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Best Business Loans For Low-Revenue Companies In 2026

Back to libraryKiah Treece, Jordan TarverApr 25, 2026
Best Business Loans For Low-Revenue Companies In 2026

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor

Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Advertisers do not and cannot influence our ratings. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the business loans methodology for the ratings below.

  • 27 lenders researched
  • 16 data points evaluated
  • Unbiased editorial team
  • No AI writing

Compare the Best Business Loans for Low-Revenue Companies in 2026

COMPANYFORBES ADVISOR RATINGLOAN AMOUNTSAPRLEARN MORE
4.5
$5,000 to $400,000
Varies by loan
Via Ondeck's Website
4.0
$2,000 to $250,000
N/A
Via Forbes Advisor
4.0
$1,000 to $250,000
Interest rates start at 4.66%
On Fundbox's Website
4.0
Up to $1 million
Varies by qualifications
On Biz2credit's Website *See Website For Details

Best Business Loans for Low-Revenue Companies: A Closer Look

Best for Short-term Loans

OnDeck

4.8

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Loan amounts

$5,000 to $400,000

varies by loan

APR range

Varies by loan

Minimum Credit Score

625

Learn More Arrow

Via Ondeck’s Website

$5,000 to $400,000

varies by loan

Varies by loan

625

Editor’s Take

We picked OnDeck for its variety of business lending products and same-day funding. OnDeck offers a term loan from $5,000 to $400,000 with repayments terms of up to 24 months. You can also access a credit limit of $6,000 to $100,000 through its line of credit with a 12-month repayment term that resets after each withdrawal.

Pros & Cons
  • Term loans from $5,000 to $400,000
  • Same-day funding available
  • 0% origination fee limited to renewed term loans
  • $100,000 minimum annual revenue requirement
  • Must have been operating for at least one year
  • Does not lend to businesses in North Dakota

Details

Eligibility

  • Minimum credit score: 625
  • Time in business: One year
  • Minimum revenue: $100,000 per year

Turnaround time

You can apply and receive a decision from OnDeck on the same day.

Consumer Sentiment Index

  • Overall rating: 3.1/5 — Satisfied

Based on 6,300 customer insights and reviews for the entire category.

Some customers praised the lender for its quick and straightforward lending process, while others complained of high interest rates and feeling misled about rates and fees.

Disclaimer: The Consumer Sentiment Index from Forbes Advisor uses a proprietary weighting system designed by our subject matter experts. It evaluates thousands of consumer insights and reviews from leading online forums to determine customer satisfaction at scale.

Best for average monthly revenue of at least $3,000

American Express® Business Line of Credit

4.0

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Loan amounts

$2,000 to $250,000

APR range

N/A

Minimum Credit Score

660 FICO at the time of application

Get Matched Now Arrow

Via Forbes Advisor

$2,000 to $250,000

N/A

660 FICO at the time of application

Editor’s Take

American Express Business Blueprint™ is best for its American Express® Business Line of Credit (formerly Kabbage from American Express and Kabbage Funding™), which gives business owners the chance to secure funding between $2,000 to $250,000. Repayment terms include six, 12, 18 and 24 months with monthly fees of 3% to 9% for six-month loans, 6% to 18% for 12-month loans, 9% to 27% for 18-month loans and 12% to 18% for 24-month loans.

Line of credit customers incur a loan fee for each month they have an outstanding balance. Total monthly fees incurred over the loan term range from 3% to 9% for six-month loans, 6% to 18% for 12-month loans, 9% to 27% for 18-month loans and 12% to 18% for 24-month loans.

In addition to its line of credit, American Express Business Blueprint provides other tools beneficial to small business owners, including its own mobile app that provides comprehensive cash flow insights. All businesses are unique and are subject to approval and review.

Pros & Cons
  • No prepayment penalty
  • Four different repayment options
  • Offers small to large lines of credit
  • Monthly fees on unpaid balances
  • Requires personal guarantee
  • Lines of credit over $150,000 are only available to borrowers who meet additional criteria

Details

Eligibility

  • Minimum credit score: 660 FICO at the time of application*
  • Time in business: At least one year**
  • Average revenue: at least $3,000 monthly

All businesses are unique and are subject to approval and review**. The required FICO score may be higher based on your relationship with American Express, credit history and other factors.*

Turnaround time

Once application is approved, funds can take up to three business days to appear in your account, depending on your bank.

