Online business loans come in many forms and may be easier to qualify for than a bank or credit union loan. Online lenders often offer streamlined applications, relaxed eligibility requirements and a quick turnaround. This means less paperwork for you and funds in as little as 24 to 72 hours. Rates on online business loans vary widely, so be sure to compare lenders to find the best deal.
35+ business loan lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts
12+ types of business loans analyzed
Evaluated under our unbiased rating system covering 10+ categories
20+ years of combined experience covering financial topics
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Methodology: How we chose these lenders
Our lending experts analyze dozens of business loan providers to narrow down the best options for business owners. We weigh lenders against 12 key metrics:
Application process
Credit score minimums
Customer service reviews
Eligibility requirements
Extra features
Fees
Funding turnaround times
Lender reputation
Minimum and maximum loan amounts
Products offered
Rates
Willingness to work with risky industries
We also search for lenders that cater to a range of needs, including those that work with bad credit, newer businesses and high-risk industries.
How to compare online business loans
Here are the top things to keep in mind when comparing online business loans:
APRs. These vary wildly by loan type — anywhere from 6% to 80%+ APR — and largely depend on your creditworthiness, income and time in business. Compare multiple quotes on the same loan type to make sure you’re paying a reasonable APR.
Origination fees. Depending on the lender and your credit profile, you may be on the hook for origination fees from 0.05% to 10% on your loan. However, not all lenders charge these, and you may not have to pay them if you have good to excellent credit.
Additional fees. Ask about any additional fees you may be responsible for, including prepayment penalties, late fees and ongoing administrative fees.
Repayment terms. Each loan has its own repayment schedule. A term loan might have monthly repayments, while a merchant cash advance might require weekly or even daily repayments. Make sure you understand how your loan’s repayments work.
Customer support options. Navigating the world of business loans can be confusing. If you’re a new borrower, consider a lender that offers personalized support. You may find loans you didn’t know about that may work better for your situation.
Digital experience. Most online lenders offer a fast, streamlined digital application, but you may also want to look into whether the lender has a mobile app to help manage your loan and repayments.
Customer reviews. Customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website can give you good insights into how other customers fared with a particular lender.
What is an online business loan and how does it work?
An online business loan is financing offered by lenders that operate primarily through digital platforms rather than brick-and-mortar branches. Online lenders rely on technology to process and underwrite your loan. They typically offer streamlined, low-doc applications, where you apply online, submit basic information about your business and finances and often link your bank account for review.
Approval decisions happen quickly — sometimes within hours — with funding arriving in a few business days. You may even be able to find some lenders that offer funding the same day you apply if you qualify.
Online business loans can come as a lump-sum term loan or a revolving line of credit. With a term loan, you receive a fixed amount upfront and repay it over a set schedule. A line of credit allows you to draw funds as needed and pay interest or fees only on what you use. Rates, repayment terms and eligibility requirements vary widely, so comparing offers is key before accepting financing.
Pros and cons of online business loans
Here are some of the top pros and cons of getting an online business loan:
Pros
Multiple loan options available
Wide range of loan amounts
Less stringent eligibility requirements
Streamlined application processes
Often prequalify with soft credit check
Faster approval and funding
Personalized support
Cons
Potentially high APRs and origination fees
May be more expensive than bank or credit union loans
May be the target of scammers online
May receive marketing calls after applying
Compare other online business loans
Want to see how other online business loans stack up against those on our list? Check out the options below to find out.
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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.
Term loans and lines of credit are popular types of financing. But other options may be better for your business, especially if you’re a new business owner or have a lower credit score.
Each lender may offer different minimum or maximum loan amounts and terms. In the following chart, we break down a general idea of what you can expect with each loan type.
Type
Typical loan amounts
Typical term lengths
Best for
Short-term loan
$2,500 to $500,000
1 to 2 years
Businesses looking for working capital
Long-term loan
$10,000 to $2,000,000
2 to 10 years
Businesses looking for working capital
Business line of credit
$1,000 to $500,000
1 to 2 years
Businesses needing a flexible source of funding
Business cash advance
$5,000 to $2,000,000
Up to 2 years
Newer businesses and those with a lower credit score
Accounts receivable financing
Tied to receivables
Up to 1 year
Newer businesses and those with a lower credit score
SBA loan
Up to $5,000,000
10 to 30 years
Businesses looking for working capital
Startup loan
Up to $150,000
30 days to 5 years
New businesses
Equipment financing
$5,000 to $5,000,000
1 to 5 years
Businesses that need equipment and don’t want to tie up cash and other loans
Short-term vs. long-term business loans
Long-term business loans tend to offer higher loan amounts with a longer repayment period and potentially lower APRs than short-term loans. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
Short term loan
Long term loan
Typical loan amount
$2,500 to $500,000
$10,000 to $2,000,000
Term length
1 to 2 years
2 to 10 years
Interest rate
8% to 36% APR
As low as 6% APR
How to qualify for online business loans
Online lenders typically have more flexible requirements than traditional banks, but you’ll still need to meet basic eligibility standards. Exact criteria vary by lender and loan type, but most look at the following:
Time in business. Many online lenders require at least three to 12 months in operation.
