9
Best Business Cash Flow Loans
Lendio
Loan amounts
$500 to $5 million
APR range
As low as 3%
Minimum Credit Score
560
$500 to $5 million
As low as 3%
560
Eligibility
- Minimum Credit Score: 560
- Time in Business: Six Months
- Minimum Annual Revenue: $50,000
Funding time
Applying through Lendio takes 15 minutes. After you review your offers and are approved by your lender, you can receive your funds in as little as 24 hours.
Compare the Best Business Cash Flow Loans
| COMPANY | FORBES ADVISOR RATING | LOAN AMOUNTS | APR | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 
|
$5,000 to $400,000
|
6% to 56.6% or higher
|
Via Ondeck's Website
| |
|
$2,000 to $250,000
|
N/A
|
via Forbes Advisor
| |
|
|
$1,000 to $250,000
|
Simple interest starts at 7.8%
|
On BlueVine's Website
| |
|
|
$5,000 to $500,000
|
Buy rates start at 1.11
|
On National Funding's Website
| |
|
|
$1,000 to $250,000
|
4.66% to 25%
|
On Fundbox's Website
| |
|
|
$25,000 to $500,000
|
As low as 7.49%
|
Via Forbes Advisor
| |
|
|
Up to $1 million
|
Varies by qualifications
|
On Biz2Credit's Website *See Website For Details
|
Best Business Cash Flow Loans: A Closer Look
BEST FOR SHORT-TERM LOANS
OnDeck
APR range
6% to 56.6% or higher
varies by loan
Loan amounts
$5,000 to $400,000
varies by loan
Minimum Credit Score
625
6% to 56.6% or higher
varies by loan
$5,000 to $400,000
varies by loan
625
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.
- Customizable weekly or monthly repayment terms
- Reports payment history to business credit bureaus
- No collateral required
- Must have an active business checking account
- Businesses located in North Dakota are not eligible
- High average interest rate of 56.6% APR
Lender Details
Eligibility
- Minimum credit score: 625
- Time in business: one year
- Minimum Annual revenue: $100,000
Turnaround time
You can apply and receive a decision from OnDeck on the same day.
BEST FOR BUSINESS WITH LOW MONTHLY REVENUE
American Express® Business Line of Credit
Loan amounts
$2,000 to $250,000
APR range
N/A
Minimum Credit Score
660 FICO at the time of application
$2,000 to $250,000
N/A
660 FICO at the time of application
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.
- 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
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 FLEXIBLE LINES OF CREDIT
Bluevine
Loan amounts
$1,000 to $250,000
APR range
Simple interest starts at 7.8%
Minimum Credit Score
625
$1,000 to $250,000
Simple interest starts at 7.8%
625
Bluevine is a financial technology company that provides financing solutions to small businesses nationwide. It specializes in business lines of credit and checking accounts. As of December 2021, Bluevine no longer offers invoice factoring as one of its financing methods.
Small business owners looking to access a line of credit on an as-needed basis can receive funds from $1,000 to $250,000. Bluevine offers two payment structures: Flex 6 or Flex 12. Customers who choose Flex 6 make weekly payments over 26 weeks while Flex 12 customers make monthly payments over 12 months. What’s more, after 45 days of payment on Flex 6, or 90 days of payment on Flex 12, you may be eligible for a credit line increase.
Note: Bluevine’s line of credit is available in most U.S. states except Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
- No prepayment penalties or maintenance fees
- Approval decision in as little as five minutes
- Instant access to approved draws with Bluevine Business Checking account
- No mobile app for its line of credit
- Monthly revenue requirement
- Not available to businesses in Nevada, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Eligibility
Eligibility varies on the specific program a business owner chooses.
