Running a business comes with enough expenses — your loan shouldn’t add more than it needs to. Low-interest loans can help you keep payments manageable and save money over time, whether you’re expanding, covering day-to-day costs or investing in new equipment.
We’ve rounded up 10 of the best low-interest business loans of 2026 to help you find affordable financing that fits your goals.
10 best low-interest business loans
Read about how each of our best low-interest business loans works before you apply.
Best overall: Lendio
Best microloan: Kiva
Best loan marketplace: Lendzi
Best for equipment loans: Triton Capital
Best line of credit: Advance Funds Network
Best SBA loans: TD Bank
Best working capital loan: BHG Financial
Best CDFI loan: Accion Opportunity Fund
Best unsecured bank loan: Bank of America
Best personal loan for business: Upgrade
Methodology: How we chose these lenders
Our lending experts analyze dozens of business loan providers to narrow down the best options with the lowest rates. We weigh lenders against these key metrics:
Interest rates
Fees
Rate discounts
Application process
Credit score minimums
Revenue requirements
Other eligibility requirements
Minimum and maximum loan amounts
Products offered
Funding turnaround times
Customer service reviews
Lender reputation
More ways to compare business loans
While the interest rate is a key factor in your loan’s cost, it’s not the only thing you should consider when choosing a business loan. The following factors can also help you find financing that’s a good fit for your business.
Loan amount. Available loan amounts are key to comparing lenders. Look for providers that offer the amount you need and avoid over-borrowing.
Repayment term. Loan terms tell you how long you have to pay off the loan, which determines your monthly payment. A longer term gives you a lower payment but a higher total cost, while a shorter term saves interest but with a larger monthly payment.
Monthly payments. Monthly payments are determined by how much you borrow, your interest rate and how long you take to repay. Finding a monthly payment you can afford is important to avoid defaulting on a loan.
Fees. Loan origination fees are a percentage of your loan that the lender either deducts or adds to the balance at closing. These fees can affect how much funding you receive and should factor into the amount you apply for. Other fees to look for include prepayment penalties, maintenance fees, draw fees and charges for late payments.
Qualifications. Minimum requirements for credit score, revenue and time in business tell you where the lender isn’t willing to budge. For the best rates, look for a lender with requirements you comfortably meet.
Customer feedback. Customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau tell you what you can expect from customer service and alert you to any red flags to watch for.
7 types of lenders that offer low-interest business loans
The cheapest business loans typically come from banks, credit unions, nonprofits and government-backed lenders. While these options often have stricter requirements, they can save you significantly compared to higher-cost alternatives.
1. SBA lenders
SBA lenders offer government-backed loans with interest rate caps set by the SBA. Most programs require at least three years in business and good credit, but some, like SBA Community Advantage and microloans, work with startups and borrowers with bad credit.
2. Large national banks
Banks like Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo offer the lowest rates but have strict requirements. They typically want credit scores above 670, established business history and shy away from high-risk industries like construction.
3. Regional and community banks
Regional and community banks offer competitive rates with more flexibility than national banks. They understand local business needs and may be more lenient on credit scores and time in business.
4. CDFIs
Community development financial institutions, or CDFIs, are nonprofit lenders serving businesses that can’t qualify for SBA or bank loans. Rates are higher than those offered by banks but still relatively affordable for their target borrowers.
5. Microlenders
Microlenders are nonprofits offering small-dollar loans to entrepreneurs and startups. While rates often exceed 12% APR, they’re significantly cheaper than alternatives like merchant cash advances (which can hit 60% APR).
6. Credit unions
Credit unions that offer business loans typically have rates similar to those of regional banks. You’ll need to become a member to qualify, and not all credit unions offer business lending.
7. Online lenders
Some online lenders offer competitive rates thanks to lower overhead costs. Online marketplaces also let you compare multiple lenders quickly to find the best rate for your situation.
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How we picked these
What is the Finder Score?
The 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.
Consider a personal loan for low-cost startup financing
What is considered low interest on a business loan?
A business loan with 3% to 10% interest is considered low compared to the average interest rates of a business loan, but most lenders show APR instead, which includes fees. Since business loans typically charge 1% to 5% origination fees, APRs of 6% to 15% are considered low. For context, some online short-term loans can hit 100% APR or higher.
