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A working capital line of credit is a type of short-term financing that helps businesses cover their operating expenses, such as rent, payroll, or inventory. It is not intended for large, one-off expenses, like asset acquisitions or opening a new location. If your business has seasonal cycles or sometimes experiences gaps in cash flow, you might benefit from a working capital line of credit. Here’s a closer look at how these credit lines work, including their pros and cons, eligibility requirements, and how they compare to other loan products, such as a working capital loan.
What Is a Working Capital Line of Credit?
By definition, a working capital line of credit is a type of revolving credit that businesses can use for operating expenses. It can help cover a business’s operating costs (such as utilities, payroll, inventory, and rent) until accounts receivable have been collected as part of the cash conversion cycle.Unlike a working capital loan, you don’t get a lump sum of cash upfront with a line of credit. Instead, you are approved for a certain credit limit. You can then draw funds as you need them (up to the limit) and will only pay interest on the amount you draw. As you pay your balance down, the money becomes available once again. The schedule to repay a line of credit will vary depending upon the lender but is often weekly or monthly. On top of interest charges, a working capital line of credit may also come with fees, such as an annual fee. If you access the credit line frequently, transaction fees may also apply. Working capital lines of credit can be secured (requires collateral) or unsecured (no collateral required).
What Is Working Capital?
Working capital is the difference between a company’s current assets and its current liabilities. Current assets are anything a business owns that could be converted to cash within a year. Current liabilities are any debts and obligations that are due within the year. Whatever is leftover after subtracting current liabilities from current assets is a business’s working capital. Working capital provides an indication of a company’s short-term health. It also tells you what your business has available to spend on day-to-day operating expenses.Operating expenses may include:
Rent
Utilities
Payroll for staff
License fees
Accounting and legal fees
Bank charges
Marketing
Vehicle expenses
Travel
Office supplies
Property taxes on real estate
Research
Repairs
Because operating expenses can be high, any dip in cash flow (due to delayed customer payments, a seasonal slump in sales, or an emergency expense) can hurt a business’s ability to generate revenue. As a result, it’s important that businesses are always able to cover all of their operational costs.
How Working Capital Lines of Credit Work
Here’s a more in-depth look at how working capital lines of credit work.
How Much Can You Borrow?
A working capital line of credit can range anywhere from $1,000 to over $1 million. How much your business can borrow will depend on a variety of factors, including your credit score, revenue, and existing debt. Keep in mind that your credit line is only the maximum you can borrow before you need to pay off your balance. However, you only have to pay back the actual amount you borrow.
Rates
Working capital line of credit rates vary depending on the lender and your qualifications as a borrower. Some lenders will quote rates as a weekly rate, while others will provide an annual percentage rate (APR). APRs include interest as well as fees, so it’s a good way to compare credit lines offered by different lenders apples to apples. APRs for working capital lines of credit can range anywhere from 10% to 80%.
Term Lengths
The term length, or draw period, for a working capital line of credit can range between six months and five years. Since it’s revolving credit, each time you repay any amount you’ve borrowed, the money once again becomes available. When the term is up, you can no longer draw funds. However, if you’ve been making on-time payments, the lender may allow you to renew your line of credit.
Funding Speed
This type of loan funds quickly — often within a few days. The actual funding speed will depend on the lender and the size of the credit line. Online lenders tend to fund faster than banks, and smaller credit lines typically get approved and fund more quickly than larger credit lines.
Working Capital Loans vs Lines of Credit
Both working capital lines of credit and working capital loans can be used to cover operating expenses. However, these two lending products work in different ways. Here’s a side-by-side comparison.
