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Best Business Loans For Low-Revenue Companies In 2026

Compare the Best Business Loans for Low-Revenue Companies in 2026
| COMPANY | FORBES ADVISOR RATING | LOAN AMOUNTS | APR | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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$5,000 to $400,000
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Varies by loan
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Via Ondeck's Website
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$2,000 to $250,000
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N/A
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Via Forbes Advisor
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$1,000 to $250,000
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Interest rates start at 4.66%
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On Fundbox's Website
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Up to $1 million
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Varies by qualifications
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On Biz2credit's Website *See Website For Details
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Best Business Loans for Low-Revenue Companies: A Closer Look
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.
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.


