Updated July 10, 2025
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Our team researched the best business loan options available so you can compare business lines of credit.
Click the ‘See personalized rates’ button next to the provider of your choice and provide us with a little information about what type of loan you’re looking for.
Choose a loan from a Bankrate partner and receive your funds if you qualify.
After comparing lenders, take a closer look at Bankrate’s expert picks here to help you choose the right option for your business. We’ll review what each lender is best for, when to consider them and any standout features that can make your decision to select a lender easier.
National Funding specializes in short-term business loans and equipment loans or leases if you’re in the market for them. The lender provides a discount for paying off your loan early, a huge perk that helps you save money on interest.
QuickBridge provides flexible secured and unsecured loan options with terms up to 24 months. It also boasts a streamlined application process, helping you apply in minutes and receive funding within 24 hours. With its dedicated funding advisors guiding you along the way, you should receive the loan you need in no time.
Bluevine offers low-interest business lines of credit to established businesses with at least one year in business. Once the line is open, you can access funding whenever you need it, and get instant funding if you have a Bluevine checking account.
Providing short-term loans and lines of credit, OnDeck has helped over 150,000 businesses get the funding their businesses need. But unlike most lenders, OnDeck can fund loans the same day you apply, significantly speeding up the process for receiving your loan.
SmallBusinessLoans.com is a go-to source for comparing business loans from multiple lenders. You can fill out one simple application and get matched with business loans and lenders personalized to your funding needs.
American Express Business Blueprint specializes in its business line of credit with flexible terms of six, 12, 18 or 24 months. It offers one of the most lenient requirements for revenue, accepting just $3,000 in monthly revenue. But it pays off to go with the shortest term possible as its monthly fees go up the longer the term.
If you’re in the market for a merchant cash advance, Credibly offers MCAs with flexible terms and loan amounts. You can get terms from three to 24 months, and funding goes up to $600,000. Credibly also offers fast funding within 24 hours from the time you apply.
iBusiness Funding grants secured business loans to businesses with low revenue and fair credit. Its loans offer low interest rates starting at 7.49 percent interest, helping you keep borrowing costs low.
Backd is known for its unusually large loan amounts, funding up to $2 million if you qualify. In addition to short-term loans and lines of credit, it offers a unique Buy Now, Pay Later loan that allows you to finance a purchase for 12 months with no money down.
eCapital’s mainstay is alternative financing, specifically various types of asset-based lending. You can borrow against valuable assets your business owns, like accounts receivable, equipment or real estate. This lender works best for businesses looking for large loans from $250,000 to $50 million.
Fora Financial offers large loans up to $1.5 million, but without the slow processing times that big banks require. You can get a lending decision within four hours, and you’ll receive funding within 24 hours.
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If you need cash fast, then Bankrate can help you find and get the right short-term loan for your business. Here’s how to apply.
Short-term business loans are loans with shorter, more aggressive repayment periods. They’re often referred to as working capital loans, though lenders may use the term for different products. Typically, the lender will want you to repay the loan in three to 18 months, though you may find terms up to 24 months.
Due to their short repayment terms, some loans require weekly or even daily payments rather than monthly payments. The payment may also be higher than a loan with a longer term. Before committing, make sure your business can keep up with the repayment schedule.
Consider a short-term business loan if:
Keep in mind that short-term business loans can be expensive and, in some cases, dangerous for your company’s future. You might want to avoid them in these situations:
The best way to manage an aggressive loan payback period is to establish a prudent budget and a detailed cash flow forecast to manage your obligations, including the short-tailed loan. For good measure, implement auto-pay for the loan. Doing so will mitigate the possibility of missing a due date, incurring penalties and damaging your firm’s credit. If the aggressive payback period begins to strain your firm’s finances, reach out to the lender. You may be able to obtain some short-term relief or restructure the terms of the loan.Thomas Brock: CFA, CPA
Short-term financing can get your company through a rough patch or unexpected expense, but there are also some downsides to tapping into this type of funding. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of short-term business loans.
When your business needs capital and needs it quickly, a short-term business loan may be the way to go. Here’s what you need to know.
Learn moreOne thing to keep in mind is that the cost of a short-term business loan can be higher than other types of loans. This will limit how much you can borrow and make your payments somewhat more expensive in proportion to traditional loans.
Some short-term loans use a factor rate rather than interest. To determine how much you’ll owe using factor rates, multiply your loan amount by the factor rate. For example, if you borrow $10,000 at a factor rate of 1.15, you’ll have to repay $11,500.
Factor rates are common for high-risk loans like merchant cash advances and business lines of credit open to borrowers with fair or bad credit. Other costs include business loan fees like origination fees and early repayment fees, so be sure to read the fine print to determine the full cost of a short-term business loan.
In general, you should avoid more than a 36 percent debt-to-business-income ratio when it comes to taking out a loan. This means that for every $100,000 you earn annually, you should aim to take on no more than $36,000 in total.
Your monthly payment will also determine how much you can borrow. If you can only afford $2,000 a month in loan payments, then for a 5 month, 1.1 factor rate loan paid on a weekly basis, you’d be able to afford a loan maximum of $9,861.
You can use a business loan calculator to look at your loan amount, interest rate and fees and determine how much you can and are comfortable with borrowing.
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A short-term business loan can help your business cover gaps in funding, pay for an emergency expense or jump on the opportunity to grow on short notice.
Learn moreLenders have different eligibility requirements for short-term financing.
Before applying for a short-term business loan, you’ll need to have some important information and key documents ready to share with your lender.
Getting ready to apply for a loan? Get your paperwork in order and get approved more quickly.
Learn moreWhen shopping for loans, consider prequalifying with us. Bankrate offers multiple benefits if you decide to prequalify on our site, including:
Different types of short-term loans will have different advantages, depending on your business priorities. Here’s what you should know.
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