If your credit score falls between 580 to 669, your business loan options are slightly more limited than those with good or excellent credit. However, these lenders offer clear terms and a wide variety of loans to help you finance the next phase of your business.
How we picked these best business lenders
These lenders represent some of the more flexible and transparent options available to borrowers with fair credit. To compile our list, we considered the loan types available, minimum and maximum APR, repayment terms and the loan amount.
5 best business loans for fair credit
Best for businesses with low annual revenue: LendingClub
Unlike many other lenders, LendingClub only requires businesses to have an annual revenue of $50,000 — or around $4,000 a month. This allows newer businesses that haven't made a large amount of money to qualify. But its maximum APR is high. For many business owners, especially those with low revenue, this means high monthly repayments that could be difficult to handle.
Loan amount
$5,000 – $500,000
APR
12.15% to 29.97%
Min. Credit Score
580
Unlike many other lenders, LendingClub only requires businesses to have an annual revenue of $50,000 — or around $4,000 a month. This allows newer businesses that haven't made a large amount of money to qualify. But its maximum APR is high. For many business owners, especially those with low revenue, this means high monthly repayments that could be difficult to handle.
Pros
Less strict eligibility requirements
Get funds in just a few days
Accepts fair credit
Only requires $50,000 in annual revenue
Cons
High origination fee of 5.99%
Relatively long turnaround for an online lender
Requires collateral on loans over $100,000
Loan amount
$5,000 – $500,000
APR
12.15% to 29.97%
Min. Credit Score
580
Loan term
12 to 60 months
Requirements
12+ months in business, $50,000+ in annual sales, no bankruptcies or tax liens, at least 20% ownership of the business, fair personal credit score or better
The lenders in Lendio's network can accept business owners with bad credit, which may mean you could qualify for a better APR with fair credit. However, Lendio isn't a fully free service. If you do finalize a loan with one of its lenders, you will need to pay an origination fee to Lendio.
Loan amount
$1,000 – $10,000,000
APR
Varies by lender
Min. Credit Score
500
The lenders in Lendio's network can accept business owners with bad credit, which may mean you could qualify for a better APR with fair credit. However, Lendio isn't a fully free service. If you do finalize a loan with one of its lenders, you will need to pay an origination fee to Lendio.
Pros
Network of over 300 lenders
Wide range of business loan options
Bad personal credit accepted
Cons
Must pay origination fee after loan is finalized
May receive marketing material from lenders
Loan amount
$1,000 – $10,000,000
APR
Varies by lender
Min. Credit Score
500
Loan term
3 months to 25 years
Requirements
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.
SmartBiz speeds up the SBA application process by streamlining the information you need to provide. By working with multiple banks and online lenders, it may take just a few weeks to get funding — rather than the normal multi-month waiting period. Prequalification takes a few minutes, and the rates its lenders offer start low. But you’ll need to borrow at least $30,000, and the process isn’t free. Smartbiz will charge a referral and packaging fee if you’re approved for a loan.
Loan amount
$30,000 – $500,000
APR
Prime Rate, plus 2.75% to 4.75%
Min. Credit Score
650
SmartBiz speeds up the SBA application process by streamlining the information you need to provide. By working with multiple banks and online lenders, it may take just a few weeks to get funding — rather than the normal multi-month waiting period. Prequalification takes a few minutes, and the rates its lenders offer start low. But you’ll need to borrow at least $30,000, and the process isn’t free. Smartbiz will charge a referral and packaging fee if you’re approved for a loan.
Pros
Compare regular bank loans and SBA loans
Cuts weeks out of SBA loan turnaround time
Simplified online application
Cons
Charges SBA referral and packaging fees
No loans under $30,000
Relatively high starting APR of 7.99% on non-SBA loans
Loan amount
$30,000 – $500,000
APR
Prime Rate, plus 2.75% to 4.75%
Min. Credit Score
650
Loan term
10 years
Requirements
650+ credit score, 2+ years in business, $50,000+ in annual revenue, no bankruptcies or foreclosures in past 3 years
While you will have to pay a $15 fee for same-day funding, BlueVine is one of the few lenders that even offers the option on its lines of credit. It also has small term loans and invoice factoring — which is available to business owners with a lower personal credit score — so your business will have access to three common funding options. But while its APRs start at a low 4.8%, they can get much higher. With a minimum draw requirement of $5,000, your business may be stuck making weekly repayments on an expensive loan.
Loan amount
$5,000 – $250,000
APR
Starting at 6.2%
Min. Credit Score
625
While you will have to pay a $15 fee for same-day funding, BlueVine is one of the few lenders that even offers the option on its lines of credit. It also has small term loans and invoice factoring — which is available to business owners with a lower personal credit score — so your business will have access to three common funding options. But while its APRs start at a low 4.8%, they can get much higher. With a minimum draw requirement of $5,000, your business may be stuck making weekly repayments on an expensive loan.
Pros
Starting APR compares to banks
Flexible credit and revenue requirements
Same-day funding available
Cons
Short terms of six or 12 months
Not all industries qualify
Loan amount
$5,000 – $250,000
APR
Starting at 6.2%
Min. Credit Score
625
Loan term
6 or 12 months
Requirements
12+ months in business, $40,000+ in monthly revenue, 625+ credit score
Kiva doesn't have a minimum credit score requirement, which makes it a good choice for business owners who may be on the lower end of fair credit. It also doesn't have any fees, but you will need to have a sizable social network to make the most out of its crowdfunding system. Because of this, it may take over a month to raise your loan funds.
