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Best business loans for fair credit

Lenders won't reject you outright if you don't have the best score.

If your credit score falls between 580 to 669, your business loan options are slightly more limited than those with good or excellent credit. However, these lenders offer clear terms and a wide variety of loans to help you finance the next phase of your business.

How we picked these best business lenders

These lenders represent some of the more flexible and transparent options available to borrowers with fair credit. To compile our list, we considered the loan types available, minimum and maximum APR, repayment terms and the loan amount.

5 best business loans for fair credit

  • Best for businesses with low annual revenue: LendingClub
  • Best marketplace: Lendio
  • Finding an SBA lender: Smartbiz
  • Best for same-day funding: Bluevine
  • Best for microloans: Kiva
  • Best for businesses with low annual revenue

    LendingClub business loans

    4.5
    ★★★★★

    Finder score

    Loan amount$5,000 – $500,000
    APR12.15% to 29.97%
    Min. Credit Score580

    Best marketplace

    Lendio business loans

    4.8
    ★★★★★

    Finder score

    Go to site Read review
    Loan amount$1,000 – $10,000,000
    APRVaries by lender
    Min. Credit Score500

    Finding an SBA lender

    SmartBiz business loans

    4.5
    ★★★★★

    Finder score

    Loan amount$50,000 – $500,000
    APRPrime Rate, plus 2.75% to 4.75%
    Min. Credit Score650

    Best for same-day funding

    Bluevine business lines of credit

    4.3
    ★★★★★

    Finder score

    Read review
    Loan amount$5,000 – $250,000
    APRStarting at 6.2%
    Min. Credit Score625

    Best for microloans

    Kiva business loans

    3.7
    ★★★★★

    Finder score

    Go to site
    on Businessloans.com's secure site
    Loan amount$1,000 – $15,000
    APR0%

    Summary of best business loans for fair credit

    LenderMinimum credit scoreBest for …Finder ratingWhat sets it apart
    LendingClub Fair or betterBusinesses with low annual revenue★★★★★ Small businesses don’t need to meet strenous revenue requirements to qualify.
    Lendio500Comparing lenders★★★★★ A large network makes it easy to find a suitable lender with competitive rates.
    Smartbiz650Finding an SBA lender★★★★★ Streamlined SBA loan process for established businesses.
    Bluevine625Same-day funding★★★★★ No waiting period for funding — for a small $15 fee.
    Kiva Microloans ★★★★★ No credit score requirement and 0% APR — provided you have a large social network.

    Other business loans you can apply for today

    Select your loan amount, annual revenue, time in business and Fair on the table. Then click Show loans to view your results.

    Name Product USFBL Filter Values Min. Amount Max. Amount APR Requirements
    Olympus Business Capital
    Finder Score: 4.4 / 5: ★★★★★
    Olympus Business Capital logo
    $500
    $250,000
    Not stated
    Been in business for 6 months registered with the state, active and open bank account in business name, have $10,000 of revenue each month
    No credit needed. Funding up to $250,000 with a variety of finance options to best fit your business needs.
    Go to site
    Lendio business loans
    Finder Score: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
    Lendio logo
    $1,000
    $10,000,000
    Varies by lender
    Operate business in US or Canada for 6 months or more, have a business bank account, minimum 520 personal credit score, at least $8,000 in monthly revenue.
    Submit one simple application to potentially get offers from a network of over 75 legit business lenders.
    Fundera business loans
    Finder Score: 4.9 / 5: ★★★★★
    Fundera logo
    $2,500
    $5,000,000
    Varies based on lenders
    $60,000+ of annual revenue, 550+ personal credit score, in business for 6+ months
    Get connected with short-term funding, SBA loans, lines of credit and more.
    Fora Financial business loans
    Finder Score: 4.5 / 5: ★★★★★
    Fora Financial logo
    $5,000
    $1,500,000
    Varies
    6+ months in business, $25,000+ gross monthly sales, no open bankruptcies
    Get qualified for funding in minutes for up to $1,500,000 without affecting your credit score. Best for companies with at least six figures in annual revenue.
    National Funding business loans
    Finder Score: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
    National Funding logo
    $5,000
    $500,000
    Undisclosed
    In business 6+ months and make at least $250,000 in annual sales. Other loan types have additional requirements.
    Working capital loans and equipment financing, some high-risk industries may be eligible.
    Go to site
    American Express® Business Line of Credit
    Finder Score: 4.4 / 5: ★★★★★
    American Express logo
    $2,000
    $250,000
    N/A
    Minimum FICO score of at least 660 at the time of application, have started your business at least a year ago, and an average monthly revenue of at least $3,000
    Access lines of credit for your small business even if you aren't currently an Amex customer.
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    Where can I find a lender that accepts fair credit?

