risk business loans may have higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms. But high-risk loans also have minimal borrowing requirements and are easier to obtain than loans from traditional lenders like banks.

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. 

The SBA launched the SBA Community Advantage loan program to help businesses in underserved areas receive low-interest financing with reasonable terms. Business owners that can’t receive financing through traditional loan programs can take advantage of competitive rates and terms through this SBA pilot program.

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.