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6 Popular No Credit Check Business Loans

5 Popular No Credit Check Business Loans
Lauren Ward
Lauren WardUpdated February 23, 2023
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Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive direct compensation from advertisers or partners. Read more about our Editorial Guidelines and How We Make Money.
Here’s the conundrum. Building a business often requires financing. But it can be hard to get approved with a credit score that’s low or that hasn’t been established yet.As one solution to this problem, some lenders offer no credit check business loans to give you the boost you need. Each lender has its own requirements, which may include things like minimum revenue, time in business, and collateral.Below we highlight six small business loans that you may be able to get with no credit or bad credit.

Can You Get a Small Business Loan With Bad Credit?

When evaluating applications, lenders often consider both a business's credit score and the personal credit score of the owner. If either of these is low in your case, it can hurt your chances of getting approved for a loan or can result in higher rates if you are approved.Most credit agencies divide credit ratings between “poor,” “fair,” “good,” and “excellent.” The term “bad” is not officially used, but is often seen as interchangeable with “poor” and the lower end of “fair.”The different types of business loans usually require a minimum personal credit score of 670, which is in the “good” range. Online lenders that offer bad credit business loans have a lower threshold, often as low as 580, which is “poor” for some credit agencies and “fair” for others. Building business credit can help you qualify for better terms and larger loan amounts.As you get financing, considering these steps may help you work toward building a business credit score:
  • Make debt payments on time. 
  • Keep credit utilization low by avoiding maxed-out credit lines.
  • Grow revenue to offset existing debt

Can You Get a Business Loan With No Credit Check?

Banks and other traditional lenders that are willing to give loans to business owners want to be sure that the loan payments have a decent chance of being paid back. That means assessing the ability of an applicant for a loan to make those payments. How could a bank or other type of lending organization make such an assessment without even being able to look at the credit history of the business? The challenge is clear.That said, there are financing opportunities that small business owners can seek out if there is no credit check.

What Are the Types of Loans Available With No Credit Check?

If you’re looking for a small business loan no credit check or a loan with lower than usual credit requirements, below are some options you may want to explore, especially if you seek a start-up loan with bad credit. As with any type of financing, however, it’s important to compare rates and terms and vet any lender you’re thinking about working with.

1. PayPal Working Capital

PayPal Working Capital skips the credit check. Not only is credit not considered, you also don’t have to worry about an inquiry added to your credit report. In order to qualify, however, you do need consistent sales through PayPal. Payments are automatically deducted from your sales, and you get to set the rate at which they’re deducted. The minimum repayment term is 5% to 10% of sales every 90 days.Rather than accruing ongoing interest, you’re instead charged a transparent flat fee, so you know exactly how much the financing will cost you. Loan amounts are based on revenue through your PayPal account. There’s no application or personal guarantee, and if approved, you’ll receive funding within minutes

2. American Express Business Loan

The business loan program from American Express offers a streamlined application process for preapproved American Express Business Card members. So while there’s a soft credit check involved and considered as part of the process, it’s an easier application than starting a cold relationship with a bank you’ve never worked with before. Here’s how it works:
  • You can apply if you’ve already had a business credit card with American Express for at least one year
  • Your credit won’t be impacted by applying, but American Express may deny applications based upon creditworthiness and other factors
  • Loans start from $3,500 and go up to $75,000
  • The repayment term could be between six months and 36 months, with rates ranging from 6.98% to 19.97% APR

3. FundBox

FundBox offers a business line of credit. There is a credit check involved, but the minimum personal credit score is just 600. The business must be at least six months old and have at least $100,000 in annual revenue.FundBox’s application process is unique and places a greater emphasis on revenue than is typical. When you apply, you’ll link your business bank account as well as your accounting software for FundBox to review. A decision is typically made within minutes.Then you’re ready to make withdrawals from your line of credit as your business needs the funds. You’ll see the fee you’re going to be charged before you make the withdrawal. Borrowers have a variety of flexible repayment options.

