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Compare $40,000 business loans

Compare $40K business loans and get an estimate of your monthly payments before you apply.

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+
You can find a $40,000 business loan with most types of lenders. But to qualify, your business must have the revenue to support repayments. While it's possible to find $40,000 in startup financing, you generally need good or excellent credit to qualify for this amount — typically a credit score of at least 670. And it can help if you already have experience working in the industry.
Product USFBL Finder Score Min. Amount Max. Amount APR Requirements
Finder score
$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.
Finder score
$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.
Finder score
$5,000
$1,500,000
Varies
6+ months in business, $25,000+ gross monthly sales, no open bankruptcies
Get qualified for funding in minutes for up to $1,500,000 without affecting your credit score. Best for companies with at least six figures in annual revenue.
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What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 12+ types of business loans across 35+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best business loans for startups loans, you can see how each business loan stacks up against other business loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

You can find $40,000 business loans with most types of lenders. But to qualify, your business must have the revenue to support repayments. While it’s possible to find $40,000 in startup financing, you generally need good or excellent credit to qualify for this amount — typically a credit score of at least 670. And it can help if you already have experience working in the industry.

Where to get a $40,000 business loan

You can find $40K business loans at banks, online lenders, community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and even some microlenders. Certain credit unions may also offer $40,000 loans, though not all offer business financing.

When it comes to bank loans, community banks and regional banks can be a particularly good choice for a $40,000 loan. Some large national banks have small business loan programs, but most prefer to fund larger amounts.

How to get a $40,000 business loan

Before you apply for a $40,000 business loan, decide what type of financing your business needs. For example, a term loan can cover a one-time expense, while a line of credit can cover ongoing costs and emergencies.

  1. Compare lenders. Look for lenders that offer the type of $40,000 loan you need, with minimum requirements that your business meets. Pay attention to factors like the APR, origination fee, loan terms and how often payments are due.
  2. Gather your documents. Get prepared by putting together the documents you might need to submit, such as bank statements, tax returns, a loan proposal, business plan or other required documents.
  3. Prequalify. If possible, get prequalified with a few of your top choices to get an estimate of the rates and terms your business might be eligible for.
  4. Complete the application and submit additional documents. After you’ve made your final decision, follow the lender’s directions to complete your application.
  5. Review and sign your documents. If approved, carefully read over your loan agreement before signing the contract.

How to qualify

To qualify for a $40K business loan, you’ll typically need to meet the following requirements.

  • Time in business. For a loan of this size, you may need to be in business for at least six months, although some lenders may require a year or more.
  • Revenue. You’ll typically need to meet minimum revenue requirements to qualify for a business loan, which is usually at least $10,000 a month.
  • Credit score. Business lenders often prefer credit scores of 670 or higher, but many online lenders have more lenient credit requirements.
  • Personal guarantee. Some lenders may also require a personal guarantee from the business owner, especially if the loan is unsecured. However, not all lenders or loan types require it, such as these business lines of credit with no personal guarantee.

7 types of $40,000 business loans

From traditional term loans to more alternative forms of business financing, here are seven business loan types to consider.

1. Term loans

One of the most common types of business loans, term loans are ideal to pay for large, one-time expenses. They’re offered by traditional banks and online lenders and disbursed in one lump sum. A term loan typically comes with a fixed interest rate, and you’ll repay it in equal monthly installments over months or years.

Consider if you…
  • Know exactly how much you need
  • Have a specific expense in mind
  • Have strong revenue and credit
Consider other options if…
  • You’re not sure how much you need
  • You have an ongoing financial need
  • Your credit score and revenue don’t qualify

2. Business lines of credit

A business line of credit is a more flexible form of financing and works kind of like a credit card. The lender gives you access to a revolving line of credit that you can draw on, as needed, up to your approved limit. Lines of credit can be useful to fund ongoing projects or to cover cash flow gaps.

Consider if you…
  • Have ongoing financial needs
  • Need access to an emergency fund
  • Aren’t sure how much you need
Consider other options if…
  • You need a lump sum of money
  • You have a specific expense in mind
  • You don’t need access to cash

3. Equipment financing

A type of installment loan, equipment financing allows you to buy vehicles, machinery or other types of equipment. The purchase acts as collateral for the loan, which means you may be able to get better rates. Like business term loans, equipment financing typically has fixed rates and equal repayments, although you may need to make a down payment on this type of loan.

