Small business loans for women

Faster, easier small business financing with one simple application—no bank needed.

Applying is free and won’t impact your credit.

Reviews from women business owners.

Heather H

FEBRUARY 21, 2023


It was easy to get a loan through…

It was easy to get a loan through Lendio. I went to 5 other banks before Lendio. They have been nothing but helpful, they respond quickly, and very knowledgeable about what type of loans are available. Thank you for helping me with my business. Y’all have made my life easier so thank you again.

Victoria M

MARCH 09, 2023


Great communication

Great communication, easy process and even with my low credit score my agent find me a lender and I was able to get funding and solve some of my business situation! Thanks so much!

Dinah L

FEBRUARY 13, 2023


An A+ Experience

I had an awesome experience. The entire process took about 3 days and they actually approved me for exactly what I needed to help my business expand. Everyone was helpful and thorough. I would do it again!

Closing the lending gap.

The gender gap in business funding is real. Women-owned businesses are less likely to receive business credit. When they do, their average loan size is 33% smaller than that of men-owned businesses. At Lendio, we’re dedicated to closing this gap and providing equal access to business financing for women business owners, with an online application that connects you to a marketplace of lenders.

Since partnering with Kiva in 2016, Lendio has focused on helping the underdog. Lendio currently sits at 68,071 total loans funded all-time, representing $1,787,795 in total funding. We are proud to report that 94% of our loans through Kiva are to women-owned businesses.

Why Lendio?

Quick & easy

Apply in just 15 minutes and get funded in as little as 24 hours

Your partner in business financing

Compare loan offers from our network of 75+ lenders.

Offers tailored to your business

Get personalized support throughout the funding process.

How our loan matching process works.

STEP
1

Fill out our simple application.

Answer just a few questions about your business to see which lending products you qualify for. We’ve partnered with over 75 lenders, allowing us to find the best option or your business.

STEP
2

We’ll connect you with a funding specialist.

One of our funding specialists will reach out to you to get to know your business better. Since every business is unique, we want to make sure we find the loan type that’s perfect for your needs.

STEP
3

Compare loan offers.

Compare different offers curated for your business. Select the capital amount and rate that will help take your business to the next level.

STEP
4

Get funded.

We work with lenders that can fund you fast. Once you’re approved, you’ll be able to access your capital in as little as 24 hours.

Types of business loans for women.

Term loan

A term loan offers a lump sum that is repaid with interest over a fixed term. Online term loans offer fast approval and funding times.

TERM LENGTH

6 months-10 years
MAX LOAN AMOUNT

$2 million

SBA loans for women

SBA loans for women are backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, which means they come with some pretty sweet perks like lower interest rates and longer repayment terms. The SBA offers several loan programs including 7(a), 504, and microloans.

TERM LENGTH

10-30 years
MAX LOAN AMOUNT

Up to $5 million

Business line of credit

A line of credit (LOC) is another type of financing women can qualify for. Instead of getting a lump sum, you can borrow from your credit line up to your limit—just like a credit card. Repay the funds to replenish the LOC and only pay interest on the outstanding balance. 

TERM LENGTH

6-24 months
MAX LOAN AMOUNT

Up to $250,000

Invoice factoring

With invoice factoring, instead of waiting for clients to pay invoices, a funder purchases an invoice from the borrower at a discounted rate.

TERM LENGTH

1-12 months
MAX LOAN AMOUNT

$50 million

Revenue-based financing

Revenue-based financing provides you with a lump sum based on expected future revenue that is repaid along with a factor rate.

TERM LENGTH

3-36 months
MAX LOAN AMOUNT

$2 million
Three Businesswomen standing together

Where to get business loans for women.

  1. SBA: The U.S. Small Business Administration is your friend here. They back loans specifically designed for small businesses. You’re getting lower interest rates and longer repayment terms. Look for an SBA lender to take advantage of this program.
  2. Online Lenders: There are loads of online lenders out there. They’re quick, they’re convenient, and they offer a range of loan options. Plus, you can apply from the comfort of your home.
  3. CDFIs: Nonprofit organizations like Accion and Grameen America offer microloans – small loans that can help you get started. They’re perfect if you’re just dipping your toes into the entrepreneurial world.
  4. Banks: Banks are one of those traditional go-to spots when you’re looking for a business loan. They’re reliable, they’ve got a solid reputation, and they often offer competitive rates.
  5. Women’s Business Centers: These centers, supported by the SBA, can guide you to potential funding sources. They’re also a great place to network and learn from other women entrepreneurs.

FAQs

There are loan programs designed for historically underserved communities including women and minorities. Community Advantage Small Business Lending Companies offer SBA 7(a) loans to underserved communities. Non-profit lenders also offer SBA microloans of up to $50,000. U.S. Bank offers a Business Diversity Lending Program that offers revised credit standards to businesses owned by minorities, women, or veterans. Other regional banks also have Diversity lending programs with relaxed credit criteria for smaller loan amounts.

