Getting turned down by a bank doesn’t mean your business can’t get funded. Easy business loans come from online lenders that look past a thin credit file or a short operating history in exchange for faster underwriting and, usually, a higher price tag. Applications to online fintech lenders climbed to 29% of small businesses in 2025, up from 17% in 2020, per the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey.
We looked for lenders and marketplaces with fast funding and lower credit score, time-in-business or revenue requirements than a typical bank or SBA loan. Every figure came from each company’s own website — product pages, FAQs and disclosures, not marketing copy. We left out lenders that don’t publish enough of their own terms to compare, even when they show up on other “easy loan” roundups.
An “easy” business loan is built around speed and flexibility rather than the strictest terms. These lenders are typically fintech or online companies or marketplaces that connect you to several at once, that weigh cash flow as heavily as credit score and can fund in hours or days instead of weeks. The tradeoff is usually cost: shorter repayment windows, factor rates instead of APRs, or fees that only surface once you read the fine print.
Most banks won’t take an application from a business only a few months old, since they typically want a year or two of operating history.
Online lenders are more realistic for startups because they weigh cash flow and recent bank activity over a long track record. Fundbox, for example, only requires three months of business bank history. Expect a tradeoff either way: less history usually means a smaller limit and a higher rate, so borrow only what you need while you build credit.
A low credit score doesn’t rule you out. Many lenders in this category weigh revenue and cash flow more heavily than credit. Fora Financial, for example, accepts scores as low as 570.
If outstanding invoices are the real issue, invoice factoring sidesteps credit almost entirely, since approval leans on your customers’ payment history rather than your own.
Be cautious of any lender advertising “no credit check” or guaranteed approval — legitimate lenders still verify your business, even with just a soft pull. Skipping underwriting entirely is a red flag for predatory terms.
Same-day funding almost always comes from a line of credit or short-term loan, since the lender is skipping manual underwriting for an automated decision. OnDeck, for example, can fund the same day you’re approved, and Bluevine can move funds in as fast as 24 hours.
Speed usually comes at a cost, so weigh the shorter repayment window against how urgently you actually need the cash.
It depends where you apply. Among firms seeking a loan, line of credit or cash advance in 2023, small banks fully approved 52% of applicants versus just 31% at online lenders, per the Federal Reserve. Online lenders approve fewer applicants in full, but they’re faster and more flexible about who they’ll consider — which is why they dominate the “easy loan” category despite the lower approval rate. In practice, the easiest business loans to get approved for tend to be lines of credit and short-term loans from online lenders or marketplaces, since they weigh cash flow and revenue over a spotless credit history or years in business.
Two loans that both call themselves “easy” can cost very different amounts once you read the fine print. Before you apply, compare:
See how these picks stack up against other lenders on rates, terms and requirements.
We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked theseThe Finder Score crunches 12+ types of business loans across 35+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.
To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best business loans for startups loans, you can see how each business loan stacks up against other business loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.
| Type | Typical loan amounts | Typical term lengths | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business line of credit | $1,000 to $250,000 | 6 to 24 months | Ongoing or unpredictable expenses |
| Short-term loan | $5,000 to $500,000 | 3 to 24 months | One-time purchases or urgent needs |
| Merchant cash advance | $5,000 to $500,000 | 3 to 18 months | Businesses with steady card sales |
| Invoice factoring | Varies by unpaid invoices | 30 to 90 days | Businesses waiting on client payments |
A HELOC can fund a business with flexible, low-cost credit — but it puts your home on the line.
Compare top fintech working capital lenders by loan amount, term and APR before you apply.
Compare the best commercial real estate loans for buying, refinancing or renovating business property.
Compare the best franchise financing options, from SBA lenders to marketplaces and retirement-fund financing.
Taycor Financial offers equipment, term and working capital loans but keeps pricing off its website.
Compare top lenders offering working capital, equipment financing and microloans for plumbing businesses in 2026.
Compare food truck financing options, from 0% microloans to fast term loans, and find the right fit for your mobile kitchen.
Bank of America offers secured and unsecured business loans and lines of credit for established small businesses.
Compare the best HVAC business loans for equipment, SBA funding, working capital and seasonal cash flow gaps.
Compare the best business cash flow loans in 2023.