Weekly plan
- Minimum credit score: 625
- Time in business: Less than one year
- Minimum revenue: $40,000 monthly or $480,000 annually
- Business type: Corporation or LLC
- Bankruptcies: No past bankruptcies
Monthly plan
- Minimum credit score: 700
- Time in business: Three years
- Minimum revenue: $80,000 per month or $960,000 annually
- Business type: Corporation or LLC
Turnaround time
After you submit your application, you can receive a decision in as quickly as five minutes and instant funding with a Bluevine business checking account. Borrowers who don’t have a Bluevine business checking account can receive funds within 24 hours.
Consumer Sentiment Index
- Overall rating: 2.4/5 — Neutral
Based on 6,300 customer insights and reviews for the entire category.
Bluevine’s borrowers reported quick application processes and funding times, but many were also disappointed with their experiences. Some customers noted that the customer service was unresponsive and that there were technical issues during the application process.
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 SMALL- TO MID-SIZED BUSINESSES
National Funding
Loan amounts
$5,000 to $500,000
APR range
Buy rates start at 1.11
Minimum Credit Score
600
$5,000 to $500,000
Buy rates start at 1.11
600
National Funding offers working capital small business loans from $5,000 to $500,000 with terms of four months to two years, paid daily or weekly. Borrowers can use their funds for all working capital needs, including inventory, payroll, marketing, taxes and more. National Funding also offers equipment financing up to $150,000 but applicants must have a minimum personal credit score of 575 to qualify for that financing method.
Unlike most business lenders, National Funding offers early payoff discounts. Small business loan customers who repay their total remaining balance in full within the first 100 days of the contract will automatically receive a 7% discount off the total remaining balance. Equipment financing customers who repay the total remaining balance early, at any point during the term, will automatically receive a 6% discount off the total remaining balance.
- Financing up to $500,000
- Early payoff discounts
- Most loans are funded within 24 hours of approval
- Requires daily or weekly payments
- Potentially high borrowing costs
- Requires minimum gross annual sales of $250,000
Eligibility
- Minimum credit score: 600 (575 for equipment financing)
- Time in business: Six months
- Minimum sales: $250,000 per year
Turnaround time
Most loans are funded within 24 hours of approval, subject to receipt of required documentation, underwriting guidelines and processing time by your bank.
BEST FOR QUICK APPROVALS
Fundbox
Loan amounts
$1,000 to $250,000
APR range
4.66% to 25%
Minimum Credit Score
600
$1,000 to $250,000
4.66% to 25%
600
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.
- Low minimum credit score, time-in-business and revenue requirement
- Offers a free financial tool to help manage historical and predicted cashflow
- Available to businesses based in all 50 states and 5 major U.S. territories
- High Maximum APR of 25%
- May need to sign a personal guarantee to access your funds
- Late payment and non-sufficient funds fees may apply
Loan Details
- Minimum credit score: 600
- Minimum annual revenue: $30,000
- Minimum time in business: 3 months
Funding Speed
Funds may arrive within two business days of requesting a credit line draw.
BEST FOR ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES
Funding Circle
Loan amounts
$25,000 to $500,000
APR range
As low as 7.49%
Minimum Credit Score
660
$25,000 to $500,000
As low as 7.49%
660
Funding Circle has been a direct lender specializing in small business loans since 2010. It has helped 135,000 businesses in 700 industries and lent $20.2 billion globally. We chose Funding Circle because it provides fast, affordable loans with a simple application process and funding in as little as 48 hours. Prospective borrowers have three options: business term loan, line of credit or SBA loan.
Funding Circle term loans range from $25,000 to $500,000 with repayment terms from six months to five years. If you choose to apply for a business line of credit, you can access credit lines between $6,000 and $100,000. However, Funding Circle doesn’t specify its line of credit repayment terms. You can also apply for Funding Circle SBA loans, which range from $25,000 to $500,000 with terms up to 10 years.
There is one main drawback of Funding Circle: There’s a one-time origination fee on each loan ranging from 3.49% to 6.99% of the approved loan amount.
