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The Best Alternatives To OnDeck Small Business Loans
OnDeck is a well-known lender for small businesses, but it's not the only option available. Check out our list of other lenders that might better fit your needs.
Erica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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Erica SeppalaErica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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Chelsea Krause is a writer who specializes in accounting, payroll, and small business loans. She has been helping small business owners manage their finances since 2016. She is a QuickBooks Certified User and former eCommerce store owner. Her accounting expertise has been quoted in Forbes and her work appears in Startup Nation, Small Business Bonfire, and Women on Business. Chelsea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English & Creative Writing from George Fox University and studied abroad at the University of Oxford as well.
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Chelsea KrauseChelsea Krause is a writer who specializes in accounting, payroll, and small business loans. She has been helping small business owners manage their finances since 2016. She is a QuickBooks Certified User and former eCommerce store owner. Her accounting expertise has been quoted in Forbes and her work appears in Startup Nation, Small Business Bonfire, and Women on Business. Chelsea graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English & Creative Writing from George Fox University and studied abroad at the University of Oxford as well.
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Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.
OnDeck is one of the most well-known online alternative business lenders. OnDeck offers fast and easy-to-access term loans and lines of credit and even has same-day funding available for businesses that need quick access to cash.
While OnDeck’s funding products have low borrowing requirements and quick disbursements, there are some downsides to consider. Hefty fees, short repayment terms, and daily or weekly payment requirements are among the deterrents for potential borrowers.
If you like the speed and easy access of OnDeck loans but want to weigh out your options, start right here with these OnDeck alternatives.
From a wider variety of financing options to longer terms and lower rates, these OnDeck alternatives may be a better fit for your financial needs.
The best alternatives to OnDeck offer things like multiple types of funding, low borrowing requirements, longer repayment terms, and lower interest rates. Here are our top picks for the best OnDeck alternatives.
Available to businesses that have been in operations for as little as 9 months
Cons
Blanket lien required
Personal guarantee required
Not available to businesses in some industries
Why We Chose LoanBuilder As An OnDeck Alternative With Fast Funding
PayPal's LoanBuilder offers a quick application process and customizable terms, although the service does not provide lines of credit like OnDeck. The primary focus of this lender is short-term loans of up to $150,000 with term lengths up to 52 weeks.
With its fast application process and minimal borrower requirements, LoanBuilder makes a solid option for borrowers without perfect credit or a long time in business but who need money ASAP. Borrowers can be prequalified in just minutes, with funding available as soon as the next business day following approval. Borrowers can customize their loans by adjusting their desired borrowing amount and term length once approved.
LoanBuilder Services
LoanBuilder offers short-term loans up to $150,000(maximum $100,000 for first-time borrowers) with terms of 17 – 52 weeks. Repayments are made on a weekly schedule.
LoanBuilder Rates & Fees
LoanBuilder no longer discloses its rates. However, in the past, the lender has disclosed that it charges a one-time fee of approximately 2.9% – 18.72% of the borrowing amount. No additional fees are charged.
LoanBuilder Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a LoanBuilder short-term loan, you must meet these basic requirements:
At least 9 months in business
Annual revenue of at least $33,300
Although a credit score of 620 was once required to get a LoanBuilder loan, this requirement is no longer listed.
LoanBuilder does not lend to borrowers in the states of North Dakota or South Dakota.
Additionally, LoanBuilder loans are not available to some industries, including financial services, auto dealers, and gambling businesses.
Choose LoanBuilder If...
You want a short-term loan that is funded quickly after approval
You need a loan and you have a new business or a low credit score
Fundbox is a lender that provides lines of credit to eligible small business owners. Similar to OnDeck, there are minimal borrowing requirements, making it easy for newer businesses or borrowers with poor credit to qualify. While these low borrowing requirements may result in higher fees and short repayment terms, it may be well worth the cost for businesses that struggle to qualify with other lenders.
We also like that Fundbox has an easy, automated application process. You can receive a credit decision in just minutes, and you can initiate draws immediately following approval. Funds can be then transferred to your bank account as quickly as the next business day, making this a great option for borrowers who need funds quickly.
Fundbox Services
Fundbox provides eligible borrowers with small business lines of credit up to $150,000. Repayment terms are 12 or 24 weeks, with payments made on a weekly schedule.
Fundbox Rates & Fees
Fundbox charges borrowing fees that start at 4.66%+ (12-week terms) or 8.99%+ (24-week terms).
Fundbox Eligibility Requirements
Fundbox requires borrowers to meet the following requirements to receive a line of credit:
At least $30,000/year in business revenue
Personal credit score of 600
Time in business of at least 3 months
Choose Fundbox If...
You want a line of credit to draw from as needed to cover business expenses
You have a credit score of at least 600 and can’t get funded elsewhere
You have a newer business that’s been in operations for at least 3 months
SmartBiz offers something that OnDeck does not: long-term financing. Like OnDeck, you can apply for a term loan or line of credit. However, you can also apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, which comes with long repayment terms and competitive rates. Term loans and lines of credit are also available.
SmartBiz loans and lines of credit are best for established businesses with a solid credit history. While the application and funding process can be quite lengthy -- especially when compared to lenders like OnDeck -- businesses that want affordable, long-term funding may find SmartBiz's financial products to be worth the wait.
