Fundera business loans
Get connected with short-term funding, SBA loans, lines of credit and more.
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Women-owned businesses account for nearly 40% of all US enterprises and employ almost 13 million workers, according to the Wells Fargo The Impact of Women-Owned Businesses 2025 report. While men still own a larger share, women are continuing to make an even bigger impact and contributed over $3.3 trillion in annual revenue, a dramatic gain of more than 53% over revenues from 2019 to 2024.
Thus, women make up a sizable percentage of owners seeking business financing. And while women-owned businesses have the same lending opportunities as men, some financing programs are geared more toward this still-underrepresented segment of the small business population.
To help, we’ve gathered some of the best opportunities for small business loans for women to help you compare.
Our lending experts analyze dozens of business loan providers to narrow down the best options for women-owned businesses. We weigh lenders against these key metrics:
We also search for lenders that cater to a range of needs, including those that work with bad credit and newer business owners.
Whether you’re a woman business owner or not, there are some key factors you’ll want to consider when comparing loan options.
Finding the right loan is key to getting funding that fits your business’s needs. These types of business loans work with a variety of small women-owned businesses, although very few have specific programs for women entrepreneurs.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of loans and loan programs. While they are typically available through traditional banks and credit unions, many online lenders also offer SBA loans.
The most common SBA loan programs are 7(a) loans, Express Loans, 504 loans and microloans. But to qualify, you need strong personal credit and to meet other SBA requirements. In most cases, expect a long application process that can take weeks or months.
"SBA (lenders) can be a strong partner for women business owners who might not qualify for traditional bank lending, want longer repayment terms or need flexibility on collateral. Working with an SBA (lender) can also mean working with experienced local lenders, not directly with federal agencies, which simplifies the borrowing process."
If you’re interested in an SBA loan, check our list of SBA resources to make funding your business easier. The SBA also has a list of resources regarding training and funding opportunities specifically for women.
Microloans are small-dollar loans with some of the lowest rates available to small business owners. Most microlenders are community development financial institutions (CDFIs) or other nonprofits. Some, like Grameen America, have programs tailored to women-owned businesses and are willing to work with people with bad credit or no credit at all.
As the name implies, microloans are usually under $50,000. Good for covering small initial costs, like purchasing inventory or office equipment. To get the most out of your microlender, look for one that offers mentorship programs to women business owners.
Online lenders offer a broad range of options, including term loans, lines of credit and equipment loans. They can be a quick and easy way to get financing for any business owner.
And while algorithms aren’t free of bias, a Federal Reserve study suggests that online lenders are reaching more groups, like minorities and women, who tend to be underserved by traditional lenders. The study also found that these groups are also more likely to apply with online lenders.
As with most options, there aren’t specific loans for women. Provided your business qualifies, you may be eligible for funding.
Short-term business loans include merchant cash advances, invoice factoring or financing and small-term loans. These are designed for businesses that need to cover gaps in cash flow and usually use credit card payments or invoices as collateral.
There are rarely short-term loans intended specifically for women business owners. Provided you meet the minimum requirements set by a lender, you could receive quick financing for your business. Just be aware of the high cost of short-term lending and repayment terms.
For women with newer businesses, startup financing can mean the difference between getting off the ground and closing down. But many so-called “startup loans” may require at least six months in business and an annual revenue of $50,000 or more. If you don’t meet those requirements, you might want to consider microloans or some of the alternatives we review.
Businesses that deal in large amounts of inventory — especially e-commerce businesses — can receive special financing to buy inventory from wholesalers and manufacturers. This can help you meet demand without dipping into your cash flow. And interest rates tend to be competitive since the lender will typically use the inventory as collateral for the loan.
When you need a specific piece of equipment, lenders often have financing secured by the equipment you’re purchasing. Equipment loans have one of the highest approval rates compared to other types of business loans, since the collateral is built into the financing.
Established women-owned businesses have options beyond microloans and online lenders:
While requirements vary widely between lenders, most require your business to meet these three criteria at a minimum:
If you don’t meet these requirements, you still have options. You might want to look into microlenders, CDFIs and online lenders. Your company doesn’t need to be majority-owned by a woman to apply for a business loan designed with women entrepreneurs in mind.
Just like any business loan, you will need to follow a few basic steps to apply:
The exact process depends on the type of loan and the lender. While these generalized steps are common for most loans, you’ll need to contact your lender to ensure you have the information it needs to keep the application process quick.
Different lenders require different documentation, but you’ll typically need basic information to apply across the board. Here’s a breakdown of what you might be asked to submit when applying:
Key organizations and programs for women entrepreneurs:
Some require membership and annual dues but offer training, merchant discounts, SBA loan help, incubator funding and Woman-Owned Small Business certification.
Industry-specific organizations also exist (NAWIC for construction, NAWRB for real estate). Check minority-owned business funding options for additional grant opportunities and specialized programs.
Certifying your business as majority-owned by women is an important step to securing federal contracts. To get certified as a WOSB or an Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), determine if your business is eligible. Your business must have one or more women who claim at least 51% ownership.
The SBA has a number of FAQs, forms and support documents to help you complete the process.
As of October 2020, self-certification is no longer available. If you previously self-certified, you must recertify through an approved third-party certifier once your federal contracts are finished.
The federal law eliminated state laws that required women to have a male relative or husband cosign business loans, established the Women’s Business Center to offer entrepreneurial support to women and required the US census to include women-owned corporations when collecting data.
As of 2024, Women-owned businesses constitute nearly 40% of all US enterprises.
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