Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

How to Get a $50,000 Business Loan

Find lenders offering $50k business loans for a range of financing situations.

Good for online businesses

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

Easy, fast funding options

Go to site
  • Required time in business: 1+ years
  • Required annual revenue: $120k+
  • Min credit score: 525+

Good for established businesses

Go to site
  • Required time in business: 2+ years
  • Required annual revenue: $100k+
  • Min credit score: 650+

When it comes to $50,000 business loans, there are a lot of options to choose from. The challenge is narrowing down the type of loan you need and getting the best rate. Whether you’re after a short-term loan, a business line of credit or equipment financing, we help you compare the best $50,000 loans for your needs.

Where to get a $50,000 business loan

If you’re looking for a $50K business loan, you have a lot of options to choose from.

  • Online lenders can get your business $50,000 as soon as the next business day and tend to have lower credit and time-in-business requirements. Plus, if you find a $50K no-doc loan, you may be able to skip most of the required documentation.
  • Community and regional banks can take a few weeks to fund a $50,000 business loan but offer expert advice and potentially faster funding in the future.
  • Microlenders sometimes offer business loans as high as $50,000, though the maximum loan amount for bad credit and startup programs might be lower.
  • Large national banks with small business programs sometimes offer $50,000 business loans, but many prefer to work with large and midsize companies.
  • Credit unions with business loan programs often offer $50,000 loans — but you typically need to become a member to qualify.

If you’re after a small business loan, start by comparing the top small business loans on the market.

Compare $50,000 business loans

Compare these lenders that offer $50K business loans. Select Go to site to get started on your application. Or, visit our review page by choosing More info.

Product USFBL Finder Score Min. Amount Max. Amount APR Requirements
Finder score
$2,500
$5,000,000
Varies by lender
$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
$20,000,000
Varies by lender
Minimum credit score of 500, minimum annual revenue of $120,000, preferably one to two years in business
Compare lending options and get funded fast.
Finder score
$1,000
$5,000,000
Varies by lender
Operate business in US for 6 months or more, have a business bank account, minimum 580 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.
Businessloans.com Main Product  logo
Finder score
$5,000
$3,000,000
Varies by loan type and lender
Must have been in business between 1 to 2 years, have a minimum revenue of $75,000 to $250,000 and have a minimum credit score of 500 to 650.
Complete a three-minute form to see loans that fit your business’s needs. Compare offers without a hard credit check.
National Funding logo
Finder score
$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.
loading

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

How to get a $50,000 business loan

You can apply for a $50,000 business loan by comparing lenders, prequalifying and filling out an application with your final pick.

Here are six steps to getting a business loan:

  1. Determine the type of loan you need. Before comparing lenders, decide what type of loan makes the most sense. If you’re funding a one-time cost, look for a $50,000 term loan. If you have ongoing expenses, consider a business line of credit with a $50,000 limit or higher.
  2. Assess your business’s priorities. Do you need the $50,000 as soon as possible, or would you prefer to take your time if it could get you a better deal? Online lenders can get you funding fast, but banks tend to offer less expensive loans.
  3. Compare lenders. Compare multiple lenders — including banks and online lenders — to get an understanding of the different rates, fees, loan amounts and repayment terms available for the type of product you’re interested in. You could also use a business loan marketplace to compare lenders with a single application.
  4. Get prequalified. After you’ve made a list of lenders, get a quote from your top choices by doing a prequalification. Prequalifying allows you to compare personalized rates and terms before applying and doing a hard credit pull.
  5. Fill out an application. Once you’re ready to move ahead and do a hard credit check, fill out the lender’s application, supplying all the requested information and documentation. Be as thorough as possible to avoid delays in processing.
  6. Wait for approval and funding. After submitting your application, it can take anywhere from a day to several weeks to get approved, depending on the lender and type of loan. Once approved, funding time may take anywhere from the same day to several business days.

How to qualify

You’ll typically need to meet the following requirements to qualify for a $50K business loan.

