9
Best Working Capital Loans For Businesses

Featured Partner Offers
OnDeck
$5,000 to $250,000
Varies by loan
625
AdvancePoint Capital
$10,000 - $2 million
Lower than the national average
620
Compare the Best Working Capital Loans
| COMPANY | FORBES ADVISOR RATING | LOAN AMOUNTS | TIME IN BUSINESS | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
$5,000 to $400,000
|
one year
|
Via Ondeck's Website
| |
|
$500 to $2 million
|
12 months
|
On Lendio's Website
| ||
|
$2,000 to $250,000
|
at least one year
|
Via Forbes Advisor
| ||
|
$5,000 to $250,000
|
Less than one year
|
On Bluevine’s Website
| ||
|
$5,000 to $500,000
|
six months
|
On National Funding's Website
| ||
|
$1,000 to $250,000
|
three months
|
On Fundbox's Website
| ||
|
$25,000 to $500,000
|
two years
|
Via Forbes Advisor
| ||
|
Up to $1 million
|
six months*
|
On Biz2credit's Website *See Website For Details
|
Best Working Capital Loans: A Closer Look
Best for Short-Term Loans
OnDeck offers flexible business lending options and fast funding. It provides an excellent short-term loan from $5,000 to $400,000 with repayment terms up to 24 months.
Most Popular is calculated from the number of times each affiliate product was selected by Forbes Advisor users over a six month time period.
Best for a Lender Comparison Site
Lendio provides the best online business loan marketplace that helps business owners compare options from 75+ bank and non-bank lenders.
Best for Lines of Credit Backed by American Express
American Express® Business Line of Credit* offers business lines of credit from $2,000 to $250,000 with no prepayment penalty.
Best for Flexible Lines of Credit
BlueVine’s flexible lines of credit offer customers multiple payment structures. Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $250,000.
Best for Small-to-Mid-Sized Businesses
National Funding offers small business loans and equipment financing with early pay-off discounts that can help business owners save.
Best for Quick Approvals
Fundbox’s AI-powered platform offers business owners quick approvals and funding as early as the next business day.
Best for Established Business
Funding Circle offers established businesses affordable loans from $25,000 to $500,000 with no minimum annual revenue requirements.
Best for Financing Up to $2 Million
Biz2Credit offers term loans up to $500,000, working capital financing up to $2 million and commercial real estate loans up to $6 million.
Tips for Comparing Working Capital Loans
Consider these tips when comparing working capital loans:
- Where possible, prequalify. Some business financing lenders offer a prequalification process. This means prospective borrowers can share details about their financing needs, revenue and other relevant information to find out what loan amounts, rates and repayment terms they may qualify for. This process typically only requires a soft credit inquiry, which has no impact on your credit score.
- Determine how you want to receive your funds. Two of the most common ways you can receive and access your business funds are through a lump-sum payment or on an as-needed basis. If you want to receive your funds up front, choose a traditional working capital or term loan. However, if you want to use funds only as you need them, consider a business line of credit.
- Consider the repayment terms and flexibility. Each business financing lender has its own repayment structures. While some types of financing require monthly payments, others may require daily or weekly payments. Take this into account when choosing your preferred lender and business loan.
- Look out for additional fees. Some lenders offer fee-free business loans that don’t require borrowers to pay origination fees, late payment fees, prepayment penalties or any other common loan costs. However, this is not always the case. Be sure to confirm a lender’s fee structure when shopping for the best terms. Factor in additional fees into your decision-making process.
- Evaluate the lender’s customer support options. If you’ve found a lender that’s prepared to offer the money you need at acceptable terms, consider the lender’s support options before signing the loan agreement. Customer support can make a huge difference down the line if you encounter issues with repayment. Research the lender’s customer service resources and read reviews to make sure it’s a good fit.
What Is a Working Capital Loan?
A working capital loan is financing a business can use to pay for day-to-day operations. This may include covering payroll, making debt payments, restocking inventory and staying current on rent. Working capital loans are typically offered by traditional banks, credit unions and online lenders.