- Loans from $25,000 to $500,000
- Funding in as little as 48 hours
- No minimum annual revenue requirement for most loans
- One-time origination fee between 3.49% to 6.99% of the approved loan amount
- Requires two years in business, so it’s not ideal for startups
- Not available to Nevada businesses
Eligibility
- Minimum credit score: 660 for most loans; 650 for SBA loans
- Time in business: Two years
- Minimum revenue: None for most loans; $400,000 per year for SBA loans
Turnaround time
Depending on the loan type, you can receive your funds within two days. However, SBA loan funding may take up to two weeks.
BEST FOR FUNDING OPTIONS
Biz2Credit
Loan amounts
Up to $1 million
Varies depending on qualifications
APR range
Varies by qualifications
Minimum Credit Score
650*
*See website for details
*See Website For Details
Up to $1 million
Varies depending on qualifications
Varies by qualifications
650*
*See website for details
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.”
- 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
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.
Most Popular is calculated from the number of times each affiliate product was selected by Forbes Advisor users over a six month time period.
Tips for Comparing Business Cash Flow Loans
Cash flow loans can be a great way to get funding for your small business, but it’s important to compare your options carefully before choosing a lender. Use these tips to ensure you get the best deal on your cash flow loan.
- Evaluate your needs. Before applying for a cash flow loan, consider why you need to borrow money and choose a type of cash flow loan that works best for your business.
- Consider the costs. Compare interest rates and terms from multiple lenders, and compare them to the cost of financing alternatives. Also look at the total cost of the loan, including additional fees, and make sure you can afford payments.
- Find a timeline that meets your needs. If your business needs money fast, choose a lender that offers expedited funding. If you have time to compare lenders, you may get a better deal by selecting an option with more extended application, approval and funding times.
- Review the business’ finances. Gauge your approval odds by reviewing your historical and projected revenue before applying. This is also an excellent opportunity to organize the financial documents you’ll need to provide during the application process.
- Compare collateral requirements. Determine whether each lender requires a personal guarantee or files a lien against your business assets. Many cash flow loans are unsecured, but pledging collateral may help you qualify for more competitive rates and repayment terms.
How Do Business Cash Flow Loans Work?
Business cash flow loans are most commonly available through online lenders but may also be available from your local bank or credit union. When you apply for a business cash flow loan, the lender reviews your company’s financial statements and sales projections to determine how much money you can borrow. The loan amount is typically based on your expected future sales.
Depending on the type of financing, cash flow loan payments may be similar to traditional business loans or lines of credit. Other types of business cash flow loans (like merchant cash advances) are repaid directly from the business’ debit and credit card sales.
Interest rates and repayment terms also vary by loan type and lender. In general, though, repayment terms tend to be shorter—and interest rates higher—than traditional business loans.
Types of Business Cash Flow Loans
Consider some of the most common cash flow loans to find the loan that addresses your business’ short- or long-term cash flow demands.
Short-term Loans
Like traditional small business loans, lenders disburse short-term business loans as a lump sum that the borrower repays over time. As the name suggests, repayment terms are brief and typically extend from just three months to 18 months. Payments may be due weekly or daily, making it difficult for businesses to repay.
Interest rates range from around 3% to 50% or higher, and loan amounts may extend to $1 million or more. Short-term loans are best for businesses that need a lump sum of cash to make a purchase or investment that will immediately address cash flow issues and drive revenue.
Business Lines of Credit
A business line of credit is a revolving credit line that allows business owners to borrow cash as needed. Companies can use funds for a wide range of purposes, and interest only accrues on the outstanding balance. Because lines of credit are revolving, borrowers can reuse the funds as they repay their balance.
Borrowing limits generally extend up to $250,000, with interest rates between 10% and 99%, though it varies by lender. Unlike some cash flow loans, lenders consider the borrower’s creditworthiness when evaluating an application. Borrowers should have a personal credit score over 700 to qualify.
Invoice Financing
Invoice financing is a type of short-term loan that allows business owners to borrow against their outstanding invoices. With this type of cash flow loan, the lender advances a portion of unpaid invoices—usually up to 90%. This can be a good option for businesses that need cash quickly but have customers with lengthy payment terms (like 30, 60 or 90 days).
