How much do you need?
We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.
Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.
Here are 7 small-business loans for women with bad credit
Lender | NerdWallet Rating▼ | Max loan amount▼ | Min. credit score▼ | Next steps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fora Financial - Online term loan with Fundera by NerdWallet | 4.8/5 Best for startups | $1,500,000 | 570 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
Fundbox - Line of credit Read Review | 5.0/5 Best for lines of credit | $150,000 | 600 | Read Review |
Triton Capital - Equipment financing | 4.0/5 Best for equipment loans | $250,000 | 575 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
SBA Microloan | Best for SBA loans | $50,000 | 620 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
OnDeck - Online term loan | 4.9/5 Best for short-term loans | $250,000 | 625 | with Fundera by NerdWallet |
Accion Opportunity Fund - Small Business Working Capital Loan Read Review | 4.8/5 Best for minority women | $250,000 | 600 | Read Review |
AltLINE - Invoice Factoring Read Review | 4.7/5 Best for invoice factoring | $5,000,000 | 300 | Read Review |
Here are 7 small-business loans for women with bad credit
Best for startups
Best for lines of credit
Best for equipment loans
Best for SBA loans
Best for short-term loans
Best for minority women
Best for invoice factoring
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Our pick for
startups
Businesses may be able to qualify for a term loan offered by Fora Financial with just six months in operation, making it a good fit for startups.
Fora Financial - Online term loan
Pros
- Cash can be available quickly.
- Get a discount for prepaying.
- No collateral required.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
Cons
- Charges a factor rate that makes it more difficult to compare costs with other lenders.
- Can’t build business credit.
- Longest loan term is 18 months.
Fora Financial - Online term loan
Pros
- Cash can be available quickly.
- Get a discount for prepaying.
- No collateral required.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
Cons
- Charges a factor rate that makes it more difficult to compare costs with other lenders.
- Can’t build business credit.
- Longest loan term is 18 months.
Qualifications:
- In business for at least six months.
- At least $20,000 per month in revenue.
- No open bankruptcies or dismissed bankruptcies within the past year.
Our pick for
lines of credit
Fundbox offers a business line of credit to businesses that have minimum credit scores of 600 and have been operating for at least three months.
Fundbox - Line of credit
Pros
- Financing available within one business day after approval.
- Simple application with minimal documentation required.
- Startup-friendly -- accepts borrowers with a minimum of three months in business.
- Low minimum credit score, time in business and annual revenue requirements.
- No prepayment penalties, account maintenance fees or inactivity fees.
Cons
- Rates are high compared with traditional banks.
- May require personal guarantee.
- Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).
Fundbox - Line of credit
Pros
- Financing available within one business day after approval.
- Simple application with minimal documentation required.
- Startup-friendly -- accepts borrowers with a minimum of three months in business.
- Low minimum credit score, time in business and annual revenue requirements.
- No prepayment penalties, account maintenance fees or inactivity fees.
Cons
- Rates are high compared with traditional banks.
- May require personal guarantee.
- Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600.
- Minimum time in business: 3 months.
- Minimum annual revenue: $30,000.
Our pick for
equipment loans
For established businesses that need equipment and have a minimum credit score of 580, Triton Capital has equipment loans that can be funded within one to two business days.
Triton Capital - Equipment financing
Pros
- Can fund within one to two business days.
- No prepayment penalty.
- Flexible repayment options: monthly, quarterly, annually or semiannually.
Cons
- Charges an origination fee.
Triton Capital - Equipment financing
Pros
- Can fund within one to two business days.
- No prepayment penalty.
- Flexible repayment options: monthly, quarterly, annually or semiannually.
Cons
- Charges an origination fee.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 580.
- Minimum time in business: Two years.
- Minimum annual revenue: $150,000.
Our pick for
SBA loans
SBA microloans are offered through nonprofit intermediary lenders who set their own credit requirements which may make them easier to qualify for.
SBA Microloan
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of funding purposes.
- Designed to finance traditionally underserved businesses.
- Startups and business owners with bad credit may be able to qualify.
- Competitive interest rates, low fees and long repayment terms.
- Intermediaries typically offer business training and educational resources.
Cons
- Loan amounts max out at $50,000.
- Can’t be used to pay existing debt or purchase real estate.
- Collateral is likely required.
- Slow funding timeline.
SBA Microloan
Pros
- Can be used for a variety of funding purposes.
- Designed to finance traditionally underserved businesses.
- Startups and business owners with bad credit may be able to qualify.
- Competitive interest rates, low fees and long repayment terms.
