Bluevine business line of credit review

Bluevine line of credit

Bluevine offers a revolving line of credit from $5,000 to $250,000 to small businesses looking for easy-access working capital. These are secured with a lien on your business’s assets and a personal guarantee from all business owners.

Unlike some providers, it has a minimum amount you can withdraw — $5,000 the first time around and $500 for all other withdrawals.

Rates, fees and terms

Bluevine charges rates from 6.2% to 86% APR on its line of credit. This includes origination and draw fees, which vary by borrower.

However, there are no monthly maintenance or termination fees if you close your account. Each withdrawal turns into a short-term loan with a term of 1 to 1 months, which your business pays in weekly installments.

Use our calculator to find out how much you’d pay on a monthly basis and in total for a specific withdrawal. Divide the result by 4.35 — the average number of weeks in a month — to get an estimate of each weekly repayment.

Bluevine reviews and complaints

Bluevine gets mixed customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. Customers are generally happy with the simple application and fast turnaround. And the majority of complaints are about its business checking account product — not the loans.

It’s seen an increase in complaints since 2020, while it was only offering Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Like many lenders, Bluevine’s live customer support team was faced with a higher volume of calls than it typically handles.

Due to the unique circumstances, I don’t think this reflects what you’ll find with Bluevine today. Older customer reviews likely give a better idea of what you can expect.

How to qualify

To qualify for a line of credit, your small business must meet the following criteria:

• At least 24 months in business
• Personal credit score of 625 or higher
• At least $40,000 in monthly revenue
• Registered as a corporation or LLC
• Not located in North Dakota, South Dakota, Puerto Rico or US territories
• Eligible industry

How the application works

Apply for a Bluevine line of credit online through its website or mobile app. Typically you need to submit your three months of bank statements along with your application — or connect with your business checking account.

It takes as little as five minutes to get a response. If you’re approved, review your offer and follow the directions to sign your loan documents after reading Bluevine’s terms.

Once you’ve finalized your loan, you can begin drawing from your line of credit when your business needs. For every draw, you’ll be on the hook for weekly repayments, which are automatically deducted from your business bank account.

How long does it take to receive my funds?

If you pay for a $15 wire transfer, you can receive your funds within a few hours after you’re approved. Otherwise, you’ll typically receive your funds the day after approval — though it can take as long as three days for the bank transfer to process.

What sets it apart

Bluevine’s fast turnaround, simple application and low starting rates set it apart from other providers. This makes it a good option for small businesses.

Where it falls short

Compared to other online lenders, Bluevine falls short when it comes to requirements. Where many online lenders work with businesses with $100,000 in annual revenue and 12 months in business, Bluevine prefers to work with more established companies. Its restrictions on industries, states and even business structures can also be limiting for some small businesses.

It’s also not transparent about all costs on its website, only advertising the minimum interest rate with no mention of origination or draw fees. Rates can reach as high as 86%, which is relatively low for an online lender but several of its customers have complained of the high cost. If you can qualify for a line of credit from your bank, you will likely find lower rates and fees.

More products available through Bluevine

Bluevine is more than a financing company — it also offers a business checking account. This account comes with a 2% interest rate on balances up to $250,000 and doesn’t charge monthly service or nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees. There’s also no minimum checking account balance and it accepts cash deposits.

It also offers a separate payment service that manages one-time and recurring payments on one simple platform. And these two products come together — when you sign up for one, you have access to the other. Read our Bluevine business checking account review to learn more about how it works.

Is it legit?

Bluevine is a legitimate online lender that has funded over $14 billion in business loans since its founding in 2013. It’s also passed the muster for a few federal standards: It’s a member of the Federal Depository Institution Corporation (FDIC). And the SBA approved Bluevine to be a direct lender for the PPP.

However, because it’s a financial technology company, it doesn’t have to meet the same regulatory standards as a bank.

Alternatives to Bluevine

Bluevine can be a good choice for small businesses that need fast, regular funding while spending minimal time on the application. But it’s much more expensive than a traditional business loan. If you have the time to spend on an application, consider a community bank loan first.

It’s also possible to find faster financing with other online providers like OnDeck — though Bluevine’s rates are more competitive.

Also, read our guide to Bluevine alternatives for more details on how Bluevine compares to other lenders.

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