Key takeaways
- Applying for a business startup loan can help build credit and provide access to funds to help cover working capital, inventory, equipment costs and more
- Startups may face difficulty securing traditional small business loans due to strict eligibility requirements
- Alternatives to startup business loans include bootstrapping, grants, and crowdfunding
Statistics from the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy show that 67.7 percent of new businesses lasted at least two years between 1994 to 2020.
While only about half of startups last five years, this does not deter entrepreneurs. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 5.5 million new business applications were filed in 2023 — a record-breaking number.
If you want your business to be one of the success stories, it’s important to start your business strong. That can include ensuring you have enough capital and a steady source of cash flow to pay for costs like equipment, payroll, supplies and real estate.
That’s where applying for a startup business loan helps. But there are also potential drawbacks, like high fees or the fact that startup business loans may be difficult to qualify for. To see if a startup loan is right for you, check out the following pros and cons.
Compare pros and cons of startup business loans
Pros
- Access to capital
- Can retain ownership
- Can help build credit
Cons
- Strict eligibility requirements
- Can be costly
- May require a personal guarantee or lien
Pros of startup business loans
There are several main reasons you may want to look into startup business loans.
Access to capital
Startup business loans provide access to funds you can often use in many ways, including getting your business off the ground.
For example, lump-sum options like business term loans or equipment financing are often used for high upfront costs, such as product development, office equipment or semi-truck financing. A revolving source of capital, such as a business line of credit, can provide a revolving source of funds to use as you need, which can help cover day-to-day costs.
Bankrate insight
Equipment loans are popular types of small business loans for startups. Since the equipment you are purchasing acts as collateral, small business owners don’t have to worry about finding valuable assets to pledge as security for the loan.
Retaining ownership
Startup business loans can save you the trouble of finding investors and selling equity, which means giving up partial control of your business. Depending on how much equity you sell, you may need to answer to the demands of investors. With a business loan, you keep full ownership and can run your business as you see fit.
Helps build credit
If you select a lender that reports your payments to credit bureaus, getting a loan can actually help your finances — as long as you make on-time payments and keep your debt low.
Building credit is an important step if you don’t have any or have bad credit, which makes it hard to qualify for loans with affordable rates. Even if you don’t need financing now, a loan or business line of credit could be a good way to build credit and ensure you are eligible for the best loan for your business down the road. Some lenders, like Bank of America, even have programs that help you build secured credit, and you can graduate to an unsecured line of credit down the road.
Keep in mind that not all business lenders report to credit bureaus. It’s important to check and make sure before you apply for a loan.
Cons of startup business loans
There are also several cons to consider before looking into business loans for startups.
Strict eligibility requirements
Startups may have a difficult time securing small business loans. A typical business loan requirement is a credit score of 600 or higher. Many lenders also prefer to see an established business that’s been around for at least two years and has annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 or more.
These requirements can be difficult for startups to attain. According to the Federal Reserve Banks’ 2024 Firms in Focus: Chartbook on Firms by Revenue Size, 49 percent of businesses under two years old have annual revenue of $100,000 or less.
It’s possible to find more lenient lenders. For example, some are willing to offer secured business loans to startups and may not have strict requirements for annual revenue or credit scores. But your options may be limited and could come at a cost.
Bankrate insight
Startup business loans with no revenue requirements are hard to find. Many lenders require at least six months of operation and annual revenue requirements of $100,000 or higher. But you may be able to get approved for a startup business loan if you have several years of related field experience and enough revenue in a business checking account that shows you can cover a percentage of the total loan cost.
Costs
Business loan fees and interest rates can also be an extra burden on startups. The best interest rates are reserved for established business owners with good-to-excellent personal or business credit. Some lenders are less willing to help finance startup businesses as they are often seen as a risky investment. And those that do provide business loans charge higher rates to help offset that risk.
You may also have to watch out for fees, which vary by lender and type of startup loan. For instance, origination fees can either be a flat fee or can be a percentage — typically anywhere from 0.5 percent to eight percent. You may also have to deal with late payment fees, underwriting fees or even maintenance fees.
Personal guarantee or lien requirements
To get a business loan, you typically have to sign a document called a personal guarantee. This legal document states you are personally responsible for the company’s debt if you default on the loan. The lender may take you to court to recoup losses if you can’t repay the loan.
If you take out a secured business loan, you will have to provide some form of collateral, which is an asset that you put up to secure the loan and reduce the lender’s risk. The lender will place a lien on the asset, which is a legal claim giving the lender the right to seize the asset if you default on the loan. For instance, if you took out an equipment loan for a semi truck, used the truck as collateral, and defaulted on the loan, the lender could then take the truck.
Defaulting on a loan and losing your personal or business assets is a risk many business owners take. To be sure it’s right for you, you’ll have to make sure you can manage your small business loan well to avoid going into default.
Bankrate insight
Many startups avoid using personal assets to guarantee a loan by funding the business with personal savings instead. According to the 2024 Firms in Focus: Chartbook on Firms by Age of Business, 72 percent of businesses under two years old used the owner’s personal savings to weather a financial challenge, while 43 percent received funding they would have to repay.
Where to get startup business loans
Traditional banks may be an option, but they typically have the most stringent requirements. Here’s a look at lenders who tend to be more accessible.
SBA loans
SBA loans can have a reputation for requiring a lot of documentation. The approval process can also take anywhere from 30 to 90 days. But they can be an affordable and accessible option for startups. There’s even a microloan program that provides $50,000 or less, which can be used to help businesses get up and running.
SBA loans for startups
In fiscal year 2023, over $10 billion in SBA 7(a) loans went to new businesses that are less than two years old. This data from the SBA weekly report shows that over $5.2 billion of those dollars went to startups that will use the funds to open their business.
Online lenders
Since startups and small businesses can have difficulty securing traditional bank loans, various online lenders have stepped up. Many specialize in working with startups, and small businesses offer loans with relaxed eligibility requirements and faster approval and funding times.
Alternatives to startup business loans
If you decide a small business loan isn’t right for you, here are some common alternatives to consider.
Bootstrapping
Bootstrapping is the process of only using your personal funds or operating revenue to finance a business. This can work well in cases where the business’s overhead is low, such as running a consulting business out of your home. People who bootstrap a business often dip into their own savings, take on personal debt or cut as much costs as possible when starting a business.
Business grants
Business grants are typically offered by government agencies, private corporations and nonprofit organizations. Since they don’t have to be repaid, they can be hard to come by, as competition is fierce. But they’re still worth considering, especially for the chance to get your business up and running without the burden of debt.
Business credit cards
Business credit cards can help cover short-term needs for business owners. They’re similar to business lines of credit but may offer unique perks like rewards, discounts on select purchases, intro APR offers and more. You can also use business credit cards to build business credit and even possibly avoid interest charges if you’re able to pay your balance off each month.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a popular option involving an online platform to run a fundraising campaign. It takes more time and energy than taking out a loan since you’re raising small amounts of cash from multiple sources. But this is a viable alternative for startups struggling to get loan approval.
Bottom line
The best startup business loans are an option for getting upfront cash to get your business up and running. They may also help build credit, which can lead to more affordable loans down the road.
But make sure to consider all your options before applying, as there are risks to consider, including high rates and fees. If getting a startup loan isn’t right for you, consider alternatives to fund your startup, such as crowdfunding or business credit cards.