Loan amount
$1,000 – $15,000
APR
0%
Kiva doesn't have a minimum credit score requirement, which makes it a good choice for business owners who may be on the lower end of fair credit. It also doesn't have any fees, but you will need to have a sizable social network to make the most out of its crowdfunding system. Because of this, it may take over a month to raise your loan funds.
Pros
No interest or fees
No credit or residency requirements
Loans as low as $25
Cons
Turnaround of up to 45 days
No loans over $15,000
Qualifying depends on social network
Loan amount
$1,000 – $15,000
APR
0%
Loan term
6 months to 3 years
Requirements
Have at least ten friends and family members willing to contribute to your loan, live in the US, ages 18+, not in bankruptcy or foreclosure, not under any liens, not engaged in: multi-level marketing, direct sales, pure financial investing or illegal activities
Where can I find a lender that accepts fair credit?
If you have fair credit, you may be able to qualify for a business loan from a variety of lenders.
Online lenders
Lenders that operate online offer a wide range of loans for borrowers with fair credit. These include standard term loans and lines of credit — with rates comparable to banks — and short-term options like invoice financing, invoice factoring and merchant cash advances.
Because of all the options available, it’s important to compare lenders carefully. Fortunately, online lenders typically have lower credit requirements and are more lenient than banks, which can make it easier to qualify for a loan with fair credit.
Banks
Some banks, like Regions and PNC, accept business owners with fair credit — provided they have an established credit history. Rates at banks are generally lower, and you may have access to experienced bankers that understand your industry. But most banks require you to have a checking account or visit a branch to apply. You’ll also need to meet other strict requirements to qualify, so expect the process of applying with a bank to take longer than an online lender.
Credit unions
Local and regional credit unions generally offer term loans to business members, although you may find other options with your credit union. Requirements tend to be more lenient than banks, but you will still need to meet a minimum credit score to apply.
And like banks, you may need to fill out your paperwork at a branch — though more and more credit unions are moving their initial application process online. Rates are also competitive, but you will need to become a member to qualify for most financing options.
Alternative lenders
Alternative lenders should be used as a last resort if you or your business are unable to qualify for a loan from another source. Because of the fixed-fee structure, alternative loans require daily repayments and may be much more expensive than other loan options. You should consider an alternative business loan carefully before borrowing.
How do I get a business loan with fair credit?
You can improve your chances of approval by keeping these points in mind:
Develop a business plan. You should be able to demonstrate why you need funding through a strong business plan. It should show a lender that you know how your funds will be used and how you plan on repaying what your business borrows.
Check your credit report. If there are any mistakes on your credit report, you should have them fixed before applying for a business loan — especially if your payment history is incorrect.
Gather your paperwork. Lenders want to see tax returns and proof of revenue at minimum. Each application process is different, but you can check with your lenders to ensure you have the documents you need before you apply.
Pick the right time. If you’re able, apply during your busy season when you have a few months of strong revenue. This will show your lender that your business is doing well.
Prequalify — if possible. Not all lenders offer a prequalification option. But if you can, check your rates with your top choices to avoid a hit to your credit.
Once you have a few prequalification offers, compare the APR, payment schedule and terms to choose the best choice for your business.
6 alternatives to fair credit business loans
These alternatives won’t fault you for having fair credit. But some choices can be expensive for businesses with low revenue.
Short-term business loans. Short-term business loans are an expensive alternative to term loans. However, borrowers with fair credit may qualify for lower rates. So if you don’t qualify for a traditional term loan, a short-term business loan could be a good alternative.
Equity financing. Equity financing involves selling partial ownership of your company to an investor. This can take multiple forms, but if you sell at least 20%, your investor’s good credit could improve your chances of qualifying for a business loan later.
Grants. There are federal, state and private grants available to businesses that work in underserved communities. Your credit score won’t matter since you don’t have to repay your grant funds.
Business credit cards. These can be used to finance smaller purchases if your business can handle the high APR. There are even business credit cards for owners with fair credit that may be easier to qualify for.
What should I do if I was denied a business loan?;
Your lender should provide information on why you weren’t approved for a loan. Revisit your application and ensure neither you nor your lender made any mistakes. If everything is correct, review the reason you were rejected. Even if you meet a lender’s minimum credit requirements, your business’s revenue and financial history may not meet the lender’s standards.
Rework your application and business plan to suit the feedback you received. If the problem is with your revenue, sales or other metrics, it may be better to consider alternative sources of financing — including short-term business loans, personal loans or business credit cards — which may be easier to qualify for.
Bottom line
Fair credit won’t stop you from qualifying for one of these top business loans. But you should still explore your full range of options to ensure you’re making the right financial move for your business.
Kellye Guinan is a freelance editor and writer, specializing in consumer lending. Her writing and analysis has been featured on Bankrate, MSN and MediaFeed. She holds degrees in anthropology and German language and literature from Middle Tennessee State University. See full bio
Kellye's expertise
Kellye has written 66 Finder guides across topics including:
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