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How to get a $25,000 business loan

Compare lenders to find competitive rates and terms on a business loan for $25K.

For a variety of finance options

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  • Required time in business: 6+ months
  • Required monthly revenue: $10k+
  • Min credit score: No credit needed

Best for small businesses

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  • Required time in business: 6+ months
  • Required monthly revenue: $8k+
  • Min credit score: 520+

Good for online businesses

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  • Required time in business: 6+ months
  • Required annual revenue: $60k+
  • Min credit score: 550+

Whether you need a long-term loan, a line of credit or a business cash advance, $25,000 loans come in many flavors. While you don’t necessarily need great credit to qualify for this amount, you generally need to be in business for at least six months to a year with a minimum annual revenue between $50,000 and $100,000.

Compare providers to make sure you’re getting the most competitive rates and terms before you apply.

Where to get a $25,000 business loan

Most lenders offer $25,000 business loans, including banks, credit unions, alternative online lenders and marketplaces like Lendio. While established businesses might find more competitive rates at a large national bank, newer businesses might have better luck with an online lender or an SBA loan specialist.

Compare $25,000 business loans

Select your time in business, annual revenue and credit score ranges to find lenders you might qualify with. Select Go to site to get started on your application. Or, visit our review page by choosing More info.

Name Product USFBL Filter Values Min. Amount Max. Amount APR Requirements
Olympus Business Capital
Finder Score: 4.4 / 5: ★★★★★
Olympus Business Capital
$500
$250,000
Not stated
Been in business for 6 months registered with the state, active and open bank account in business name, have $10,000 of revenue each month
No credit needed. Funding up to $250,000 with a variety of finance options to best fit your business needs.
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Lendio business loans
Finder Score: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Lendio business loans
$1,000
$10,000,000
Varies by lender
Operate business in US or Canada for 6 months or more, have a business bank account, minimum 520 personal credit score, at least $8,000 in monthly revenue.
Submit one simple application to potentially get offers from a network of over 75 legit business lenders.
Fundera business loans
Finder Score: 4.9 / 5: ★★★★★
Fundera business loans
$2,500
$5,000,000
Varies based on lenders
$60,000+ of annual revenue, 550+ personal credit score, in business for 6+ months
Get connected with short-term funding, SBA loans, lines of credit and more.
Fora Financial business loans
Finder Score: 4.1 / 5: ★★★★★
Fora Financial business loans
$5,000
$1,500,000
Varies
6+ months in business, $15,000+ gross monthly sales, no open bankruptcies
Get qualified for funding in minutes for up to $750,000 without affecting your credit score. Best for companies with at least six figures in annual revenue.
National Funding business loans
Finder Score: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
National Funding business loans
$5,000
$500,000
Undisclosed
In business 6+ months and make at least $250,000 in annual sales. Other loan types have additional requirements.
Working capital loans and equipment financing, some high-risk industries may be eligible.
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American Express® Business Line of Credit
Finder Score: 4.4 / 5: ★★★★★
American Express® Business Line of Credit
$2,000
$250,000
N/A
Minimum FICO score of at least 660 at the time of application, have started your business at least a year ago, and an average monthly revenue of at least $3,000
Access lines of credit for your small business even if you aren't currently an Amex customer.
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What types of $25,000 business loans are available

Business loans for $25,000 cover a wide range of funding needs. Here’s a list of the most common types.

Type of financingDescriptionUse
Short-term business loanAn unsecured lump sum loan with repayment terms of up to 18 monthsTo cover unexpected costs or to survive a downturn
Business term loanAn unsecured lump sum loan with repayment terms of up to 10 yearsTo provide working capital for more established businesses
Business line of creditA revolving line of credit for ongoing expensesTo tap into funds as needed and pay off as you go
Merchant cash advanceA quick turnaround loan for newer businesses or those with bad creditTo borrow against your future credit card sales
SBA loanA low interest small business loan partially backed by the governmentTo provide working capital to grow your business
Equipment financingA collateralized term loan to fund equipmentTo pay for any kind of equipment for your business
Inventory factoringA loan with an amount tied to your receivablesTo access cash by selling your purchase orders or receivables
Inventory financingA loan with an amount tied to your receivablesTo access cash with a loan backed by your invoices

Secured vs. unsecured business loans for $25,000

Business loans can either be secured or unsecured. Secured business loans may require some kind of collateral — especially if it’s an equipment loan. However, it’s possible to get an unsecured business loan of $25,000 from select online lenders.

How to qualify for a $25,000 loan

While a $25,000 business loan is well below the average business borrowing amount of $660,000, it’s still substantial enough that you’ll need to meet certain revenue and other criteria, including:

  • At least six months in business. Many lenders require businesses to have a track record of six to 12 months. However, loans for very new businesses are generally short-term options like merchant cash advances, which can be expensive compared to other loans.
  • Minimum monthly revenue. A general rule of thumb is that lenders will loan you 10% to 30% of your annual revenue. If you earn $100,000 a year, you could potentially borrow between $10,000 and $30,000.
  • Good personal credit. Business lenders often rely on personal rather than business credit scores. Depending on the type of financing, you could qualify with a score as low as 520, although 670 and up is better.
  • A personal guarantee. The lender may also ask you for a personal guarantee, especially for unsecured loans not backed by collateral.

