Best Business Loans for Companies With Low Revenue
Best Business Loans for Companies With Low Revenue
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Max loan amount
$100,000
Min. credit score
625
Est. APR
35.00-80.00%
Pros
- Flexible qualification requirements.
- No prepayment penalties.
- Funds available by next business day after approval.
Cons
- Most borrowers are subject to a 2% draw fee.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
Headway Capital - Line of credit
Best for fast funding
Max loan amount
$100,000
Min. credit score
625
Est. APR
35.00-80.00%
Pros
- Flexible qualification requirements.
- No prepayment penalties.
- Funds available by next business day after approval.
Cons
- Most borrowers are subject to a 2% draw fee.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
Giggle Finance - Merchant cash advance
Best for freelancers and contractors
Max loan amount
$10,000
Min. credit score
300
Pros
- No minimum credit score requirement.
- Same-day funding available.
- Specifically designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals.
Cons
- Funding maxes out at $10,000 ($20,000 for repeat customers).
- Factor rate and fee information not available on website.
- Charges an origination fee.
Giggle Finance - Merchant cash advance
Best for freelancers and contractors
Max loan amount
$10,000
Min. credit score
300
Pros
- No minimum credit score requirement.
- Same-day funding available.
- Specifically designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals.
Cons
- Funding maxes out at $10,000 ($20,000 for repeat customers).
- Factor rate and fee information not available on website.
- Charges an origination fee.
Max loan amount
$10,000,000
Min. credit score
620
Est. APR
5.99-18.00%
Pros
- Funding available within 48 hours.
- Competitive rates and repayment terms.
- Flexible payment options available, including deferment options for certain industries.
- No down payment required.
- Can be used to build business credit.
Cons
- Must have good credit to qualify for no prepayment penalties.
- Charges an origination fee.
JR Capital - Equipment financing
Best for equipment financing
Max loan amount
$10,000,000
Min. credit score
620
Est. APR
5.99-18.00%
Pros
- Funding available within 48 hours.
- Competitive rates and repayment terms.
- Flexible payment options available, including deferment options for certain industries.
- No down payment required.
- Can be used to build business credit.
Cons
- Must have good credit to qualify for no prepayment penalties.
- Charges an origination fee.
Max loan amount
$500,000
Min. credit score
660
Est. APR
15.22-45.00%
Pros
- Cash can be available within two business days.
- Competitive rates among online lenders.
- Terms up to seven years.
- iBusiness Funding also offers SBA loans up to $5 million.
Cons
- Charges an origination fee.
- Must be in business for a minimum of 24 months.
- Minimum credit score is higher than some other lenders.
iBusiness Funding - Online term loan
Best for long-term loans
Max loan amount
$500,000
Min. credit score
660
Est. APR
15.22-45.00%
Pros
- Cash can be available within two business days.
- Competitive rates among online lenders.
- Terms up to seven years.
- iBusiness Funding also offers SBA loans up to $5 million.
Cons
- Charges an origination fee.
- Must be in business for a minimum of 24 months.
- Minimum credit score is higher than some other lenders.
Max loan amount
$500,000
Min. credit score
660
Pros
- Can be used to build business credit.
- Long repayment terms available.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- Charges an origination fee.
- Requires a UCC lien.
- Not available in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Dakota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania or Tennessee.
Fundation - Term loan
Best for large loan amounts
Max loan amount
$500,000
Min. credit score
660
Pros
- Can be used to build business credit.
- Long repayment terms available.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- Charges an origination fee.
- Requires a UCC lien.
- Not available in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Dakota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania or Tennessee.
Max loan amount
$150,000
Min. credit score
600
Est. APR
36.00-99.00%
Pros
- Financing available within one business day after approval.
- Simple application with minimal documentation required.
- 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.
- Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).
Fundbox - Line of credit
Best for startups
Max loan amount
$150,000
Min. credit score
600
Est. APR
36.00-99.00%
Pros
- Financing available within one business day after approval.
- Simple application with minimal documentation required.
- 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.
- Weekly repayments required over a short term (maximum of 24 weeks).
Max loan amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
600
Est. APR
8.49-24.99%
Pros
- Loan amounts from $5,000 to $250,000.
- Customized loan terms.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- Slower processing speed compared with online lenders.
