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FranFund 401(k) business funding review
Get access to your retirement funds in just 10 days to finance your startup.
- Best for entrepreneurs looking to rollover funds fast — it can take just 10 days with FranFund.
- Pick something else if you want to find out what rates you prequalify for without a hard credit check.
Details
| APR | N/A |
|---|---|
| Requirements | $50,000+ in a rollable, pretax retirement account; structured as a C corporation that’s operational; owner of the retirement funds is an active employee |
First, do I qualify?
To qualify for 401(k) financing with FranFund, you need to meet requirements that are typical of any ROBS plan.
- At least $50,000 in a rollable, pre-tax retirement account — like an IRA, 401(k) or 403(b)
- Structured as a C corporation that’s operational
- Owner of the retirement funds is an active employee of the business
What makes FranFund unique?
What sets FranFund apart from the crowd is its SafetyNet Program, which moves your money to a new IRA earlier in the process — for free. While typical ROBS plans take 10 to 20 days to rollover your funds, FranFund can finish the process in just 10 days.
You're assigned a dedicated associate who works with you to make sure the administration of your plan goes smoothly and meets the guidelines of the IRS and Department of Labor (DOL) in case of an audit.
It also helps you set up your company’s organizational documents, establish a C corporation, open your new retirement plan and more. And it offers special pricing for veterans.
Pros
- Funds may be available within 10 days — faster than other lenders out there
- Can help you use your newly rolled over funds to apply for an SBA loan
- Guaranteed protection in case of an audit of the rollover
- Discounted setup costs for veterans
Cons
- Must have at least $50,000 in a qualifying retirement plan
- Ongoing costs may not be a good fit for every business type
- C corporation is required
Compare other business loan options
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How do I apply?
While you can't directly apply for the FranFund 401(k) financing program through its website, you can schedule a consultation by filling out its Funding assessment form. Follow these steps to get started:
- Go to the FranFund website. Click Get started.
- Enter your personal information, including marital status, date of birth and if you are a US citizen.
- Fill out your business information, including who referred you, whether you own a business, an estimate of the funding amount you need and information about you and your spouse's employment.
- Provide financial information, including the totals of your cash accounts, investments, retirement funds, mortgages and revolving credit lines.
- Review the information and click Submit.
What documents do I need to apply?
While you won't need to provide verification documents to request a consultation, you should have the following on hand so that you can give FranFund accurate information to work off of:
- Personal credit score
- Checking and savings statements
- Retirement fund statements
- Current statements for all investments
- Mortgage document and the current fair market value of your house
- Statements for any open credit lines
If you’re not sure a ROBS is for you, compare more options with our guide to business loans.
Review by
Kathryn Pomroy
kathryn.pomroy@findercrew.comKathryn Pomroy was a writer for Finder, specializing in loans. She has written for dozens of major publications, small businesses and many well-known personal finance companies, including LendingTree, Money Crashers, Quickbooks/Intuit, BankRate, LendEDU and more. Kathryn holds a BA in Journalism and drinks super bold coffee while eating peanut butter and honey toast.
Expert review
FranFund offers a Rollovers for Business Startups (ROBS) plan that lets you use qualifying retirement funds to start your business with no debt. It offers a discount on its setup fee for veterans — but even if you don’t qualify, its cost is comparable to similar services.
Its SafetyNet program, which allows you to rollover your funds in as little as 10 days, and its SBA loan tie-in option set FranFund apart from the crowd. Still, if you want the lowest possible rates for setup and maintenance or extended guarantees, FranFund may not be the best fit for your business.
Not sure it’s right for you? Explore other business loan options before you apply.