How much does a $25,000 business loan cost?

The cost of a $25,000 business loan can vary widely depending on the type of loan. For example, a traditional bank term loan might start as low as 8% APR, while SBA loan rates are capped at the prime rate plus 2.25% to 2.75% for most programs, plus additional fees.

For shorter-term financing like lines of credit, APRs can run much higher — typically starting below 10% for the best credit borrowers and reaching as high as 60% APR or more for borrowers with lower credit scores.

Use the calculator below to find out how much your loan might cost based on different rates and terms.

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How do payments on a $25,000 loan work?

It depends on your loan. Most $25,000 loans are term loans, lines of credit, merchant cash advances (MCAs) and invoice factoring and financing. Because these loan types are so different, payments vary widely. They might be monthly for a term loan but weekly or even daily for an MCA. And if you use invoice factoring, you won’t repay the factoring company at all — rather, you sell your invoices to the company for a discount.

How to get a $25,000 business loan

The application process depends on the lender. While traditional bank loans might require a lot of paperwork, some online lenders offer “no-doc” loans that connect to your accounts to verify your financials immediately.

Regardless of the lender, here are the general steps to apply for a $25,000 business loan:

  1. Determine the type of loan you need. Before you start comparing, decide what type of loan you need. If you’re funding a one-time cost, look for a term loan. If you have ongoing expenses or cash flow dips, look for a line of credit or an MCA.
  2. Compare lenders. Find and compare lenders that offer $25,000 loans by looking at the loan’s APR, terms and requirements. Do you need the money right now, or would you rather do more research first? Online lenders can get you funding faster than banks.
  3. Check your eligibility. Online lenders typically offer online prequalification so you can find out if you’re eligible and check your rates. But if you’re applying through a bank, you might have to call or apply in person.
  4. Ready your documents. For a bank, prepare to gather your personal and business tax returns, profit and loss statements, and bank statements. For an online lender, you may get away with just three months’ worth of bank statements.
  5. Fill out the application. This can take a few minutes to over an hour, depending on the lender and type of loan. No doc lenders tend to have the fastest application processes, allowing you to connect to your bank accounts directly.
  6. Submit any additional information. Your lender reviews your application and reaches out for more information or documents if needed. Usually, you can submit these online, by mail or in person at a branch.
  7. Read and sign the contract. Review your final offer, making sure the rates, terms and monthly payments fit your business’s budget. If you agree, sign and submit your contract.

The turnaround time on $25,000 loans depends on the loan type. SBA loans can take weeks to process, while short-term loans from online lenders can take one business day or less. For the fastest application times and turnaround, consider a no-doc lender.

Can I get an SBA loan for $25,000?

Yes, many SBA loan programs are available for $25,000, including the popular 7(a) and Express loan programs. Loans backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) offer low rates and high loan amounts to businesses that have a hard time qualifying elsewhere. But they also come with some of the highest rejection rates in the market.

Can I get a loan for $25,000 with bad credit?

It’s possible to find $25,000 in business financing, even with bad credit. But your options may be more limited. The most common types of business loans and financing available to bad credit borrowers are merchant cash advances, invoice factoring or financing, as well as loans backed by collateral, such as equipment loans and leases.

Can I get a loan for $25,000 to start a business?

Yes, but your options are basically limited to SBA 7(a) and SBA microloans and possibly SBA 504 loans to finance equipment. However, SBA loans tend to have somewhat stringent requirements. You’ll need decent credit and a solid business plan showing how the business will generate revenue to qualify.

Because it can be hard to qualify for an SBA loan, some entrepreneurs use their own savings or take out a personal loan to finance a new business. Personal loans don’t have a time in business or revenue requirement, making them ideal for startups — if the lender allows the funds to be used for this purpose.

For more options, see our comprehensive guide to startup loans.

Bottom line

While it’s likely easier to qualify for a $25,000 loan than a larger amount, you’ll still need to meet the lender’s criteria. Compare the best small business loans to see the amounts and rates you may qualify for.

Other business loan amounts:

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Megan B. Shepherd as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

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Kat Aoki was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. She’s written thousands of articles to help consumers make better decisions on their home loans, bank accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency and more. Kat is well versed in working with leading brands in the real estate, mortgage and personal finance industries, and her expertise has been featured on Forbes Advisor, Lifewire and financial comparison sites like iSelect and realestate.com.au. She holds a BS in business administration from California State University, Sacramento and enjoys hiking and yoga in her spare time. See full bio

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Kat has written 195 Finder guides across topics including:
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