Consider if you…
  • Have a need for new equipment
  • Are looking for a lower interest rate
  • Can afford a down payment
Consider other options if…
  • You don’t need equipment
  • You don’t have the down payment
  • You need access to ongoing funding

4. Microloans

Microloans are similar to small, term loans and are typically offered by the SBA, nonprofit or online lenders. These types of loans are usually capped at $50,000 and tend to have shorter loan terms. Microloans are often meant for women and minority-owned businesses or businesses in underserved or low-income communities.

Consider if you…
  • Run a business in an underserved community
  • Are a woman or minority business owner
  • Have difficulty qualifying for other financing
Consider other options if…
  • You need a larger loan amount
  • You don’t qualify for a microloan
  • You need faster funding

5. Merchant cash advances

If your business does a lot of credit card sales, a merchant cash advance (MCA) is a way to leverage those future sales in exchange for a lump sum now. How much you can borrow depends largely on your monthly sales volume. MCAs are one of the more expensive types of short-term financing, and the lender will typically require weekly or even daily repayments.

Consider if you…
  • Have a high sales volume
  • Need access to fast funding
  • Mostly deal in credit card sales
Consider other options if…
  • You don’t do a lot of credit card sales
  • You don’t need quick access to cash
  • You qualify for more affordable financing

6. Invoice factoring

Invoice factoring is a type of short-term funding that leverages your unpaid invoices for cash. It works by selling your outstanding invoices to a factoring company that will then pay you a percentage of the invoices up front. As customers settle their invoices, you’ll get a portion of the remaining balance back minus the factoring fees, which can be steep.

Consider if you…
  • Are a B2B business
  • Need access to fast funding
  • Have a large amount of unpaid invoices
Consider other options if…
  • You don’t have a lot of unpaid invoices
  • You don’t need fast access to cash
  • You qualify for less expensive financing

7. Invoice financing

Invoice financing is similar to invoice factoring, except you don’t sell your invoices. Instead, you borrow money based on the value of your outstanding invoices and repay it daily or weekly as your customers pay their bills. Like invoice factoring, invoice financing is an expensive type of short-term financing, but it does allow you to maintain a closer relationship with your customers.

Consider if you…
  • Don’t qualify for other types of financing
  • Need access to fast funding
  • Have a lot of outstanding invoices
Consider other options if…
  • You don’t carry a lot of outstanding invoices
  • You don’t need fast access to cash
  • You qualify for cheaper funding

How much does a $40,000 loan cost?

The cost of a $40,000 loan depends on the APR and terms that you qualify for. Your terms may include an origination fee of 1% to 6%, or $400 to $2,400, which the lender either deducts from the loan amount or adds to your loan balance at closing.
Use our business loan calculator to get an estimate of your monthly payment and the total cost of a $40,000 loan.

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Can I get a $40,000 SBA loan?

You may be able to get a $40K SBA loan through its 7(a) or microloan programs, which both offer loans of this size, although you may have better luck with the microloan program. However, requirements to qualify for SBA loans are generally strict, and the loan process can be lengthy.

How to get a business loan with bad credit

Getting a $40,000 business loan with bad credit can be easier if you apply with an online lender or CDFI that accepts your credit score range. These types of lenders often offer options to people with credit scores below 580, which is considered bad or poor credit. You may also want to look into lenders that specialize in business loans for bad credit.

If your personal and business finances are otherwise in good shape, a community bank might also be willing to overlook a negative credit history.

Bottom line

You should be able to find a $40,000 loan through most business loan providers — even if your credit is less than perfect. To get one that best fits your business’s needs, compare business loans and check your rate with a few options before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get a $40,000 business loan?

How difficult it is to get a $40K business loan depends largely on your credit score, revenue and how long you’ve been in business. If all those factors are strong, getting a business loan should be easy. However, if you can’t meet the necessary requirements, you may need to seek alternative financing or offer collateral or a personal guarantee.

Can I get a $40,000 loan to start a business?

It can be harder to get a business loan when you’re just starting because you might not meet the minimum requirements to qualify. But, you might qualify for a personal loan for startup businesses to fund your new company.

Can I get a $40,000 business loan with bad credit?

If your credit is poor, you may need to consider types of business financing such as merchant cash advances or invoice factoring. These types of funding are more concerned with your business financials than your credit score, but they can be pricey.

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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Writer

Lacey Stark is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder, specializing in banking, loans, investing, estate planning, and more. She has 20 years of experience writing and editing for magazines, newspapers, and online publications. A word nerd from childhood, Lacey officially got her start reporting on live sporting events and moved on to cover topics such as construction, technology, and travel before finding her niche in personal finance. Originally from New England, she received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and completed a postgraduate journalism program at Metropolitan State University also in Denver. She currently lives in Chicagoland with her dog Chunk and likes to read and play golf. See full bio

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