4 Business Loans You Can Get With Absolutely No Credit Check

4 Business Loans You Can Get With Absolutely No Credit Check

4 Business Loans You Can Get With Absolutely No Credit Check

Key Takeaways

  1. Many small business lenders check credit, especially for newer businesses.
  2. Financing options that don’t require a credit check are often based on business revenue.
  3. Business owners with no credit or bad credit may be able to get financing without a credit check.

Maybe you need a small business loan to start a business or launch a new product, or perhaps your growing business is dealing with the unexpected, like a dip in revenue, costly repairs or renovations, or increased staffing needs. Regardless of why you need the extra capital, there’s one thing that will often determine how easy — or difficult — it is to get funding: your credit.

Getting approved for traditional business loans can be a challenge even for businesses with solid qualifications. Traditional lenders like banks, as well as many other small business lenders, often want to work with businesses in operation for at least two years, and they prefer to lend to small business owners with good credit.

But not all lenders care about your personal credit scores. If your credit isn’t strong, you may want to understand how bad credit business loan options work and where to find them.

Why Consider No Credit Check Business Financing?

Some lenders check personal credit, some check business credit scores, and some check both. A few don’t check credit at all when reviewing business loan applications.

For some entrepreneurs, a credit check could be out of the question. Some simply don’t want a hard credit pull to affect their personal credit scores, and others know their poor credit scores will likely immediately disqualify them.

In other cases, business owners are looking for loans that don’t require personal guarantees. Their goal is to separate their business and personal finances completely. 

All are valid reasons for wanting to avoid a credit check.

But the reality is that most business lending options do review personal credit. And that’s especially true for startups, or for businesses with few employees or without significant time in business and/or revenues. 

A variety of options, including working capital loans through your payment processor, merchant cash advances, invoice factoring, and equipment loans that can be much more credit flexible.

Here we’ll focus primarily on business loan options for small business owners with poor credit. These small business loans typically consider other qualifying criteria like annual revenues to approve applicants. 

We’ll also feature business financing that doesn’t require a personal credit check, and we’ll describe types of financing that don’t require personal guarantees.

Can I Get A Business Loan With Bad Personal Credit?

Many lenders check credit to determine whether the business owner’s personal credit scores meet their minimum requirements. Negative items on your personal credit history, such as late payments, collection accounts, or bankruptcies, may lower your scores and put you in the high risk category. 

However, some business lenders check personal credit primarily to rule out serious problems, like an unfinished bankruptcy or to deter fraud. In those cases, low credit scores may not be a disqualifying factor.

Additionally, some providers look primarily at business revenues during the underwriting process. They usually use business bank account statements (or require you link to your business bank account) to verify income from your business.

Types of No Credit Check Business Loans

A few types of financing don’t typically check personal credit, or if they do, don’t generally require high credit scores.

Working Capital Loan Options

If your business is making sales, you may have a variety of financing options available to your business. These types of financing will look at your current and past monthly or daily sales to decide how much financing to offer.

Merchant cash advances

With a business cash advance (or merchant cash advance), your business can get an advance against future revenues, based on historic revenues. Business cash advances (or merchant cash advances) are typically available to businesses with strong cash flow, backed up by merchant account or business bank account statements. While there may be a performance guarantee, a personal guarantee is rarely required. 

If you use a payment processor like PayPal, you may be offered this type of financing through PayPal Working Capital. If you sell on Amazon, you may be or sell on Amazon, may be invited to apply for financing through one of the Amazon Lending programs. These companies typically  use information about your sales history to decide how much to offer. 

Invoice factoring and financing

Invoice factoring and invoice financing helps businesses that invoice other businesses to get paid faster. Companies offering invoice financing will lend against invoices or receivables, while invoice factoring companies will advance funds from the invoice immediately and in some cases even collect the payment directly from the client. Chances are no personal guarantee is required, and invoice factoring may even be made on a non-recourse basis, which means the business is not liable for uncollectible invoices.

Equipment financing

If you’re specifically looking to purchase equipment, such as heavy machinery or a computer, equipment financing is designed for this purpose, and some lenders are more flexible when it comes to credit scores.

Low Doc or No Doc Business Loans

Vendor or supplier financing

Here, your vendors or suppliers will offer short-term financing for products you purchase directly from them. Net-30 vendors offer financing terms that give the business 30 days to pay, for example. This type of financing does not typically require good credit and there is often no personal credit check. A business credit check may or may not be required. 

As a plus, this financing usually does not require a personal guarantee. 

Crowdfunding

With crowdfunding, you raise money from individuals or groups on platforms like Kickstarter. Most crowdfunding sites don’t require a personal credit check, and no or very little financial documentation is required for certain types of crowdfunding, like rewards-based crowdfunding

You can raise money for your business either by offering rewards or equity in your business. Backers are more interested in your business and its products than your credit score.