SmartBiz Services
Through its lending partners, SmartBiz offers:
Lines of credit
Bank term loans
SBA loans
SmartBiz Rates & Fees
Rates and fees vary by product but are extremely competitive.
Origination fees, closing costs, and other fees may apply.
SmartBiz Eligibility Requirements
Borrower requirements vary based on the product you select. For SBA loans and bank term loans, you must have a U.S.-based business that has been in operation for at least 2 years. Credit score requirements are 650 for SBA loans and 660 for bank term loans.
SmartBiz does not disclose requirements for its lines of credit but does say that approval can be granted provided you have:
A prequalification
6 months of bank statements
Debt schedule
Choose SmartBiz If...
You have an established business with good credit history
You want long-term funding with competitive rates and fees
Similar to OnDeck, Credibly offers short-term working capital loans. Credibly is also similar to OnDeck in terms of speed -- following loan approval, you can have funds in your account in as little as 24 hours.
Unlike OnDeck, though, Credibly works with lending partners to provide additional types of funding. This includes short-term options with low borrowing requirements, such as merchant cash advances and invoice factoring, as well as long-term options like SBA loans. New businesses and borrowers with poor credit can even find options through this lender, which also offers invoice financing and equipment financing.
Credibly Services
Credibly offers the following types of small business funding through in-house lending and partner lenders:
Short-term working capital loans
MCAs
Long-term loans
Lines of credit
Equipment financing
SBA loans
Invoice factoring
Credibly Rates & Fees
Rates and fees vary by loan product. For short-term loans, MCAs, and other short-term borrowing products, a factor rate is used. Rates for these loans start at 1.11. An origination fee will also apply.
Credibly Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements for Credibly vary by product. For short-term loans and MCAs, the following minimum requirements must be met:
Personal credit score of 500
At least $15,000/month in revenue
Time in business of at least 6 months
Choose Credibly If...
You want a short-term loan that’s funded quickly
You want to explore other financing options, including SBA loans, equipment financing, and invoice factoring
Like OnDeck, Lendio can connect business owners with lines of credit and term loans. However, Lendio isn't a direct lender. The company can also provide access to far more funding options, including low-cost SBA loans, term loans, accounts receiveables financing, merchant cash advances, business credit cards, and more.
If you want to ensure you get the best rates and terms for your business, you can easily compare offers with Lendio. With 75+ lending partners, Lendio allows you to receive and compare multiple offers with one fast, easy application. Options are even available for newer businesses and borrowers with low credit scores.
Lendio Services
Lendio offers the following funding products for businesses:
Business lines of credit up to $500,000
SBA loans up to $5 million
Short-term loans up to $500,000
Term loans up to $2 million
Equipment financing up to $5 million
Startup loans up to $150,000
Business credit cards up to $150,000
Accounts receivable financing up to $10 million
Lendio Rates & Fees
Lendio’s rates and fees vary by lender and product. Here are some common rates and fees disclosed by Lendio to give you an idea of the cost of borrowing:
Lines of credit: 8% to 60%
Short term loans: 8%+
Term loans: 6%+
MCAs: 18%+
Equipment financing: 7.5%+
Startup loans: Up to 31%
Lendio Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements vary by lender and product. There are no specific revenue, time in business, or credit score requirements to qualify.
Choose Lendio If...
You want to easily compare loan offers from multiple lenders
You’re unsure of which type of loan is best for your business
Business Loan & Funding Products Review Methodology
We spend hours researching and evaluating each business loan and funding product that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on key characteristics to generate our ratings.
Weighted Rating Breakdown
Rates & Fees 20%
Services 20%
Eligibility Requirements 20%
Application 15%
Sales & Advertising Transparency 10%
Customer Service 10%
User Reviews 5%
When rating lenders and funding providers, we use a 31-point rubric that looks at rates and fees, services, eligibility requirements, application, sales and advertising transparency, customer service, and user reviews. We weigh each section differently to calculate the total star rating. This rubric is applied to traditional term loans, as well as short-term loans, start-up loans, lines of credit, online lending products, merchant cash advances, and equipment financing products.
Rates & Fees: 20% of the total star rating
Services: 20% of the total star rating
Eligibility Requirements: 20% of the total star rating
Application: 15% of the total star rating
Sales & Advertising Transparency: 10% of the total star rating
Customer Support: 5% of the total star rating
User Reviews: 5% of the total star rating
Each section is further broken down into granular, weighted subsections, in which we examine specific attributes like terms lengths, conditions of repayment, credit score and revenue requirements, ease of application, length of time to funding, the ethics involved in promoting the lending product, customer support, and the overall reputation of the lender or funding provider.
Between these lenders and OnDeck, you’ve got a good chance of finding financing that is right for your business. Each has something unique to offer. No matter which route you choose, make sure to do your research, compare your options, and choose the loan that works best for your business.
If you still want to explore your funding options, start with our list of the best small business loans. If you have credit challenges, take a peek at our choices for the best bad credit loans. And if you have a new business, be sure to learn about the best loans for startups.
Erica has been writing about small business finance and technology since 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and specializes in researching and reviewing business software, financial products, and other topics to help small businesses manage and grow their operations. Her expertise has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, a graduate of Limestone University, and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
View Erica Seppala's professional experience on LinkedIn.
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The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
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