Annual percentage rates (APRs) may be lower than for long-term business loans but can still range anywhere from 3% up to 99%. That said, qualification requirements also may be less stringent than for long-term business loans, especially through online lenders. Overall, working capital loans are ideal for seasonal businesses and other operations that need short-term access to funds.
How Does a Working Capital Loan Work?
Working capital loans are designed to help businesses pay for payroll, rent and other everyday business expenses. These are typically short-term loans that can help you manage your cash flow. Loans are generally issued as a lump sum and repaid with interest. However, there are other types of working capital loans—like business lines of credit—that you can use to access on an as-needed basis.
When You Should Consider a Working Capital Loan
A working capital loan may be helpful to business owners who are struggling to cover the day-to-day operational costs or need to finance temporary expenses for inventory, payroll or supplies. Keep in mind, however, owners shouldn’t use working capital loans to cover long-term expenses like expanding a business or financing expensive equipment.
Some situations where a business owner should consider a working capital loan include when:
- The business needs money to cover payroll or rent until outstanding invoices are paid
- Sales are seasonal or otherwise cyclical, and the business experiences annual dips in revenue
- Manufacturing needs are greater during low-revenue months, and the business needs to cover production costs while finances are tight
Pros and Cons of Working Capital Loans
Pros
- Funds can solve cash flow needs
- Can help seasonal businesses cover season-driven dips
- Loans amounts extend up to $2 million
- Flexible qualification requirements
Cons
- Most lenders require a personal guarantee
- May come with short repayment terms
- Some lenders charge high interest rates and other processing fees
- Some working capital loans require weekly or daily payments
Types of Working Capital Loans
Working capital loans can help business owners fill gaps in funding, make up for seasonal fluctuations in revenue and cover payroll costs. What’s more, business owners can choose from several types of working capital loans to meet these varied needs, including term loans, lines of credit, SBA loans and invoice factoring.
1. Term Loans
A term loan is a type of financing extended by a bank, online lender or other financial institution that must be repaid over a set period of time—usually anywhere from a few months to 25 years. Loan amounts typically span from $2,000 to $500,000, and interest rates can range from 6% to 99%.
Related: Best Small Business Loans
2. Business Lines of Credit
Business lines of credit let borrowers draw against a set amount of money on an as-needed basis. Instead of receiving money as a lump sum, a business owner can access the line of credit during the draw period, which usually lasts up to five years. Credit limits generally range from $2,000 to $250,000, and APRs extend anywhere from 10% to 99%.
3. SBA Loans
SBA loans are backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration and are intended to help small business owners start, maintain and grow their businesses. There are a number of SBA loan programs intended for different purposes, circumstances and applicant qualifications—each with its own loan amounts, terms and rates. Popular SBA loan programs for working capital include:
- SBA 7(a) loans. The SBA’s 7(a) loan program is the administration’s primary business loan offering. Loans are available up to $5 million and can be used for working capital, but they are also appropriate for buying real estate, refinancing debt and purchasing business supplies. As of Nov. 3, 2021, SBA 7(a) loan interest rates range from 5.5% to 9.75%.
- CAPLines. Part of the 7(a) program, CAPLines are loans meant to provide small businesses working capital for short-term and cyclical—or seasonal—needs. Borrowers can choose from the Contract CAPLine loan, a seasonal line of credit, a builders line of credit and a working capital line of credit—all with $5 million borrowing limits and maximum 10-year repayment terms.
- SBA Microloans. SBA Microloans are available to eligible small businesses that need financial assistance to get started or expand. Funds can be used for working capital, as well as the purchase of equipment and machinery, inventory and other operational costs. Loan amounts are available up to $50,000, and rates vary by lender but range from 8% to 13%.
4. Invoice Factoring
Invoice factoring is the process of selling a business’ invoices to a third-party invoice factoring company for a fee in exchange for a portion of the outstanding balances—generally around 85% to 95% of the total value. Once the invoices are sold, the factoring company is responsible for collections. The business receives the remainder of the funds minus any fees once the factoring company collects the invoices.
Invoice factoring enables small businesses to get cash quickly without qualifying for a traditional loan and wading through a lengthy loan application process.
5. Merchant Cash Advances
If your business processes a large number of credit card transactions, a merchant cash advance may be a good financing option. With this type of working capital loan, a lender allows you to borrow money against a portion of your future sales.
