There are many reasons why you may be interested in getting a loan for your business. To start a business, for working capital, for cash flow reasons, for equipment, for emergencies — the list goes on and on. So, let's start by understanding the types of lenders and loans available to you. The age of your business, the revenues of your business, and how fast you need the cash will influence which lender and type of loan will be the best for your business.

The Main Types of Lenders for a Small Business Loan

First, there is the SBA — the Small Business Administration. They offer different types of loans for small businesses. The biggest benefit of an SBA loan is that the SBA partners with lenders to provide loans, and guarantees 75% to 90% of the loan amount. This results in better terms and easier qualifications for small businesses. The downside of an SBA business loan comes in the form of increased paperwork and funding speeds that can be, at times, slower than other lenders.  However, if you work with an SBA Preferred Lender, this significantly speeds up the process. 

Next you have conventional banks. These are the regular, everyday banks that provide loans to businesses — think Bank of America or Chase Bank. Now, conventional bank loans generally have the best terms regarding interest rates and fees when it comes to small business loans. But the biggest downside of a business loan from a conventional bank is how difficult it is to qualify and get approved — especially for new businesses. As a result, loans from a conventional bank are generally best for established businesses with consistent revenues.

The Benefits of an Alternative Lender

So, what are the benefits of an alternative lender? Well, loan approvals typically take less than a few hours and funds are provided in less than a week for smaller loans. Alternative lenders also often have the easiest eligibility requirements and fewer rules for the use of funds. 

This brings us to the downside of using alternative or online lenders: To make up for how quickly you can get approved and funded, they typically offer the highest interest rates and fees compared to other types of lenders. But because it's so easy to get funding, alternative lenders are often best for startups or business owners without high revenues. 

Types of Loans

We’ve gone over the lenders. Now, let's talk about the types of loans you can get for your small business.

Bank Loans

First up: bank loans. These are loans provided by conventional banks. Their main benefit is that they typically have relatively low interest rates. The biggest downside to bank loans is lower leverage. Bank loans generally allow up to 65% or 75% leverage, while SBA loans can go up to 90%. Other downsides include strict lending qualifications, which places this type of financing out of the reach of many businesses. You'll need great credit and an established business. Because of this, loans from conventional banks are generally best for established businesses with good credit. And these are going to be your popular lenders once again, like Bank of America, Chase, or Wells Fargo.

SBA 7(a) Loans

Then, we have SBA loans. Let’s look at the SBA’s most popular loan, the 7(a) loan. This loan program is backed by the SBA for up to $5 million dollars with terms of up to 25 years. The biggest benefit is that there are over six different loan categories to fit your needs. The downsides are primarily related to the SBA’s additional paperwork requirements and that personal recourse is required on every loan.

SBA Express Loans

Next, we have SBA Express loans. These are very accessible for businesses without large revenues or good credit and can be approved very quickly — within 36 hours of application. Funding can still take up to 90 days, however. The maximum loan amount for an SBA Express loan is $350,000. These loans require no collateral or SBA guarantee fee.

SBA 504 Loans

The next type of loan from the SBA is a 504 loan. And these are loans up to $15 million dollars for the purchase of commercial real estate, land, and equipment with terms up to 25 years. Now the biggest benefit of these loans is that it is a below-market fixed-rate loan — with a small down payment of only 10%. But here's the downside — it's a lengthy process with involvement from both a bank and an SBA-approved certified development company, also known as a CDC. So this is best for established businesses who need to purchase equipment or buy real estate.

SBA Loans Comparison

Lines of Credit

Then there are lines of credit, which provide a business with access to draw cash up to a limit. The benefit is that interest is paid only on the amount drawn, and once you pay it back the funds are immediately available for use again, similar to a credit card. The downside is that fees can be costly and borrowing amounts can be lower than with a loan. 

Invoice Financing

Our next type of loan is called invoice financing. Which is a cash advance — typically 50% to 90% — on unpaid invoices. It's not actually a loan, but the biggest benefit is that it's easier to qualify for than other loan options due to the invoices being collateral. The downside is that fees can be greater than other loan options, and funds are dependent on your sales continuing. As a result, this is likely best only for businesses with consistent sales.

Merchant Cash Advances

Then there's the merchant cash advance, which is a cash advance on unpaid credit card sales. The benefit? Borrowers with bad credit or minimal business history can still qualify. The downside is that this is, broadly speaking, the most expensive form of financing available. It's really only best for businesses who have exhausted all other loan options.

Secured vs. Unsecured Business Loans

No matter what lender or type of loan you decide to go with, the loan will either be a secured loan or an unsecured loan. Secured loans use assets as collateral or recourse in case you default on the loan. Collateral provides some form of protection for the lender and generally results in better loan terms. Common types of collateral include real estate, equipment, cash, cars, outstanding invoices and payments, and even future revenue. The amount and type of collateral needed will vary depending on the lender, the type of loan, and the loan amount.

Unsecured loans do not require collateral and are therefore riskier for the lender. The higher risk typically results in stricter requirements and higher interest rates.

Documents Needed for a Business Loan

You can't just walk into a bank and get a loan. You'll need a few documents first. That’s true no matter what type of loan you apply for or what type of lender you go with. Here are some key documents you should be prepared to provide:

• Tax returns: This includes personal income tax returns along with business returns, if applicable. This may also include K-1 statements for partnerships or S corporation shareholders.

• Income statements and balance sheets: These are financial documents that provide a snapshot into the business’s performance, its assets, and its liabilities.

• Bank statements: You're going to need business and personal bank statements.

• Business legal documents: These could include business certificates, licenses, and contracts where applicable.

• Business plan: You will need to demonstrate your business has a feasible business plan.

Loan Eligibility

Each lender and loan type will have their own specific requirements, but most take into account the four Cs: capital, credit, collateral, and conditions.

Capital refers to your ability to repay by looking at your business and personal earnings, savings, and debt. Credit is the credit history of your business and/or you, personally. Collateral includes assets that can be used to secure the loan if it is a secured loan. And lastly, conditions refers to the purpose of the loan, time in business, and industry of the business.

Comparing Lenders

After you qualify, when comparing two or more loan options against one another, look at the following items to determine which is the best option for you before signing the dotted line:

Interest Rate and APR

An interest rate is the amount a lender charges, given as a percent of the loan’s principal per year. APR is the annual interest rate plus any fees.

Additional Fees

Look for additional fees like application fees, origination fees, servicing or process fees, insufficient fund fees, closing costs, prepayment fees, late payment fees, administrative fees, etc. Not all fees are readily apparent.

Fund Amount

This is, simply, the principal amount — the amount of money the loan will provide you. Ask yourself if this amount is sufficient for your business’s needs.

Repayment Terms

Important repayment terms to examine include the total loan term, how often payments are required, whether or not a balloon payment is involved, and the amount of each payment.

Security of the Loan

Is the loan secured or unsecured? If it's unsecured, what collateral is required?

Applying for a Small Business Loan

At SBA 7(a) Loans, we’re here to make it simple for your business to access the financing it needs. Complete the form below, and we’ll be in touch with a free, no obligation quote.