Consumer Sentiment Index

  • Overall rating: 2.6/5 – Neutral

Based on 6,300 customer insights and reviews for the entire category.

American Express Business Line of Credit received mixed reviews from borrowers. Some appreciated the reasonable rates and the ease of getting funding, but there were issues with customer service and applications being denied for unclear reasons.

Disclaimer: The Consumer Sentiment Index from Forbes Advisor uses a proprietary weighting system designed by our subject matter experts. It evaluates thousands of consumer insights and reviews from leading online forums to determine customer satisfaction at scale.

Best for Quick Approvals

Fundbox

4.0

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Loan amounts

$1,000 to $250,000

APR range

Interest rates start at 4.66%

Minimum Credit Score

600

Learn More Arrow

On Fundbox’s Website

$1,000 to $250,000

Interest rates start at 4.66%

600

Editor’s Take

Fundbox is an AI-powered business lending platform that speeds up the application, decision-making and funding process. It offers decisions within three minutes and funds as soon as the next business day.

Prospective borrowers have two business financing options through Fundbox. Business owners can apply for revolving business lines of credit up to $250,000 with repayment terms of 12, 24, 52, or 76  weeks. Your available credit goes back up as you repay your line of credit.

Pros & Cons
  • Flexible eligibility criteria
  • Small and large loan amounts
  • Short repayment terms of 12, 24, 52, or 76 weeks

Loan Details

  • Minimum credit score: 600
  • Minimum annual revenue: $30,000
  • Minimum time in business: three months

Funding Speed

Funds may arrive within two business days of requesting a credit line draw.

Best for Funding Options

Biz2Credit

4.0

Our ratings take into account loan cost, loan details, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and application process. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Loan amounts

Up to $1 million

Varies depending on qualifications

APR range

Varies by qualifications

Minimum Credit Score

650*

*See website for details

Get Matched Now Arrow

Via Forbes Advisor

Up to $1 million

Varies depending on qualifications

Varies by qualifications

650*

*See website for details

Editor’s Take

Biz2Credit is a digital funding platform that provides three funding options—term, revenue-based financing and commercial real estate (CRE) loans—ranging from Up to $1 million. It only takes a few minutes to apply.

Biz2Credit can connect business owners with revenue-based financing Up to $2M+ and term loans Up to $1 million. Revenue-based financing payments are flexible based on business performance, with a right to reconcile against actual business receipts while term loans are repaid through weekly, bimonthly or monthly payments over the course of 12 to 36 months. Biz2Credit also offers interest-only CRE loans from Up to $2M+ with terms between 12 and 36 months; payments are due monthly.

In the event that Biz2Credit cannot provide a financial product, it may present third-party options to qualified prospective borrowers. However, Biz2Credit confirms that “in the vast majority of cases, [it] will make a financing decision without referral to any external party.”

Pros & Cons
  • Revenue-based financing has flexible qualification requirements
  • Can prequalify for submitting an application
  • Offers term loans with weekly or biweekly payments
  • Does not disclose financing costs
  • Does not disclose turnaround time
  • High annual revenue requirement

Details

Eligibility

Eligibility varies based on the financing option you choose.

Term loan

  • Minimum credit score: 650
  • Time in business: 18 months
  • Minimum revenue: $250,000 per year

Revenue-based financing

  • Minimum credit score: 575
  • Time in business: 6 months
  • Minimum revenue: $10,000 per year

Turnaround time

Biz2Credit does not disclose the turnaround time for its financing options.

Tips to Compare Business Revenue Loans

To get the best loan for your business, compare offers from a variety of lenders. Here are some tips to help you compare the best business revenue loans:

  • Check eligibility requirements. In addition to enforcing a minimum revenue needed, most lenders consider credit history and look at how long a business has been operating. Make sure you understand these requirements and choose a lender that best aligns with your business’ qualifications.
  • Understand the total cost of borrowing. Revenue loans typically come with annual percentage rates (APRs) starting around 8%. Lenders may also charge origination fees, prepayment penalties and other fees.
  • Evaluate approval and funding speeds. Approval, underwriting and funding speeds vary by lender and loan type. If you need to access funds quickly, pay attention to the average funding speeds each lender offers.
  • Ask for recommendations and read online reviews. Research each borrower’s reputation before submitting a formal loan application. If you’re happy with your current bank, inquire about its lending options or ask other industry professionals for recommendations. Also read online reviews to see what current and former customers think about lenders.
Pro Tip

What Is Business Revenue?