- Intermediaries typically offer business training and educational resources.
Cons
- Loan amounts max out at $50,000.
- Can’t be used to pay existing debt or purchase real estate.
- Collateral is likely required.
- Slow funding timeline.
Qualifications:
- Be a U.S. business.
- Show your ability to repay the loan.
- Personal guarantee and collateral likely required.
- Specific financial qualifications determined by individual lender.
Our pick for
short-term loans
If you have a credit score of at least 625 and have been in business for a year or more, OnDeck offers term loans with repayment periods of up to two years.
OnDeck - Online term loan
Pros
- Cash can be available within the same business day (does not apply in California or Vermont).
- Accepts borrowers with a minimum credit score of 625.
- Streamlined application process with minimal documentation required.
- Can be used to build business credit.
Cons
- Cannot fund North Dakota-based businesses.
- Requires frequent (daily or weekly) repayments.
- Interest rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.
- Requires business lien and personal guarantee.
OnDeck - Online term loan
Pros
- Cash can be available within the same business day (does not apply in California or Vermont).
- Accepts borrowers with a minimum credit score of 625.
- Streamlined application process with minimal documentation required.
- Can be used to build business credit.
Cons
- Cannot fund North Dakota-based businesses.
- Requires frequent (daily or weekly) repayments.
- Interest rates can be high compared with traditional lenders.
- Requires business lien and personal guarantee.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 625.
- Minimum time in business: One year.
- Minimum annual revenue: $100,000.
- Must have business bank account.
Our pick for
minority women
Accion Opportunity Fund, a nonprofit lender that works with women, minorities and other underserved entrepreneurs, requires a minimum credit score of 570 for working capital loans.
Accion Opportunity Fund - Small Business Working Capital Loan
Pros
- Loan amounts from $5,000 to $250,000.
- Customized loan terms.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- Slower processing speed compared to online lenders.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
Accion Opportunity Fund - Small Business Working Capital Loan
Pros
- Loan amounts from $5,000 to $250,000.
- Customized loan terms.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- Slower processing speed compared to online lenders.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
Qualifications:
- Minimum credit score: 600.
- Minimum time in business: 12 months.
- Minimum annual revenue: $50,000.
Our pick for
invoice factoring
AltLINE is an invoice factoring company that will buy your unpaid invoices at a discount and doesn’t have minimum credit score or time in business requirements.
AltLINE - Invoice Factoring
Pros
- Capital available within 24 to 48 hours.
- No collateral required.
- Manages payment collection from your customers.
- Accepts startups and businesses with bad credit.
Cons
- Fees can become expensive the longer it takes your customers to pay.
- Difficult to compare factoring costs to other types of business loans.
AltLINE - Invoice Factoring
Pros
- Capital available within 24 to 48 hours.
- No collateral required.
- Manages payment collection from your customers.
- Accepts startups and businesses with bad credit.
Cons
- Fees can become expensive the longer it takes your customers to pay.
- Difficult to compare factoring costs to other types of business loans.
Qualifications:
- All credit scores may be accepted (ranging from 300 to 850).
- No minimum time in business requirement.
- No minimum annual revenue requirement.
- Must be a B2B business.
A closer look at the best small-business loans for women with bad credit
Fora Financial
Fundbox
Triton Capital
SBA Microloan
OnDeck
Accion Opportunity Fund
AltLINE
What is a bad credit score?
Where to get a business loan for women with bad credit
Online lenders
CDFIs
Nonprofit lenders
How to get a business loan for women with bad credit
1. Evaluate your credit
2. Gather other business criteria
3. Research and compare lenders
Alternative funding options for women with bad credit
- Asset-based funding. With asset-based financing, you receive money from a lender to purchase products for your business. The product you’re looking to purchase, such as inventory or equipment, serves as collateral on the loan. Because this type of financing is self-collateralized, lenders are often more willing to work with credit-challenged borrowers.
- Small-business grants. Business grants offer free funding that you don’t have to repay. Grant providers typically don’t use your credit score to evaluate your application, although application windows can be narrow and the process can be competitive. Some companies offer specific business grants for women.
- Crowdfunding. With crowdfunding, you put your business on an online platform and advertise your financing goal. People can donate money to your business — usually in exchange for equity or some type of perk or benefit. Crowdfunding can be a good option for product-based businesses with an internet following.
Methodology
Wondering if you qualify?
It’s possible to get a business loan even if you have bad credit. Bad-credit business loans are available from alternative sources, like online or nonprofit lenders.