Customer small business financing solutions delivered through a single, online application.
Loan Types
Free access to multiple funding solutions
See funding solutions from 75+ nationwide lenders with a single application.
Innovative dashboard, business insights and custom invoicing - all through your Lendio account.
Explore Lendio's software solutions
Free, Simple small business accounting software
Simple tools to send invoices, track expenses and manage your business finances.
Apply for financing, use free bookkeeping tools, send invoices, and more with a single Lendio account.
As a small business owner, when you think about obtaining financing, an SBA loan is usually one of the first options that comes to mind. While in many financial situations these loans are just the ticket, an SBA loan is not a perfect fit for every small business. SBA loans are a viable option for businesses without a lot of established credit and they often offer lower monthly payments, but they may come with higher interest rates and require more paperwork than other loans. Here are the important details you need to know before you consider applying for one:
Pros:
Cons:
Even if your business does qualify for an SBA loan, consider all of your funding options before you apply. There are several specialty and general business loan types, and chances are, you will qualify for multiple financing options. The challenge then is in choosing the option for funding that best fits your business’s needs. Here are a few of the choices and the most important points to consider as you weigh the options:
Business Credit Cards: They’re exactly what you think they are. They’re just like regular credit cards but for business expenses.
Uses:
Business Lines of Credit:
In many ways, a line of credit is similar to a credit card, but there are some key differences. Lines of credit are much more flexible than credit cards, especially with cash withdrawals. There are also secured and unsecured lines of credit.
Equipment Loans:
As you can imagine, this form of funding is used to obtain equipment for a business. Whether it’s a pizza oven for your restaurant, a tractor for your farm or a 3D printer for your cutting-edge start-up, an equipment loan can help you get it.
Merchant Cash Advance:
Cash advances are generally given to merchants based on credit card sales. Essentially, the lender providing the cash advance is purchasing future credit card sales.
This list is more of a highlight reel than an exhaustive encyclopedia of loan types, but you can see there are many options for small business funding outside of an SBA loan. If your bank is unable to get you the financing you need, don’t sweat it. Generally, a local bank is only proficient in a small handful of these loan types; getting your loan application denied by a bank is far from the end of the line for your business. Online lending marketplaces, such as Lendio, work with a wide variety of lenders and loan types to help you get the funding that suits your specific needs. While an SBA loan is a valuable resource for many small businesses, it is not a one-size-fits-all loan product. Before you apply, assess your needs, do your research and weigh all of the options to determine which type of loan or line of credit will help you build and grow a successful business.
SHARE
Lendio's team of experts is here to help you with every nook and cranny of your business. We'll make sure you have the best advice for financing, operations, management, hiring, and much more.
Blog
7 min read • Aug 17, 2022