The lender will charge you a fee, known as a factor rate, that you’ll then pay in addition to the loan amount with credit card transactions. These loans can be expensive, but they have less strict borrowing requirements compared to other financing options and can be funded quickly.
How to Get a Working Capital Loan
The process for getting a working capital loan depends largely on the type of loan and the lender. However, there are a few steps you’re likely to encounter when applying for such a loan. Follow these general steps to get a working capital loan:
1. Evaluate your borrowing needs. If you suspect your business may benefit from a working capital loan, spend some time evaluating how much you need to borrow and for how long. Consider how much you can afford to make in payments each month and whether you need a lump-sum cash infusion or a line of credit you can access on an as-needed basis.
2. Check your business and personal credit scores. If your business has its own credit profile, lenders will evaluate both your business and personal credit scores. Before you apply, check your scores to evaluate your approval odds. It’s necessary to have a personal FICO Score of at least 530 to qualify for a working capital loan. However, a score of 600 or higher will qualify you for better rates and terms.
3. Research and compare lenders. Once you know how much you need to borrow and whether you’re likely to qualify, research lenders with loan amounts and qualification requirements that fit your needs. Compare banks, credit unions and online lenders based on available interest rates, repayment terms and fees. Then, spend some time reading customer reviews to evaluate each lender’s reputation.
4. Gather required documentation. Required documents may vary by lender. However, most financial institutions require business loan applicants to provide information about existing business loans and submit at least 12 months of personal and business bank statements, plus tax returns for a minimum of two years. You also may need to provide a detailed business plan—especially if you own a startup.
5. Submit a formal loan application. When your documentation is ready, submit a formal loan application through the lender’s website or at a branch. Procedures vary, but most lenders contact the prospective borrower via phone or email to request any additional information before processing the application, making a loan offer and sending it to underwriting. Many lenders also let you check your application status online.
Alternatives to a Working Capital Loan
A working capital loan may not be the best option for you and your business. There are alternative financing options that you can consider.
- Business credit cards. For ongoing or unpredictable expenses, a business credit card can be a good option to cover short-term costs. Nonetheless, if you do choose to use a business credit card to finance your business, have a plan to quickly repay your debt and be sure to not overborrow. APRs can be above 28%, making them an expensive option if you don’t repay your balance in a timely manner.
- Business grants. If your business can qualify, business grants can be one of the best options for funding your business. Business grants don’t need to be repaid, but they can have strict application requirements and often have competitive application processes.
- Peer-to-peer lending. Peer-to-peer lending connects your business with appropriate investors, bypassing traditional lenders. Although peer-to-peer lending may not be a good option for all businesses, it can have less strict borrowing requirements than other lenders.
Methodology
We reviewed 19 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 nine 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)
Are working capital loans a good idea?
Working loans can be a good idea depending on your business and its needs. If you need to finance temporary expenses on a short-term basis, working capital loans can be a good fit for your business, especially if you don’t meet the requirements for traditional, long-term loans. Nonetheless, long-term loans often come with lower interest rates, making them a cheaper option if your business qualifies.
Can you get a working capital loan with bad credit?
It is possible to get a working capital loan with a FICO Score of just 530, but it may prove more difficult than for more creditworthy borrowers. That said, borrowers with bad credit typically have better approval odds through online lenders than traditional banks and credit unions. Business owners with access to valuable collateral also may qualify for financing more easily than those limited to unsecured loans.
How do you qualify for a working capital loan?
To qualify for a working capital loan through an online lender, business owners should have a personal credit score of at least 530—though a score of at least 600 is most competitive, especially for traditional banks and lenders.
Lenders also look at how long an applicant has been in business, as well as the business’ financial records and business plan. This often means applicants must provide at least 12 months of personal and business bank statements and at least two years of tax returns as part of the application process.
What is a good interest rate on a working capital loan?
Interest rates on working capital loans vary based on the type of financing, the lender and the borrower’s personal and business credit profiles. In general, though, rates can range anywhere from 3% to 99%, depending on the lender, loan terms and applicant qualifications.