Keep in mind that rates fluctuate with Federal Reserve policy. When the Fed raises or lowers rates, your borrowing costs change too, so watch economic news if you’re planning to borrow soon.
How to qualify for a low-interest business loan
You typically need to meet the following requirements to qualify for a cheap business loan:
At least three years in business
Good credit score of at least 670
Profitable business with regular revenue
Low debt obligations compared to revenue
Low-risk industry
While requirements generally depend on the lender and type of loan, the lowest rates tend to go to these types of businesses.
However, each lender has its own underwriting criteria. That’s why comparing offers from multiple providers can help you find the lowest interest rates available to you.
Is it possible to get a 0% interest business loan?
Getting 0% interest funding for your business is highly unlikely through any form of traditional business financing. However, there are less traditional forms of business funding that may offer a shot at 0% interest.
For example, Kiva, which made our list, is a community-based lending platform that lets you crowdsource funds from family, friends and a greater community of lenders. Its website says you can get up to $15,000 with 0% interest. You may also get funding from grants and other non-profits that offer funding with no interest.
Low-cost alternatives to business loans
Loans aren’t always the best way to finance your business. You may want to consider these alternatives before you apply.
Grants. Business grants offer funds that your business doesn’t have to repay, usually up to around $15,000. However, grants are mostly available to nonprofits and can be highly competitive.
Credit cards. Business credit cards offer revolving financing better suited for day-to-day expenses than a loan — like office supplies and marketing costs. You won’t pay interest if you can pay the balance in full each month, and you can earn cash back, travel points or other rewards.
Personal loans. A personal loan can be a good choice if you need seed funding to start a new business. But a personal loan to fund a business comes with some risk: You’ll still be responsible for payments even if your business shuts down.
Recap: These lenders offer the best low-interest business loans
The best loan option for your small business depends on your needs and qualifications. If you're looking for low rates and have strong finances, an SBA or bank loan might be your best bet, while online lenders offer faster, more flexible options for businesses with less-than-perfect credit.
SBA loan rates are determined by a combination of the prime rate, which is set by the Federal Reserve, and a lender's markup based on factors like the loan amount and repayment term. Borrower qualifications, such as credit score and business financials, can also affect the final rate offered. The SBA sets maximum limits on how much lenders can add to the prime rate, ensuring rates stay competitive.
A good rate for a business loan is one that's close to the prime rate, which is 6.75% as of January 2026. The prime rate is the baseline that banks use for their most creditworthy borrowers, so the closer your rate is to the prime rate, the better the deal.
However, the best rates are typically reserved for businesses with strong credit, solid financials and a proven track record, so not everyone will qualify. To find the best rate possible for your business, compare quotes from multiple lenders and consider other factors like fees and terms.
While it is possible to get a business loan if you have bad credit, you typically won't qualify for a competitive interest rate. To get a lower rate, consider putting up collateral, like real estate or equipment, to secure your loan and offset the lender's risk.
Top 10 best business guides
Explore the top business loan guides to help you along your business journey. From information on the best business loans on the market or your best startup loan options, to business loans that require little to no paperwork and more.
Lacey Stark is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder, specializing
in banking, loans, investing, estate planning, and more. She has 20
years of experience writing and editing for magazines, newspapers, and
online publications. A word nerd from childhood, Lacey officially got her
start reporting on live sporting events and moved on to cover topics
such as construction, technology, and travel before finding her niche in
personal finance. Originally from New England, she received her
bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and completed a
postgraduate journalism program at Metropolitan State University also
in Denver. She currently lives in Chicagoland with her dog Chunk and
likes to read and play golf.
See full bio
Lacey Stark is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder, specializing
in banking, loans, investing, estate planning, and more. She has 20
years of experience writing and editing for magazines, newspapers, and
online publications. A word nerd from childhood, Lacey officially got her
start reporting on live sporting events and moved on to cover topics
such as construction, technology, and travel before finding her niche in
personal finance. Originally from New England, she received her
bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and completed a
postgraduate journalism program at Metropolitan State University also
in Denver. She currently lives in Chicagoland with her dog Chunk and
likes to read and play golf.
See full bio
Several different types of financing can help you buy an existing business. Find out how to get a loan and discover 10 other ways to finance the purchase.
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