Getting a business credit card is typically easier than getting a small business loan or line of credit. But even business credit cards issuers tend to want to run a credit check when you apply.
For most business owners, getting a business credit card without a credit check is unlikely to happen. But if your business is well established and you have solid financials, there are some options available.
What Is Alternative Business Financing?
Alternative business financing is capital that you can borrow from non-traditional sources. This type of financing typically offers more flexibility in terms of the qualification criteria your company will need to satisfy, such as:
Credit Requirements
Collateral Requirements
Time in Business
As a tradeoff for the easier qualification requirements, alternative lending options generally charge higher interest rates and fees than bank loans. Alternative loans may require you to pay them back at a much faster rate as well.
However, if you can’t qualify for traditional business financing, an alternative business lender may be able to help you access the capital you need now. Plus, if you manage your alternative loan or line of credit well (and it reports to a business credit bureau), it might even help you to build business credit so that you’re in a better place to qualify for other types of financing in the future.
Read below for some highlights of three alternative lending options to help you build your business credit.
1. Online Business Loans
Once upon a time, if you wanted to borrow money for your business you had to make a trip down to your local bank branch or credit union to see if you could qualify for funding. However, a new generation of business lenders has since emerged to offer business owners an alternative way to secure capital.
Online lenders often have looser qualification requirements when compared with traditional banks. Nonetheless, you’ll still probably need to have decent personal and business credit to get approved. You should also expect that personal guarantees and collateral are common requirements for online loans — just as they’re often needed to secure traditional bank loans.
How to Qualify
- On average, your business must have been established for at least two years (though some lenders accept applicants with less time in business)
- Good business and personal credit are typically needed, but they may be less important (and the requirements may be less strict) than with traditional bank loans
Pros and Cons
Online loans can be a great option if you want to establish business credit, need business funding fast, or you’re only looking to borrow a small amount of cash. New businesses, unique businesses, and businesses without well-established credit history may also be able to borrow with an online lender when a traditional bank might say no.
But online loans aren’t always the most affordable option. If your primary concern is securing the lowest rate possible for business financing, an online loan might not make you happy. Traditional banks often (though not always) offer lower rates on business financing.
Also, some online lenders aren’t very transparent with their rates and fees. If you’re having a hard time understanding how much an online loan will actually cost you, try using Nav’s free small business loan calculators to translate fees and loan costs into APR. You can compare available offers from there.
2. Invoice Financing
Is your business structured in a way so that it gets paid after delivering services or goods to customers? If so, invoice financing is an alternative lending option that might work for you.
Invoice financing, sometimes called accounts receivable financing, is a way for a business to borrow against the money it’s owed by its customers. Essentially, your invoices become collateral for the funds you borrow from a lender.
How to Qualify
- Usually only available for B2B businesses based in the United States
- Credit requirements are generally less strict, but past credit issues, like bankruptcy or major liens, can be a problem
- You may need to have accounting software that shows at least three months (or more) of data
Pros and Cons
Invoice financing can provide you fast access to capital (often within 1-3 business days). The application process is usually easy and requires minimal paperwork to complete.
On the down side, invoice financing can be quite expensive (with APRs ranging from around 14% to 68%). Payback terms are generally rapid as well. In most cases, you’ll be expected to make weekly payments to the lender until the loan is repaid in full.
Because of the high costs and quick payback requirements, invoice financing is best reserved only for emergencies.
3. Microloans
Microloans are issued through non-profit organizations aptly named microlenders. Although the maximum loan size is generally $50,000, the average microloan issued to a small business or startup is a much smaller $6,000.
How to Qualify
- Usually only available to businesses with five employees or less
- Credit requirements are generally less strict, but past credit problems can cause qualification problems
- You may be required to attend a business training class
Pros and Cons
Interest rates on microloans aren’t the cheapest form of business financing available. But, the 12%-18% average rate is still reasonable, especially when compared with other alternative lending options.
Microloans are also known for having heavy documentation requirements. Thankfully, you may be able to receive mentorship from the lender as you navigate your way through the application process.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of using micro loans is the fact that they can potentially help you to build your business credit (assuming the account is reported to a business credit agency). So, if you pay on time and manage a reported microloan properly, you may set the stage for your business to qualify for better funding options from a bank in the future..
Before You Apply for Financing
Before you apply for any type of business financing, it’s a good idea to ask yourself the following five questions:
- Will this financing help me to solve a problem or strengthen my business?
- Can my company afford the payments on the money I want to borrow?
- How likely is my business to qualify for the loan?
- Is this the best deal available for my current situation?
- Does the lender report positive payment information to the business credit bureaus?
There’s no doubt that business financing can potentially be a powerful tool to help your business grow and succeed. However, all business financing — alternative or otherwise — comes with a level of risk.
It’s always wise to do your homework in advance before you decide to borrow money for your business. If you don’t rush the process, you’ll be much happier in the long term. You might even enjoy the added bonus of establishing a positive business credit profile that can be a valuable asset in the future.
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