    If you have fair credit, you may be able to qualify for a business loan from a variety of lenders.

    Online lenders

    Lenders that operate online offer a wide range of loans for borrowers with fair credit. These include standard term loans and lines of credit — with rates comparable to banks — and short-term options like invoice financing, invoice factoring and merchant cash advances.

    Because of all the options available, it’s important to compare lenders carefully. Fortunately, online lenders typically have lower credit requirements and are more lenient than banks, which can make it easier to qualify for a loan with fair credit.

    Banks

    Some banks, like Regions and PNC, accept business owners with fair credit — provided they have an established credit history. Rates at banks are generally lower, and you may have access to experienced bankers that understand your industry.
    But most banks require you to have a checking account or visit a branch to apply. You’ll also need to meet other strict requirements to qualify, so expect the process of applying with a bank to take longer than an online lender.

    Credit unions

    Local and regional credit unions generally offer term loans to business members, although you may find other options with your credit union. Requirements tend to be more lenient than banks, but you will still need to meet a minimum credit score to apply.

    And like banks, you may need to fill out your paperwork at a branch — though more and more credit unions are moving their initial application process online. Rates are also competitive, but you will need to become a member to qualify for most financing options.

    Alternative lenders

    Alternative lenders should be used as a last resort if you or your business are unable to qualify for a loan from another source. Because of the fixed-fee structure, alternative loans require daily repayments and may be much more expensive than other loan options. You should consider an alternative business loan carefully before borrowing.

    How do I get a business loan with fair credit?

    You can improve your chances of approval by keeping these points in mind:

  1. Develop a business plan. You should be able to demonstrate why you need funding through a strong business plan. It should show a lender that you know how your funds will be used and how you plan on repaying what your business borrows.
  2. Check your credit report. If there are any mistakes on your credit report, you should have them fixed before applying for a business loan — especially if your payment history is incorrect.
  3. Gather your paperwork. Lenders want to see tax returns and proof of revenue at minimum. Each application process is different, but you can check with your lenders to ensure you have the documents you need before you apply.
  4. Pick the right time. If you’re able, apply during your busy season when you have a few months of strong revenue. This will show your lender that your business is doing well.
  5. Prequalify — if possible. Not all lenders offer a prequalification option. But if you can, check your rates with your top choices to avoid a hit to your credit.

Once you have a few prequalification offers, compare the APR, payment schedule and terms to choose the best choice for your business.

6 alternatives to fair credit business loans

These alternatives won’t fault you for having fair credit. But some choices can be expensive for businesses with low revenue.

  • Short-term business loans. Short-term business loans are an expensive alternative to term loans. However, borrowers with fair credit may qualify for lower rates. So if you don’t qualify for a traditional term loan, a short-term business loan could be a good alternative.
  • Rollover for business startups (ROBS). You can invest your retirement funds into your business without paying any penalties — provided you have at least $50,000 in savings.
  • Equity financing. Equity financing involves selling partial ownership of your company to an investor. This can take multiple forms, but if you sell at least 20%, your investor’s good credit could improve your chances of qualifying for a business loan later.
  • Grants. There are federal, state and private grants available to businesses that work in underserved communities. Your credit score won’t matter since you don’t have to repay your grant funds.
  • Business credit cards. These can be used to finance smaller purchases if your business can handle the high APR. There are even business credit cards for owners with fair credit that may be easier to qualify for.
  • Personal loans. As a last resort, there are personal loans you can qualify for with fair credit. These won’t offer the best rates, but they can often be used to finance your business.
  • What should I do if I was denied a business loan?;

    Your lender should provide information on why you weren’t approved for a loan. Revisit your application and ensure neither you nor your lender made any mistakes. If everything is correct, review the reason you were rejected. Even if you meet a lender’s minimum credit requirements, your business’s revenue and financial history may not meet the lender’s standards.

    Rework your application and business plan to suit the feedback you received. If the problem is with your revenue, sales or other metrics, it may be better to consider alternative sources of financing — including short-term business loans, personal loans or business credit cards — which may be easier to qualify for.

    Bottom line

    Fair credit won’t stop you from qualifying for one of these top business loans. But you should still explore your full range of options to ensure you’re making the right financial move for your business.

    Kellye Guinan's headshot
    Written by

    Writer

    Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer, specializing in consumer lending. Her writing and analysis has been featured on Bankrate, MSN and MediaFeed. She holds degrees in anthropology and German language and literature from Middle Tennessee State University. See full bio

    Kellye's expertise
    Kellye has written 64 Finder guides across topics including:
    • Personal, business, student and car loans
    • Credit scores
    • Car financing
    • Debt consolidation
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