Once the customer pays the invoice, the lender remits the remaining balance to the business owner minus fees. Interest rates are typically between 0.5% and 5% per month, plus an additional factor fee based on how long it takes a customer to pay their invoice. Loan amounts depend on the value of a business’ outstanding invoices.
Because invoice financing relies on a customer’s payment of invoices, eligibility determinations are based more on customer payment history than the business’ creditworthiness. For that reason, invoice financing may be a good option for companies with limited credit history but reliable customers.
Merchant Cash Advances
A merchant cash advance (MCA) lets business owners access a lump sum of cash that’s repaid directly from the business’ future debit and credit card sales (usually between 5% and 20% of each transaction). Loan amounts are flexible and can extend up to $500,000 or more, depending on the lender.
That said, repayment terms may be short, so this type of financing is best for businesses with a high sales volume. Interest rates are also much higher than other business cash flow loans and can extend up to 350%. Plus, additional fees may add to the overall cost of borrowing.
Pros and Cons of Business Cash Flow Loans
Cash flow loans can address the needs of business owners who need funds to pay employees, buy inventory or otherwise manage operations. However, this type of financing is not the best option for every business.
Pros of Cash Flow Loans
- Accessible lending standards: Qualification requirements are less rigorous for many cash flow loans than for other business financing types.
- Easy application: The application process may be more streamlined than alternatives, especially when working with an online lender.
- Fast funding: Funding speeds are fast, and money may be available in as little as 24 hours.
Cons of Cash Flow Loans
- Expensive: Interest rates on some cash flow loans are higher than those charged for other loans.
- Frequent payments: Cash flow loans often have abbreviated repayment periods, and daily or weekly payments may be necessary. Sometimes, loan payments are deducted directly from the business’ bank account or credit card sales.
- Sometimes require a personal guarantee: Depending on the type of loan and the lender, a business owner may have to guarantee the cash flow loan personally. Alternatively, some lenders require collateral to secure the loan.
- May lead to a cycle of debt: Due to the high interest rates and short repayment terms, cash flow loans can potentially lock business owners into a lending cycle. This can increase the risk of default and damage the business owner’s personal credit.
Cash Flow Lending vs. Asset-based Lending
Asset-based lending is a type of lending that focuses on the value of a company’s assets. With cash flow financing, lenders evaluate a company’s recent financial history and cash flow to determine how much money they are willing to lend. On the other hand, asset-based lenders look at a company’s accounts receivable, inventory and real estate holdings to evaluate the risk level.
The interest rates and terms offered by asset-based lenders also may be more favorable than those provided for cash flow lending. However, the application process is usually more complicated because the lender must evaluate the value of the business’ assets.
Find the Best Small Business Loans
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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you get a cash flow loan with bad credit?
Getting a cash flow loan with bad credit is often easier than qualifying for a traditional business loan with a low score. This is because cash flow loan eligibility is often based on a business’ past and future revenue rather than exclusively on creditworthiness. As always, lenders reserve the most competitive rates and repayment terms for borrowers with high credit scores and businesses with extensive and stable credit histories.
Are cash flow loans secured?
Cash flow loans are typically unsecured financing and rarely require a business owner to provide valuable collateral. However, some lenders may require the business owner to guarantee the loan or pledge collateral personally. The business’ future sales may also secure some types of cash flow loans.
Which cash flow loan is right for my business?
The right cash flow loan for your business depends on several factors. First, consider why you need to borrow funds. If you need ongoing access to cash, a business line of credit may be the best option, while a short-term loan may be better if you’re facing a one-time expense.
Likewise, consider your qualifications as a borrower. If you have a newer business or weak credit, you may benefit from a merchant cash advance or invoice financing. In addition to impacting your ability to qualify for certain loans, your business’ credit history and credit score will also affect the interest rate you’ll pay.