Minimum revenue. You’ll need to earn consistent monthly or annual revenue that meets the lender’s threshold.
Personal credit score. Some lenders accept scores in the mid-500s, while others require 600 or higher.
Business bank account. Most lenders require an active business checking account to review cash flow.
Legal business status. Your business must be registered and operating in an eligible industry and state.
Personal guarantee. Many online lenders require the owner to personally guarantee the loan.
How to apply for an online business loan
Applying for an online business loan typically follows these five steps:
Determine the financing you need. Online business loans come in many flavors. Choosing the right option ensures that you have enough cash, in the right form, when you need it. Talk to a loan officer if you have any questions.
Check your eligibility. This step involves checking your personal and business credit scores, tallying your revenue, verifying your time in business and determining if you have any collateral to pledge if you choose a secured loan.
Gather your documentation. Required documents typically include bank statements, tax returns, financial statements and other documents. You may also need to provide a business plan and personal guarantee for some loans.
Complete the application. Fill out the full application, upload documents or link your financial accounts and review the application for accuracy.
Wait for approval and funding. Next, you need to wait for approval and funding. Online lenders tend to have fast approval and funding times, which means you could have cash in a few business days or even sooner.
How to prequalify for a business loan
Prequalification involves answering a series of questions about yourself and your business to determine your eligibility before you formally apply for a loan.
Here are the general steps:
Visit the lender’s website and fill out the prequalification form.
Provide information about yourself and your business.
View your loan options and compare offers.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options based on your prequalification offers, you can formally apply for a loan with the lender of your choice.
What should I do if I was denied a business loan?
If you’ve been denied a business loan, here are three steps you can take to potentially correct the situation:
Ask the lender why they said no. Call the lender to discuss your application and ask for the specific reasons your application was rejected. You may be able to correct the problems and resubmit your application.
Take corrective action. Once you know the reasons for the rejection, you may be able to rectify the situation. For example, there may have been missing or inaccurate information on your application or your financials or credit score could have been stronger before you applied.
Prepare a new application. When you’re in a position to reapply, you can try for the same loan with the same lender or consider an alternative form of financing that you’re more likely to get approved for.
It’s often easier to get approved for a secured loan backed by business assets. You could also apply for a personal loan instead.
Alternatives to online business loans
Not ready to take out a business loan? Consider these alternatives:
Personal loan. You may be able to use a personal loan for business expenses. Personal loans aren’t based on your business financials or time in business, making them ideal for new business owners.
Business credit card. For small cash flow needs, consider a business credit card. Not only can they help build your business credit score, you can earn perks like points or cash back on your business expenses.
Grants. For free funding, consider a business grant. These are available through federal and state government agencies, as well as private corporations. But they’re competitive and funding can take months.
Investor financing. For those in innovative industries, money from an angel investor can give you the cash you need to get your business idea off the ground — but you give up equity in your company in return.
Crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is not only a popular marketing tool — it’s a great way to judge interest in your product or service and gain potential customers while you drum up funding for your business.
Frequently asked questions
Most lenders won't approve a loan using only your EIN, especially if your business is new or doesn't have strong business credit. While some lenders offer EIN-only business loans, they typically require established business credit, strong revenue and time in business. Learn more in our guide to business loans with EIN only.
Yes. Online businesses can qualify for business loans as long as they meet a lender's requirements for revenue, time in business and credit. Some lenders may ask for additional documentation — such as bank statements or payment processor records — to verify online sales.
Merchant cash advances and short-term online loans are typically the easiest business financing options to qualify for. These lenders often accept lower credit scores and shorter time in business, but the tradeoff is usually higher costs and more frequent repayments.
The monthly payment on a $50,000 business loan depends on the interest rate and repayment term. For example, a $50,000 loan at 10% APR repaid over seven years would cost about $830 per month, while the same loan over three years would be closer to $1,615 per month — nearly twice as much.
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.
Kat Aoki was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. She’s written thousands of articles to help consumers make better decisions on their home loans, bank accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency and more. Kat is well versed in working with leading brands in the real estate, mortgage and personal finance industries, and her expertise has been featured on Lifewire and financial comparison sites like iSelect and realestate.com.au. She holds a BS in business administration from California State University, Sacramento and enjoys hiking and yoga in her spare time.
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Christi Gorbett is a freelance writer with more than eight years of experience and a master's degree in English. She’s created a wide range of content for banks, financial product comparison sites, and marketing companies on topics like small business loans, credit cards, mortgages, retirement planning, lender reviews, and more.
As a former teacher, Christi excels at making complex financial topics accessible and easy to understand. Her interest in finance grew when she returned to the U.S. after living in South Korea for nearly a decade.
This shift was driven by several personal financial challenges: rebuilding her financial base after the move home, starting her own business, and catching up on retirement savings. These experiences deepened Christi’s practical understanding of finance and intensified her interest in the field.
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How to choose the best dental practice loan for your business and the different loan types to consider.
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