- Charges an origination fee.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
Accion Opportunity Fund Small Business Working Capital Loan
Best for minority-owned businesses
Max loan amount
$250,000
Min. credit score
600
Est. APR
8.49-24.99%
Pros
- Loan amounts from $5,000 to $250,000.
- Customized loan terms.
- No prepayment penalty.
Cons
- Slower processing speed compared with online lenders.
- Charges an origination fee.
- Not available in all U.S. states.
Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Secured Line of Credit
Best for building a strong banking relationship
Max loan amount
Undisclosed
Min. credit score
670
Pros
- Available to borrowers with at least six months in business.
- No origination fee.
- Responsible spending can help you graduate to an unsecured credit line.
Cons
- Credit limit is based on the security deposit you provide.
- Must have a Bank of America checking or savings account to apply.
Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Secured Line of Credit
Best for building a strong banking relationship
Max loan amount
Undisclosed
Min. credit score
670
Pros
- Available to borrowers with at least six months in business.
- No origination fee.
- Responsible spending can help you graduate to an unsecured credit line.
Cons
- Credit limit is based on the security deposit you provide.
- Must have a Bank of America checking or savings account to apply.
Why does revenue matter to business lenders?
Revenue is the amount of money your business brings in by selling your products or services, before expenses are subtracted. It’s one part of understanding business profit, which is the money left over after you account for all your expenses.
Steady and consistent operating revenue, or sales, show that you’re executing on your business plan, demonstrating to would-be lenders that you know how to run a small business.
Revenue is an indicator — beyond just personal credit score or time in business — of your ability to repay debt, which is why it’s an important component of a business loan application.
Many lenders require that you have at least $100,000 in annual business income, or approximately $8,333 in income per month, in order to qualify for a loan. Online lenders may have more flexible revenue requirements, while banks are likely to be stricter.
How much revenue do you need for an SBA loan?
The U.S. Small Business Administration does not set a minimum annual revenue requirement. However, because most SBA loans are issued by banks, many are bound to have similar revenue requirements as traditional bank loans, in addition to more stringent credit score and time in business requirements.
SBA microloans, which are the smallest SBA loans, tend to be the easiest to qualify for, and can be a good option if you have low revenue.
U.S. Small Business Administration
SBA microloan
Max Loan Amount
$50,000
Read Review
Apply now
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Can you get a business loan with no revenue?
Business financing that has low or no minimum revenue requirements typically requires some form of collateral to secure the loan; however, even secured loans or secured lines of credit may still have minimum revenue requirements.
Self-collateralizing loans like equipment loans or invoice financing may be more lenient on qualification requirements, including minimum revenue, because they come with built-in collateral. Equipment loans are secured by the equipment being financed, and invoice financing uses the value of unpaid customer invoices as collateral.
Alternative financing options for businesses with low revenue
If you’re struggling with business loan requirements, other types of business financing may be a better fit.
- Business credit cards. If you have good personal credit, business credit card issuers may not consider your time in business or revenue history. A business credit card can be a helpful tool for covering cash-flow gaps and making larger purchases while you’re building your business financial history.
- Small-business grants. Instead of taking on additional debt when your business is struggling to generate revenue, you might consider applying for small-business grants. Grant recipients don’t have to repay the funds they receive, but competition for this free money is stiff and the application process can be time-consuming.
- Friends and family loans. If you can make the case to good friends and family members who are willing and able to help your business, you may be able to access capital with a friends and family loan, even with low or no revenue. Just make sure you put your loan agreement in some form of writing to avoid any personal conflicts in the future.
- Crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is a form of business financing where you raise money for your business from investors, in exchange for small shares of ownership in your business or other rewards.
NerdWallet writer Rosalie Murphy contributed to this article.
Last updated on February 18, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates small-business loans from traditional banks and online lenders. We collect over 30 data points on each lender using company websites and public documents. We may also go through a lender’s initial application flow and reach out to company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.
To come up with our list of the best low-revenue business loans, we selected lenders with a minimum annual revenue requirement of $50,000 or lower, and strong NerdWallet star ratings.
Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer small-business friendly features, including:
- Transparency of rates and terms
- Flexible payment options
- Fast funding times
- Accessible customer service
- Reporting of payments to business credit bureaus
- Responsible lending practices.
We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to small-business owners and how meaningfully they impact borrowers’ experiences.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings. Read more about our ratings methodology for small-business loans and our editorial guidelines.
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.
See Your Loan Options