  

Some of the advantages of getting a loan for your business through an online marketplace include:

  • A streamlined application process – It’s possible to apply for a business loan online and upload your supporting documents in just a few minutes.
  • More options to meet your unique needs – A marketplace is able to provide a host of options to meet the needs of a wide spread of credit profiles.
  • Faster funding – Some online business loans can be funded in as little as 24 hours.

 

The Small Business Administration doesn’t loan money directly to small businesses unless they’re eligible for disaster recovery, but it does help small businesses access funding by setting loan guidelines for small businesses and reducing lender risk. As a result, they can be one of the safest, easiest ways to access loans for women-owned small businesses.

What makes SBA loans so beneficial? They offer enviably lower rates, lower down-payment requirements, and larger borrowing allowances than private-sector lenders often offer, especially to newer or smaller businesses. And these benefits can help you to grow your credit and connect you, in the longer term, with other funding opportunities.

There’s an SBA loan option to cover just about every aspect of your woman-owned small business. Some of the most common SBA loans include the 7(a), 504, and SBA Express—but there are numerous others that may suit a particular need or aspect of your business.

SBA 7(a) loan

The SBA 7(a) standard is one of the most flexible SBA loans. You can use it to:

  • Buy land
  • Cover construction costs
  • Buy or expand an existing business
  • Refinance your existing debt
  • Buy machinery, furniture, supplies, or materials
SBA 504/CDC loan

SBA 504 loans can be a bit more complicated than 7(a)s,. Because you must use a 504 to fund a specific fixed asset, a thorough examination of your project costs will be required. When your loan is funded, the lender will initially cover 50% of your costs, and the SBA will cover 40%—this means that you’re responsible for covering at least 10% right off the bat. You’ll also be required to personally guarantee at least 20% of the loan.

You must use an SBA 504 loan to finance fixed assets, although some soft costs can also be included. Examples of qualifying projects include:

  • Buying an existing building
  • Building a new facility or renovating an existing facility
  • Buying land or making land improvements, such as grading, landscaping, and adding parking lots
  • Buying long-term machinery
  • Refinancing debt incurred through the expansion of your business or the renovation of your facilities or equipment
SBA export loans

Is your woman-owned small business considering exporting goods to other countries? This is often seen by U.S. lenders as a particularly risky option, and it can be harder to access funding as a result. 

Check out the SBA’s export finance offerings, which include export loans, export express loans, and export working capital loans.

SBA microloans

If you need a smaller amount of funding quickly to jumpstart your woman-owned small business, the SBA offers microloans—up to $50,000—for this exact purpose.

According to the SBA, microloans can be used for a wide range of purposes in order to rebuild, reopen, repair, enhance, or otherwise improve your small business, including:

  • Working capital
  • Inventory
  • Supplies
  • Furniture
  • Fixtures
  • Machinery
  • Equipment

An SBA microloan, however, cannot be used to purchase real estate or pay down debts.

SBA disaster loans

Hopefully, you’ll never need disaster loan assistance for your small business. However, if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we never know what lies ahead.

Types of SBA disaster loans include:

  • Physical damage loans to cover repairs and replacement of damaged physical assets
  • Mitigation assistance to cover small business operating expenses
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to provide economic relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have suffered damage to their home or personal property
  • Military reservist loans to help eligible small businesses with operating expenses to make up for employees on active duty leave

Whichever type of SBA loan fits best for your small business, make sure to consider your options today—and get help from Lendio.

Grants can be tough to get due to high competition, but don’t underestimate the abundance of options specifically designed for women entrepreneurs. Federal and state government agencies offer some grants; nonprofits and private business organizations offer others.

When it comes to finding grants to help fund your business, the best thing you can do is keep a broad horizon. Here are some of the grant options we’ve found for women entrepreneurs:

There are several government and nonprofit programs available to women.

  • The SBA provides counseling and training at its local Women’s Business Centers.
  • The Woman-Owned Small Business Federal contract program seeks to award government contracts to women-owned businesses in industries where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. A selection of those contracts are reserved for economically disadvantaged businesses.
  • Ascent is a free learning platform for women entrepreneurs provided by the SBA.
  • The National Association of Women Business Owners represents all female entrepreneurs across all industries with a focus on government advocacy. They also offer the NAWBO Institute, a free resource with articles and webinars.

With a woman-owned business certification, you’ll be eligible for the Woman-Owned Small Business Federal contract program which awards government contracts to woman-owned businesses.

Qualification requirements include:

  • Business is at least 51% woman-owned and operated
  • Business is for-profit
  • Business meets the definition of a small business
  • The business operates primarily in the United States

To qualify as an economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business you must meet the above-listed requirements and the following:

  • The owner’s personal net worth is less than $750,000
  • Adjusted gross income over three years of $350,000 or less
  • The fair market value of all assets of $6 million or less

To get certified, apply through the Small Business Administration.

8 out of 10 Lendio employees* or their families own a small business.

*based on 136 Lendio employees who responded to an internal poll

Quickly Compare Financing Options from Multiple Funders

Applying is free and won’t impact your credit

Talk to a rep at (855) 853-6346
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