  • Time in business requirements. You’ll usually need to be in business for at least six months to qualify for a business loan, but some lenders may require a year or two.
  • Minimum revenue. Revenue requirements vary significantly by lender, but you’ll typically need to bring in at least $10,000 a month — but often more.
  • Good credit. Many lenders require a score of at least 670 to qualify for a business loan, although you may find more lenient credit requirements from alternative lenders.
  • Personal guarantee. Some lenders may also ask for a personal guarantee — particularly for unsecured loans.

How much a $50K loan costs

The cost of a $50,000 business loan depends on the interest rate and loan term you qualify for. You may also have to pay an origination fee of around 1% to 5% that’s either added to or deducted from your balance at closing. For a $50,000 loan, that works out to $500 to $3,000.

However, the actual cost of a business loan comes down to what type of loan you get, the lender and the strength of your financials and credit profile. Use our business loan calculator to estimate your monthly payment and total loan cost based on different rates and terms.

Business loan calculator

See how much you'll pay on a $50,000 loan
Your loan
Loan amount
$
Loan terms (in years)
Interest rate
%

Fill out the form and click on “Calculate” to see your estimated monthly payment.

or

Compare $50,000 loans
You can expect to pay back $ per month
Based on your loan terms
Principal $
Interest $
Total Cost $

7 types of business loans

Business loans for $50K can cover a wide range of financing needs for your business. Here’s a list of the most common types and when they might make sense.

1. Term loans

Business term loans are probably the most common type of business loan and offer both short-term and long-term options, with loan amounts up to millions of dollars. Funds are disbursed in a lump sum payment, come with fixed interest rates and are typically paid back in equal monthly installments, although some short-term loans may require weekly payments. Rates for term loans are usually some of the most competitive in the business loan market.

Consider if you…
  • Know exactly how much you need to borrow
  • Prefer equal monthly payments
  • Have a specific purchase in mind
Consider other options if you…
  • Need renewable financing
  • Don’t meet the requirements to qualify
  • Don’t know how much you need

2. Business lines of credit

Similar to a credit card — but with access to cash — a business line of credit allows you to borrow as much as you need up to your approved credit limit, and it replenishes as you pay it back. A line of credit can be more flexible than a term loan because you only have to pay interest on the funds you withdraw, but loan terms are generally short. They can be good for seasonal cash flow shortages or to fund ongoing projects.

Consider if you…
  • Aren’t sure how much you need to borrow
  • Want a renewable funding source
  • Need to cover cash flow shortages
Consider other options if you…
  • Have a one-time expense to cover
  • Want a longer loan term
  • Don’t need ongoing access to cash

3. SBA loans

SBA loans are backed by the federal government but provided by banks, credit unions, online lenders and community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Loan amounts can reach as high as $5 million, but its microloan program offers business loans for $50,000 or less. Rates for SBA loans are typically very competitive, but they can be hard to qualify for and the loan process can take weeks or even months.

Consider if you…
  • Meet the SBA loan requirements
  • Have trouble qualifying for other loans
  • Don’t need fast funding
Consider other options if you…
  • Need fast funding
  • Don’t meet SBA requirements
  • Can qualify for a loan elsewhere

4. Equipment loans

Equipment loans are a type of secured financing where the purchase acts as collateral, similar to an auto loan. Secured equipment loans often have better rates than unsecured business financing, but there is the added risk of losing the equipment if you can’t make your payments. Plus, some lenders require a down payment for equipment loans, so you may have to come up with some cash.

Consider if you…
  • Need equipment for your business
  • Want a lower rate
  • Can swing a downpayment if needed
Consider other options if you…
  • Don’t need equipment
  • Are looking for an unsecured loan
  • Don’t have the down payment

5. Merchant cash advances

A merchant cash advance — also known as a revenue advance or business cash advance — is an advance based on your future debit and credit card sales. This type of financing makes sense for retailers and others that have a lot of credit card sales, and how much you can borrow depends largely on your average monthly revenue. Funding is typically fast for MCAs, but it’s an expensive form of financing and usually requires weekly or daily repayments.

