National Funding: Fast Funding, Startup-Friendly, High Cost
- Min. Amount
- $5,000
- Max. Amount
- $500,000
- APR
- Undisclosed
Our verdict
Quick funding for small businesses, even startups — though rates and fees can be steep.
National Funding has been in business since 1999 and provides loans ranging from $5,000 to $500,000, including small business loans and equipment financing. It’s known for fast funding, an easy online application process and attentive customer service.
It doesn’t charge prepayment penalties and offers early repayment discounts — with some conditions. But it typically charges origination fees, and its APRs can be steep unless you have very good credit. Reviewers complain about excessive solicitation from the company, and customers say that some loans' daily repayment requirements are difficult to meet.
Best for: Companies with at least six months in business that need fast funding but don’t qualify for traditional business loans.
Pros
-
Funding in as little as 24 hours
-
Loans up to $500,000
-
Early repayment discounts
Cons
-
May require daily repayments
-
High APRs
-
Excessive solicitation efforts
Is National Funding legit?
National Funding is a legitimate company that was founded in 1999 and has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2013. To date, it has provided over $4.5 billion in funding to more than 75,000 companies across multiple industries. It has an A+ rating on the BBB and an “excellent” rating on Trustpilot.
National Funding uses encryption and firewalls to protect user data, ensuring that sensitive information is securely stored and transmitted. However, the company shares some customer information with third parties, including marketing partners and lending affiliates. If you don’t want to receive unsolicited marketing materials, you’ll have to opt out.
What makes National Funding shine?
Many business loan providers require companies to have two years in business, but National Funding only has a six-month requirement, making it an option for startups. The fast funding is also helpful for firms that want to jump on a time-sensitive business opportunity or need to meet immediate cash flow shortages. We also like that you could be eligible for a discount if you pay your loan early.
Where National Funding falls short
National Funding isn’t transparent about its rates or fees. Borrowers should be made aware of the potential costs of the loan before applying to more easily compare one lender to another. Reviewers who have gone through the application or pre-application process say that rates are high, although that varies based on credit score and other factors.
Its website is a bit misleading in that it initially appears to have multiple loan types when, really, it only offers two. Plus, one of its marketing techniques is to send mock credit cards to potential borrowers, which is just a gimmick to get businesses to apply for loans. National Funding doesn’t actually offer business credit cards or business lines of credit, which may feel misleading to potential applicants.
National Funding loan details
| Minimum credit score/credit range | Fair credit accepted |
| APR |
|
| Loan amounts |
|
| Terms |
|
| Approval turnaround | As soon as 24 hours |
| Availability | Available in all states |
| Fees |
|
| Other fees | Undisclosed |
National Funding contact information
| Phone number | 800-294-1702 |
| Customer service hours | Weekdays: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT |
| info@nationalfunding.com | |
| X, formerly Twitter | @NationalFunding |
| @national.funding |
How to qualify for National Funding
National Funding lists only a few minimum requirements on its website:
- Six months in business
- $250,000 or more in annual revenues
- A business bank account
How to apply
National Funding’s loan process is straightforward and easy to follow.
- Fill out the online application. It only takes a few minutes to complete and requires a soft credit check to determine if you prequalify for the loan.
- Talk to a loan specialist. If you prequalify, a loan agent contacts you to discuss your loan options, potential rates and loan terms and lets you know what documentation is needed.
- Wait for approval. The lender conducts a hard credit check and reviews your revenue and other business details to make a credit decision. If approved, you’re given a loan agreement with your maximum loan amount, interest rate and repayment terms.
- Get funded. If you accept the loan terms, you could have funds deposited into your bank account in as little as 24 hours.
How National Funding compares to other lenders
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.
National Funding reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.65 out of 5 stars, based on 24 customer reviews |
| BBB customer complaints | 118 customer complaints |
| Trustpilot Score | 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 1,994 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 19 February 2025 |
Negative reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot websites complain that National Funding is overzealous with its marketing materials. Reviewers say they are continually solicited and, in many cases, have repeatedly asked that the mailings and phone calls stop. To its credit, National Funding appears to have responded to nearly all these complaints and agreed to place those unhappy businesses on a ‘do not contact’ list.
Others say that the customer service is great and often compliment their loan specialist by name and praise their attention to detail and help throughout the loan process. However, even satisfied customers complain of high interest rates, with some recommending that more established businesses with better credit consider less expensive lending options.
What do people on Reddit say?
Frequently asked questions
Is National Funding a direct lender?
Yes, National Funding is a direct lender, offering short-term business loans and equipment loans.
Does National Funding offer monthly payments?
It depends on the funding type you choose. The company’s short-term loans appear to require either daily or weekly payments with no option for monthly payments. But the XPRS option offers all three: daily, weekly and monthly payments.
What is National Funding Ignite?
Ignite is a direct marketing campaign that National Funding uses to drum up business. It sends out prequalification letters that include mock credit cards with a personalized number. Potential borrowers can then go to the website and plug in that number to begin the application process.
Can I get a loan with National Funding if I have bad credit?
National Funding doesn’t disclose a minimum credit score but says it accepts borrowers with fair credit. It also states that it relies more on time in business and annual revenues than credit scores when determining loan approval.
Your reviews
Lacey Finder
Writer
Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.
You are about to post a question on finder.com:
- Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
- finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
- We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
- Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked
Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our finder.com Terms of Use and Privacy and Cookies Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.