Loan-based crowdfunding is also available, though a credit check is more likely in that scenario.  Personal guarantees are rarely required.

4 No Credit Check or Fair Credit Business Loans

Here are specific business loan options to consider if you’re looking for business financing with low credit score requirements. While many of these lenders check credit, it is typically a soft credit check that doesn’t affect credit scores, and credit score requirements are generally not as strict as traditional lenders. Be sure to check lender requirements before you apply.

1. Business Cash Advance by Credibly

2. Business Cash Advance by Rapid Finance

3. Flex Line by Revenued

4. Giggle Finance

Pros and Cons of Getting a Business Loan with No Credit Check

Many types of small business financing require good personal credit scores. But when they don’t, there are both benefits and drawbacks.

Alternative Financing Options for No Credit or Bad Credit

In case you want even more business funding options, here are others to consider:

Business credit cards 

Most small business credit cards check personal credit, and good credit scores are usually required.

There are, however, a few business credit cards for bad credit. They may have higher interest rates, but if you pay your bill on time each month, you can build your credit and hopefully qualify for better options in the future.

Microloans

These smaller loans are often made by non-profit lenders (CDFIs) that try to help underserved borrowers. Microloans may work for borrowers with less than perfect credit. A personal credit check and personal guarantee may be required, so be sure to check. 

Retirement account loans

You can borrow against 401(k) retirement accounts without a credit check. Another option is to roll your retirement funds into a ROBS plan that is used to fund your business. Since you’re putting retirement funds at risk, you want to make sure you have a solid business plan first.

How to Know if You Have Good or Bad Credit

If you haven’t checked your credit, it’s a good idea to do so before you begin the application process. Every lender has its own minimum credit score requirements, and each will decide what credit scores qualify as “good credit” or “bad credit.” 

Generally, those with personal scores around 650 and above have more options available. Those with scores in the 500s or lower have fewer options. And a few loan options don’t check credit at all.

Business credit also matters. And you can build your business credit history with Nav Prime. Get up to two actively reporting tradelines reported to all major business credit bureaus as a Nav Prime member.

Hard vs. Soft Inquiries and the Impact on Your Credit Score

The obvious benefit to no credit check loans is that there will be no hard credit check (or inquiry) on your consumer credit reports. An inquiry is created on your credit report when you apply for credit. Inquiries may slightly lower your credit scores, though the effect is often temporary. 

A hard inquiry is one that affects credit scores, while soft inquiries don’t. Soft inquiries may be used by some small business lenders to screen applicants while hard inquiries often take place once the business owner decides to apply for financing. 

Inquiries typically lower credit scores by a few points (less than 10 points is common) and most credit scoring models don’t count inquiries that are more than a year old.

Do SBA Loans Require Credit Checks? 

Most Small Business Administration (SBA) loans require a personal credit check, and some loans also require a business credit check. However, most SBA loans don’t have a minimum credit score requirement, “acceptable credit” is required, though, and most lenders who make SBA loans require good or excellent credit scores.

Notably, certain SBA loans — like SBA Small Loans and Community Advantage Loans — require the lender to check a FICO SBSS credit score and minimum scores of 155 or 140 respectively are required to pass the prescreen.

Do Hard Money Business Loans Require a Credit Check?

Hard money loans are loans made by private investors, often to fund real estate investment projects. Hard money loans don’t often require a credit check. Instead, the lender will want to understand the potential for the project to make money. 

A popular use for hard money loans are fix and flip loans. The hard money lender will look at the value of the property before and after repairs (ARV) to help understand the risk of the property. Some hard money loans offer 100% financing but it’s not uncommon for lenders to require a down payment.

How Much Money Can I Get From a Business Loan?

The amount of money you can get from a business loan depends on several factors, including the type of loan, the lender’s policies, the financial health of your business, and your creditworthiness. Business loans can range from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars. 

Here are some common types of business loans and their typical loan amounts:

  • SBA loans: $50,000 to $5 million
  • Term loans: $5,000 to $500,000 (or more)
  • Business lines of credit: $10,000 to $250,000 (or more)
  • Equipment financing: Depends on the cost of the equipment being financed
  • Invoice financing: A percentage of the total value of the outstanding invoices
  • Merchant cash advances: Based on the business’s average monthly credit card sales

Lenders will review your business’s financials, credit history, and ability to repay the loan before determining the loan amount. Additionally, different lenders may have varying eligibility criteria and loan limits, so it’s a good idea to shop around and compare loan offers to find the best fit for your business’s needs.

Why Does a Business Need a Credit Score?