Working Capital Loan
Working Capital Line of Credit
Loan size
Larger
Smaller
Repayment structure
Dispersed as lump sum you replay in equal monthly installments
Revolving credit that lets you pay off the balance and borrow more
Collateral requirements
Typically required
Sometimes required
Qualification requirements
Harder to qualify for
Easier to qualify for
APRs
Tend to be higher
Tend to be lower
Pros and Cons of Working Capital Lines of Credit
Pros of Working Capital Lines of Credit
Cons of Working Capital Lines of Credit
Fast funding
Can cost more than other loan products
Smooths out dips in cash flow
May come with fees
Can use for any type of operating expense
May require collateral
Money becomes available again as payments are made
May not help you build business credit
Working capital lines of credit have both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, this type of small business loan can help improve cash flow by providing a pool of funds you can pull from whenever you need them. These loans are also fast to fund. And, as long as you’re investing in your business’s operating costs, you can generally use the funds however you see fit.In addition to funding quickly, a line of credit offers revolving funds, meaning once you fully pay off your balance, the full credit line will be available again. A working capital line of credit can also serve as an emergency fund — it’s there if you need it, but you won’t pay any interest if you don’t.On the downside, these loans can be costly. They are considered a short-term type of funding and, generally, short-term loans are more costly than long-term loans. You may also have to pay fees, such as an origination fee, monthly maintenance fee, annual fee, and transaction fees.In some cases, you may also need to put up a business asset as collateral. Since a line of credit is a short-term liability, lenders typically ask for short-term assets, such as accounts receivable or inventory. If you’re unable to repay the line, the lender will assume the ownership of your collateral. Another potential downside is that getting this type of loan and making timely payments on your credit line might not help you build business credit, since some online lenders do not report these loans to the credit bureaus.
Working Capital Line of Credit Requirements
Lenders offering working capital lines of credit generally have the following requirements:
Revenue Minimum amounts will vary with each lender, but you generally need at least $50,000 in annual business revenue.
Age of business Typically, the longer you’ve been in business, the more likely you are to qualify for a working capital line of credit. Banks generally prefer to work with businesses that have been in business for at least two years. However, some online lenders only require six months.
Collateral Having an asset of value that you can put up as collateral can help a business not only get approved for a credit line but also get approved for a higher line of credit and a lower interest rate. It may be possible to get an unsecured business line of credit, but it will likely come with a higher APR.
Credit score Lenders usually look at both personal and business credit scores to determine the creditworthiness of a borrower. Typically, you’ll need a credit score of at least 500 to get a working capital line of credit.
Alternative Ways to Finance a Business
A working capital line of credit is one — but not the only — way to cover a company’s everyday expenses and even out cash flow. Here are some other financing options you may want to consider.
Small Business Loans
A small business term loan gives you access to a lump sum of funds you then pay back (plus interest) in regular installments over the term (length) of the loan. Banks typically offer the best rates and terms but have relatively strict qualification requirements, including at least two years of business history and minimum annual revenues. Online lenders generally have more flexible qualification criteria and are faster to fund, but rates are usually higher and loan amounts can be smaller.
Startup Loans
A startup business loan is another option that could help with your working capital needs. These loans can help new entrepreneurs cover a range of business costs, including equipment, inventory, payroll, utilities, and insurance. The U.S. Small Business Administration's microloan program, for example, offers loans of up to $50,000 for small businesses looking to start or expand. Some online lenders will also offer loans to new businesses.
Merchant Cash Advances
If your business has high credit card sales volume and you need quick access to cash, you might look into a merchant cash advance (MCA). With this type of financing, you receive funds as a lump sum from an MCA provider and repay the advance from future sales. Typically, the lender will automatically deduct a portion of your credit card sales, usually each business day. MCAs are generally easy to qualify for, but costs typically run significantly higher than traditional small business loans.
Small Business Loan Rates
A working capital line of credit is one of many short-term funding options you can use to cover everyday business expenses. If you’re curious about what type of business financing you might qualify for, Lantern by SoFi can help. With our online debt financing marketplace, you can compare small business loan rates without scouring the web and checking multiple sites. With one short application, you’ll be matched with loan offers that meet your company’s needs and qualifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How would you calculate a working capital line of credit?
Are working capital loans and lines of credit different?
How are working capital and term financing and loans different?
Photo credit: iStock/Charday Penn
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About the Author
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.