Consider if you…
  • Do a lot of credit card sales
  • Don’t qualify for other types of financing
  • Can manage the rigorous payment schedule
Consider other options if you…
  • Don’t have a lot of card sales
  • Qualify for cheaper financing
  • Don’t need fast funding

6. Invoice financing

Also known as accounts receivables financing, invoice financing is a type of short-term funding that leverages your unpaid invoices in exchange for cash. You take out an advance based on a percentage of your unpaid invoices and repay it as your customers pay you. This form of financing is expensive, but it can be easy to qualify for. However, it is only suitable if you invoice other businesses or government agencies.

Consider if you…
  • Are a business-to-business (B2B) company
  • Have outstanding invoices
  • Don’t qualify for cheaper financing
Consider other options if you…
  • Qualify for less expensive funding
  • Don’t invoice your customers
  • Don’t need fast funding

7. Invoice factoring

Invoice factoring is similar to invoice financing in that it leverages your invoices for cash. However, instead of taking an advance, you sell your outstanding invoices to a factoring company in exchange for a percentage of their value. Your customers pay the factoring company directly and then it sends you the remaining balance minus a fee. While invoice factoring also offers fast funding, it’s not cheap — or suitable for all businesses.

Consider if you…
  • Need fast funding
  • Have a lot of unpaid invoices
  • Are a B2B company
Consider other options if you…
  • Qualify for cheaper financing
  • Don’t need fast funding
  • Aren’t a B2B company

Secured vs. unsecured business loans

Business loans can either be secured or unsecured. A secured loan is backed by collateral from your business — like real estate, equipment or other valuable assets. An unsecured loan is based on your creditworthiness and doesn’t require collateral. But with an unsecured loan, you’ll likely need to provide a personal guarantee.

How to get a $50,000 business loan with bad credit

If you have bad credit, you may be able to get a $50,000 business loan from online lenders, microlenders and even some community banks. Look for the lender’s credit requirements before you apply to make sure they accept your credit rating.

Or, if you’re applying at a community bank, you could ask a loan officer if they can make an exception to their credit policy based on other aspects of your business’s finances. You may also be able to qualify for a business loan with bad credit if you offer to secure the loan with collateral.

For certain types of loans, like merchant cash advances or invoice factoring or financing, lenders may not consider your credit score at all. But these can be expensive, with rates comparable to payday loans.

Bottom line

Make sure your business is getting the kind of financing and support it needs by considering all your options before you apply for a $50,000 loan. Compare more providers by reading our guide to business loans.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get a $50,000 business loan?

In the world of business financing, $50,000 isn’t a large amount, which can make it easier to get loan approval. However, you’ll still need to meet the lender’s credit and revenue requirements, or you may be able to use collateral to secure the loan.

What credit score is needed for a $50K business loan?

Credit score requirements vary by lender and loan type. For example, a term loan from a bank may require a credit score of at least 670, whereas online lenders may accept lower scores.

Can I get a $50,000 startup loan?

You can get a $50,000 startup loan from a microlender, community bank and some online providers. But your business needs to be around for three to six months to qualify for a startup loan of this size. If you need seed funding to get your business off the ground, a personal loan can also be a good choice.

Can I get a $50,000 SBA loan?

Yes, you may be able to get a $50,000 loan backed by the Small Business Administration, commonly known as an SBA loan. This includes the SBA microloan program, which caps out at $50,000.

However, other programs, like SBA 7(a) loans and Express loans, might be a better choice if you can qualify. A $50,000 loan through these programs often comes with lower maximum rates and SBA loan fees.

Other business loan amounts:

Megan B. Shepherd's headshot
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.
Lacey Stark's headshot
Written by

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

More resources on Finder

Ask a question

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

More guides on Finder

Go to site