4. FundThrough

FundThrough offers invoice factoring and does not require a credit check. Small business invoice factoring differs from a traditional business loan in that it provides you with an upfront payment of your uncollected invoices from customers.Invoices must be less than 90 days old to be eligible for funding on FundThrough’s platform. FundThrough can fund your outstanding invoices within one business day and may offer unlimited funding based upon the size of your invoices.FundThrough determines a funding limit based upon your business banking account and cash flow. You can get paid the invoice amount minus a 2.5% monthly fee, or you can make repayments in 12 weekly installments with a 0.5% weekly fee.

5. Square Capital

Square Capital offers no credit check business loans for companies that use Square for their daily card sales. Approval is based on those card sales, with loan amounts starting as low as $300 and maxing out at $250,000. Instead of interest, borrowers pay a flat fee. Payments are made as a percentage of your daily card sales, so you’re not overextended during slower periods. A minimum payment must be met every 60 days.Eligibility for a Square small business loan is based on a variety of factors, including your company’s payment processing volume, account history, and payment frequency. Square Capital boasts near-instant approval decisions and no impact to your credit score. There’s also no personal guarantee attached to the loan.

6. Shopify Capital

Shopify Capital offers loans and merchant cash advances to eligible Shopify merchants in the United States. Eligible Shopify merchants can use these loans and merchant cash advances to finance business needs and cover unexpected expenses, among other business purposes.Not all Shopify merchants are eligible for Shopify Capital funding. Those eligible for a Shopify Capital loan or advance would receive an email or message notifying them of their eligibility. Only then would you be allowed to apply for Shopify Capital funding.Merchants who take a Shopify Capital loan or advance must pay fixed fees on the money borrowed. Shopify Capital takes a percentage of a merchant’s daily sales until the merchant repays the debt in full.

Comparing No Credit Check Business Loans

When deciding on financing, it’s important to compare the various options, looking at pros and cons. One option to explore in place of a loan is a business line of credit.

Other Sources of Funding for Small Businesses

There are plenty of small business loan alternatives that may work in place of a no credit business loan. Consider the alternatives below:

No Credit Check Personal Loans

No credit check personal loans can typically be used for almost anything.However, it’s important to note that personal loans generally cannot be used for business purposes. Make sure you check for any restrictions against using a personal loan for business purposes before applying for one.

Payroll Loans

Payroll loans are designed to specifically fund employee paychecks in the event of a short-term cash flow issue. Approval and funding times are usually fast to cover last-minute gaps in capital. These loans are seen as a last resort by many, because they come with very high interest rates, such as 30%.

Equipment Financing

Equipment financing can help you get funding in place for machinery as well as things like office equipment. The actual assets are used as collateral, although you may also need to offer a personal guarantee.

Merchant Cash Advances

A merchant cash advance is based on future sales through your point-of-sale system, also known as your POS system. You can borrow a lump sum, then pay back the loan using a percentage of your daily sales.

Traditional Small Business Loans

It is not impossible to get a traditional loan with no credit check, but expect the lender to demand collateral or offer high interest rates. There will be limited options.Recommended: Loaning Money to Your Own LLC

Compare Small Business Loans

Not having a good credit score will make it challenging to get a small business loan, but you might be able to find one or alternative forms of financing. No credit check loans may be a viable way for you to get the funds you need, though they typically come with higher interest rates and fees than loans that require good credit.Ready to take your small business financing into your own hands? Evaluate loans with Lantern by SoFi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a business loan if you have no credit?
Do small business loans require a credit check?
Can I get a business loan with a 500 credit score?
Can you get a business loan with your EIN number?
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About the Author

Lauren Ward

Lauren Ward

Lauren Ward is a personal finance expert with nearly a decade of experience writing online content. Her work has appeared on websites such as MSN, Time, and Bankrate. Lauren writes on a variety of personal finance topics for SoFi, including credit and banking.
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