Alternatives to fast business loans

If your business is in need of quick cash, your first instinct might be to apply for a fast business loan. These come from online lenders that offer quick approvals and next-day loan funding.

But fast business loans have a variety of drawbacks. With less-than-perfect credit, you could face high rates and loan fees. And even with strong credit, the repayment term or borrowing limits might be less than ideal.

If you find that fast business loans aren’t for you and want to explore other options, here are the best alternatives to fast business loans.

Traditional business loans

Traditional business loans aren’t focused on the speed of approval and funding. While you can get a traditional business loan from an online lender, they’re more typically offered by banks or credit unions.

Traditional business loans usually have larger loan limits and flexible repayment terms. They may also have lower interest rates and fees, especially if you have a great credit score. But they may have stricter requirements than alternative lenders. For example, traditional lenders might want to see several years in business and strong revenue like $100,000 to $250,000 annually. If you’re an established business with solid credit, traditional business loans may be the best option for you.

However, getting a business loan and receiving the funds can take much longer. If the lender uses a manual underwriting process, it could take days to a week or more before the lender makes a decision. After that, disbursing the funds to your business bank account could take a few more days.

SBA loans

SBA loans are regulated and partially guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. You apply for them through banks, credit unions or online lenders. These lenders then submit paperwork to the SBA to ensure it meets the SBA’s standards.

The biggest disadvantage of the SBA loans is that it takes a long time to receive funds — anywhere from 30 to 90 days. But the wait can be worth it for anyone who qualifies, as SBA loan rates and terms are generally more favorable than other types of loans.

There are many types of SBA loans, including:

• 7(a)
• Microloans
• Express loans
• 504 loans

Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping means funding your company yourself. Instead of turning to a fast business loan or other investors, you use your personal savings to cover the company’s expenses.

This is common for new business owners who are just starting out. But nothing is stopping you from investing in your company at any point throughout its life. Bootstrapping can also refer to using the company’s own funds to cover expenses and pay for growth.

There are three main stages of bootstrapping:

The early stages of bootstrapping allow you to avoid debt and retain more control over your business. But if you don’t have sufficient revenue or personal savings to put into your company, you won’t get very far through bootstrapping.

Business grants

Business grants are funds that you can use without any expectation of paying them back. Given that they’re free money for your company, the application process can be highly competitive, so relying on them is hard if you’re in a financial pinch.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t worth applying for. Many governmental entities, from the federal government to your local city, might offer grant programs. There are also grants from larger businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Keep an eye out for grant programs in your area. If you see one you qualify for, take the time to apply. They can offer a valuable infusion of cash into your business.

Crowdfunding

Another fast business loan alternative is crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is a method of fundraising that relies on getting a small amount of money from many different people. If you convince 100,000 to each give you $1, that’s $100,000 for your company to use.

There are a few different types of crowdfunding you can try.

Donation crowdfunding

Donation crowdfunding is one of the most common crowdfunding methods. You ask people to help you out by donating some money. There is no expectation that donors receive anything in return and very little paperwork or bureaucracy to deal with.

The drawback of this method is that you’re relying solely on the goodwill of donors. You aren’t offering any incentive to donors, so these campaigns often fall short of their goals.

Reward crowdfunding

Reward crowdfunding is an option for business owners who want to provide something to people who choose to help with their crowdfunding campaign. It’s a popular way for companies to pre-sell a product, getting money upfront and using those funds to produce it.

For example, you might want to design and sell a unique backpack. You can start a crowdfunding campaign and promise to ship a backpack to anyone contributing at least $50. People who contribute more might get additional perks or rewards.

Reward crowdfunding campaigns are the most popular type of crowdfunding out there. Campaigns typically last between one and three months. Companies looking to sell a tangible product to consumers tend to do best with these campaigns.

Equity crowdfunding

Equity crowdfunding is relatively rare, but with the passage of the JOBS Act, it has become a viable option for some companies.

With equity crowdfunding, you sell a stake in your business in exchange for funding. You can set investment minimums or maximums and work with potential investors to raise funds.

Equity crowdfunding is useful if you want to raise a large amount of money, but it is far more complicated than donation or reward-based campaigns. The process can take many months, and you’ll need a strong business pitch to attract investors.

Another drawback is that you must be ready to deal with government regulations and SEC rules regarding equity sales.

Debt crowdfunding

Debt crowdfunding involves raising money with the promise that you’ll pay the money back over time. It’s like getting a normal loan but raising funds from many lenders.

The advantage of debt crowdfunding is that you can raise money more easily than donation or reward crowdfunding, especially if you’re offering a reasonable return on the loan. It also lets you avoid giving up equity in the business.

Campaigns are also relatively quick, lasting about a month.

The drawback is that you’re putting your business on the hook for the loan payments. If your company struggles to turn the loan proceeds into higher revenues, it could have trouble repaying the loan.

Peer-to-peer lending

Peer-to-peer lending involves borrowing money from other everyday people rather than using a fast business loan from a traditional or online lender.

There are some peer-to-peer business lenders available. But, most peer-to-peer lending sites focus on personal loans, so you might have to take on some personal risk if you want to fund your company this way.

The benefit of peer-to-peer lending is that it can be easier to qualify for than other types of loans. Because your loan is funded by dozens or hundreds of people, each lending a small amount, they won’t be as worried about the risk of default as a single lender offering you a loan of thousands of dollars.

Most peer-to-peer loans come with high fees and interest rates to compensate for default risk and offer an attractive return to investors. There’s also no guarantee that investors will be willing to fund your loan or do so quickly, meaning the process could take much longer than other types of financing.

Microloans

Microloans are loans for small amounts of money. Depending on the lender, the limit can range from a few thousand dollars to as much as $50,000.

The SBA microloan program, for example, offers loans up to $50,000. Rather than coming directly from the SBA, the SBA makes these loans through nonprofit, community-based lenders.

Each lender sets different rates and terms. But, the loans tend to have relatively low interest rates and can have long repayment terms. This can help keep the monthly payment affordable.

Other entities, including local governments or community groups, might also offer microloan programs, so keep an eye out for opportunities in your area if you think a microloan is right for your business.

Business credit cards

Business credit cards are a popular alternative to fast business loans. They make it easy to build credit, pay for everyday expenses on credit, financing those purchases for the short term. If you don’t carry a balance from one statement to another, you won’t have to pay interest. But you do have the flexibility to carry a balance for a longer period if you desire.

Some cards even offer extended 0% APR periods when you sign up. This perk lets you make purchases or transfer over debt from a high-interest card and make interest-free payments for a certain amount of time.

If they do charge interest, card rates tend to start higher than traditional loan rates, especially if you have strong credit. But they could be cheaper than other business loans if your company has poor credit and needs to turn to alternative lenders.

Business credit cards also offer other perks. Many offer rewards in the form of cashback, points, or miles. Depending on the card, you might get as much as 5 percent or more back on every eligible purchase, which can translate to big savings for your company.

Other benefits may include automatic loyalty status with airlines or hotel chains, access to unique events, complimentary rental car or travel insurance and more.

Bottom line

Fast business loan alternatives have pros and cons. They can help when your company faces a cash crunch, but you pay a premium for speed. If you’re not pressed for time or want to explore alternatives, there are many other ways for your company to raise money.