Business revenue is the income generated by a company. Revenue is also referred to as a business’ gross sales or top line and typically includes sales of products or services. Because revenue only accounts for sales, it does not speak to the costs of doing business or a business’ operating efficiency.

Why Does Business Revenue Matter to Lenders?

Lenders use business revenue to assess a company’s ability to repay a loan. A healthy revenue stream often indicates a well-run company and gives lenders more confidence in a borrower’s financial stability. The higher the revenue, the more likely the company is to make loan payments on time.

Lenders typically look at a business’ checking account statements and other financial documents to calculate qualifying revenue. Minimum revenue requirements vary by lender, but many require a company to have at least $100,000 in annual revenue to qualify for a loan.

Can You Get a Business Loan With No Revenue?

Getting a business loan with no revenue is possible, but it may be more challenging to qualify. Most lenders want proof of income before approving a loan, so businesses without any revenue may have to look for alternative financing options.

There are some lenders that don’t impose a revenue requirement. However, applicants must still meet minimum credit score and time in business requirements. Others specialize in businesses with low annual revenue—often less than $100,000.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also offers loans that may be available to businesses with low revenue. In contrast to most business loans, the SBA imposes maximum revenue requirements as a way of serving small businesses. SBA microloans often come with the most accessible qualification requirements.

Revenue Loan Alternatives

If you can’t qualify for a business revenue loan, consider these alternatives:

  • Business credit cards. Business credit cards can be a good option for short-term financing needs. Many business credit cards offer 0% APR introductory periods, making it easier to finance business expenses without established revenue.
  • Business lines of credit. Business lines of credit provide business owners with a source of funding that can be accessed as needed. In contrast to business loans, which are ideal for large purchases, lines of credit are a good solution for ongoing cash flow needs.
  • Invoice factoring. Invoice factoring lets business owners sell their outstanding invoices to a third-party lender in exchange for a portion of the outstanding balances. Because factoring companies look at the borrower’s client payment history, this is often a good option for businesses without established credit.
  • Merchant cash advances. A merchant cash advance provides you with a lump sum of cash in exchange for a percentage of your future credit card sales. This can be a good option if you need funding quickly and your business has a high volume of credit card sales.

Methodology

We reviewed 27 popular lenders based on 16 data points in the categories of loan details, loan costs, eligibility and accessibility, customer experience and the application process. We chose the best lenders based on the weighting assigned to each category:

  • Loan cost: 35%
  • Loan details: 25%
  • Customer experience: 20%
  • Eligibility and accessibility: 10%
  • Application process: 10%

Within each major category, we also considered several characteristics, including available loan amounts, repayment terms and applicable fees. We also looked at minimum credit score and time in business requirements and the geographic availability of the lender. Finally, we evaluated each provider’s customer support tools, borrower perks and features that simplify the borrowing process—like online applications, prequalification options and mobile apps.

Where appropriate, we awarded partial points depending on how well a lender met each criterion.

To learn more about how Forbes Advisor rates lenders, and our editorial process, check out our Loans Rating & Review Methodology.

Find the Best Small Business Loans

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a revenue loan?

A revenue loan is a type of business loan that is based on the company’s revenue rather than—or in addition to—factors like credit history and time in business. Lenders use the company’s revenue to assess risk and determine how much money they are willing to lend to a particular borrower.

How do I enter revenue on a business loan application?

The process for entering revenue on a business loan application depends on the lender’s application process and underwriting requirements. In general, though, you can enter your business’ revenue as part of the application and then submit financial documents as part of verification and underwriting.

Is revenue-based financing a good idea?

Whether revenue-based financing is a good idea depends on the business and borrower’s qualifications. Established businesses with strong credit scores may not need to rely as heavily on revenue numbers as newer companies with less history. However, revenue calculations do not consider overall business expenses or operating efficiency and may not accurately reflect a borrower’s ability to make loan payments.

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