Our Take
4.3
NerdWallet rating
The bottom line:
Rapid Finance offers flexible credit requirements to borrowers who may not be able to qualify for traditional financing, and its streamlined application process can provide funds quickly to approved borrowers.
Rapid Finance - Online term loan
Max Loan Amount
$1,000,000
Min. credit score
550
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cash can be available quickly.
- Borrowers with lower credit scores may have options.
- Multiple types of loans and term lengths for different financing needs.
Cons
- Doesn’t disclose interest rates.
- May require a lien and personal guarantee.
- Automatic payments required on most products.
Compare to Other Lenders
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Max loan amount $1,000,000 | Max loan amount $250,000 | Max loan amount $1,500,000 |
Min. credit score 550 | Min. credit score 625 | Min. credit score 570 |
Full Review
Rapid Finance, a Maryland-based alternative lender, offers small-business loans as well as SBA loans, asset-based loans, commercial real estate loans, bridge loans, invoice factoring and lines of credit. The company also offers merchant cash advances; however, these are some of the most expensive forms of financing, so we recommend exhausting all other financing alternatives before turning to an MCA.
Rapid Finance is best for borrowers who:
- Don't have perfect credit. Borrowers with thin or weak credit who may fall short of qualifying for traditional financing should explore Rapid Finance. As an alternative lender, it typically has more lenient credit requirements for borrowers and takes more than credit score into consideration.
- Prefer a fast loan process. You can apply for Rapid Finance business loans online and, if approved, receive funds in just a few hours.
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.
Rapid Finance loan features
Loan type | Loan amount | Terms | Repayment schedule | Interest and fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Term loan | $5,001 to $1 million. | 3 months to 5 years. | Daily, weekly or monthly payments. | Not disclosed. |
Lines of credit | $5,001 to $250,000. | 3-18 months. | Daily, weekly or monthly payments. | Interest or fixed fee; other fees may apply. |
SBA loans | $500 to $5.5 million. | 1-30 years. | Monthly payments. | Interest or fixed fee; other fees may apply. |
Bridge loans | $5,001 to $1 million. | 3 months to 5 years. | Daily, weekly or monthly payments. | Interest or fixed fee; other fees may apply. |
Commercial real estate loans | $75,000 to $2 million. | 5-20 years. | Monthly payments. | Not disclosed. |
Asset-based loan | $50,000 to $10 million. | 6 months to 3 years. | Daily, weekly or monthly payments. | Not disclosed. |
In addition to loans, Rapid Finance also offers merchant cash advances and invoice factoring, where a business is advanced funds based on its accounts receivables or outstanding invoices. Advances can range from $5,000 to $10 million, depending on the product.
Rapid Finance application process
Rapid Finance offers an online application. In addition to information about your business, you’ll be asked to provide the following:
- A valid form of identification such as a driver’s license or passport.
- Business bank account and routing numbers.
- Last three months of business bank statements.
Your application will then be reviewed and you’ll be contacted if any additional information is needed. If approved, funds will be sent to the business bank account you provided. This could happen in as little as a few minutes or in a few hours.
Where Rapid Finance stands out
Streamlined application process
Rapid Finance requires a minimum amount of information to complete its online application. This includes a valid form of identification, three months of business bank statements and your business bank account information for funding. However, additional information may be requested during the review process. Once you submit an application, you can get a response within 24 hours.
Flexible credit requirements
To assess the overall performance of a business, Rapid Finance looks at more than just a borrower’s credit score, which means those with less-than-stellar credit may still qualify. Other factors that Rapid considers when determining loan eligibility include business revenue, time in business, accounts receivables and business credit history.
Variety of funding options
Rapid Finance offers a variety of small-business financing products — something not every lender is able to do. This includes SBA and term loan programs, as well as lines of credit, bridge loans, commercial real estate loans and asset-based loans. In addition, businesses with accounts receivable and outstanding invoices have the option of receiving cash through Rapid Finance’s merchant cash advance and invoice factoring products.
Where Rapid Finance falls short
Doesn’t disclose interest rates and fees
Rapid Finance is not transparent on the interest rates it charges or the fees that are associated with its products. While interest rates can vary by product and be influenced by a borrower's credit history and other factors, providing some basic rate information can help borrowers compare lenders. Many of the loan products have associated fees, such as origination fees and prepayment penalty fees, but no specific details about these fees are provided on the website.
May require a lien and personal guarantee
Depending on your application, your loan may be secured by a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement, which is a lien that allows the lender to claim business assets in the event of default. A personal guarantee may also be required, which gives the lender access to your personal assets as well.
Automatic payments from business accounts
Most Rapid Finance products require automatic payment, which means the payment amount will automatically be withdrawn from a designated bank account. While this may be convenient for some borrowers, other borrowers may prefer to have control over when payments are made, especially if they have inconsistent cash flow. If there’s not enough cash in the account when the payment is taken, a borrower might have to pay overdraft fees, which can add up quickly.
Compare your business loan options
The best business loan is generally the one with the lowest rates and most ideal terms. But other factors — like time to fund and your business’s qualifications — can help determine which option you should choose. NerdWallet recommends comparing small-business loans to find the right fit for your business.
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Methodology
NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates small-business loan products 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.
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 and 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rapid Finance says it has issued over $3 billion in business financing. Since 2010, the lender has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau, where it has an A+ rating.
Rapid Finance requires businesses to be operational for at least two years to qualify for its term loan, which does not make it a startup business loan option. Its other loan options include SBA loans, asset-based loans, commercial real estate loans, bridge loans, invoice factoring and lines of credit, which may have varying time-in-business requirements. The company also offers merchant cash advances, which are one of the most expensive forms of financing. As a result, we recommend exhausting all other financing alternatives before turning to a merchant cash advance.
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