A business needs a credit score for similar reasons that individuals need personal credit scores. A credit score is a number that represents a business’s creditworthiness, or its ability to repay debts. It’s used for:

  • Borrowing money: When a business applies for loans, lines of credit, or other forms of financing, lenders often use business credit scores to evaluate the business’s credit risk. A higher credit score demonstrates a strong track record of managing debt and increases the likelihood of getting approved for loans at more favorable terms, such as lower interest rates and higher credit limits.
  • Supplier relationships: Suppliers and vendors often extend credit terms to businesses for buying goods and services. A good credit score can help build trust and credibility with suppliers, making it easier for the business to negotiate favorable credit terms or discounts on purchases.
  • Insurance premiums: Some insurance companies use credit scores as a factor in determining insurance premiums for business policies. A higher credit score may lead to lower insurance costs, since it suggests the business is less likely to file claims.
  • Business reputation: A solid credit score can reflect positively on a company’s reputation and management practices, instilling confidence in potential customers and investors.

Business Credit Building Solutions

Some small business financing can help your business grow, and it can also help build business credit. Accounts that appear on business credit reports are called “tradelines.” When paid on time, tradelines can help a business establish good business credit scores

If you don’t have strong personal credit, you can still build business credit. Two easy options to get started:

1. Net-30 vendor accounts

Supplier or vendor credit allows you to buy what your business needs and pay for it later.

2. Nav Prime 

Not only does Nav Prime let you check, monitor and manage your business credit, it can also help you build credit with tradeline reporting.

Find No Credit Check Options That Fit Your Needs

Finding a traditional loan that doesn’t require a credit check can be difficult, if not nearly impossible. However, today’s modern lending economy has opened the door for alternative funding options, some of which don’t require a credit check.

If your main goal is to avoid unnecessary credit checks when you apply for small business financing, Nav can help.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Loans With No Credit Check

Are There Guaranteed Startup Business Loans With No Credit Check?

In short, the answer is no. There are several lending companies who will claim a “guaranteed loan” with no credit check, but this should put you on high alert. Any lender who says you’re guaranteed approval for a loan has a higher chance of being predatory, with high interest rates, fees, early payoff penalties, short repayment terms, and loan options that may make it a bad deal. Make sure your lender is reputable, especially if they claim a guaranteed loan.

Also, in the world of small business lending, “guaranteed” often means “backed by the government,” as in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. SBA loans are guaranteed because if the borrower can’t pay the debt, the lender collects the collateral from the U.S. government. SBA loans tend to have strict qualifications, and a government business loan credit check is a must.

What Are Other Options For Business Funding?

Other business financing options you may consider include:

Nav can help you find financing for your business. See your options today.

Can You Get A Business Line Of Credit Without A Credit Check?

It is possible to get a business line of credit with no credit check, but it’s very difficult. Credit scores— whether your business credit scores or personal scores— are how lenders often evaluate your creditworthiness.

Some lenders only require a soft credit pull, rather than a hard credit inquiry. This means the credit check won’t negatively impact your credit. But the lender will still probably want to review your credit scores one way or another.

What Are The Requirements To Get A Business Line Of Credit?

Every lender will have different requirements, but in general, to qualify for a business line of credit, lenders will look for:

  • A good to excellent credit score (above 640 at minimum, but your chances are better if yours are above 660)
  • Annual revenue of $25,000 or more
  • At least six months of business history

Some lenders may also require documentation and financial statements, including:

  • Business plan
  • Balance sheets
  • Bank statements
  • Profit & loss statements
  • Tax returns
  • Cash flow history
  • Debt and open credit lines, including business credit cards

Can I get an SBA loan with bad credit?

SBA loans require acceptable credit to qualify. Some lenders, such as SBA microlenders, may be more flexible with their requirements, but generally you should have good credit to qualify. 

How quickly can I get a no-credit-check business loan?

Speed of funding depends on the type of financing. Business cash advances, merchant cash advances and some types of invoice financing often fund very quickly—in as little as one to two days. Others, such as crowdfunding, can take a month or longer depending on the popularity of the campaign. 

Can I Get a Business Loan With a 500 Credit Score?

A personal credit score of 500 is considered bad credit. There are some lenders that give out business loans to applicants with low credit scores, but your options will be limited.

A working capital loan (see above) is one funding option whose lenders may be willing to work with borrowers with bad credit. Otherwise, you’ll want to look for business funding that relies on your annual revenue in your application rather than your personal credit score.

Can I Get A Same Day Business Loan With No Credit Check?

You may be able to get a same-day business loan with no credit check if you apply for a business cash advance or similar financing. This type of financing will make the decision based primarily on business revenues rather than credit.

What Is A Soft Pull For A Business Line Of Credit?

A soft pull for a business line of credit refers to whether there is a personal credit check that affects your personal credit scores. When a lender checks personal credit, it can either create a hard inquiry (hard pull) or soft inquiry (soft pull). Hard inquiries may lower your personal credit scores by a few points, while soft inquiries don’t hurt your credit.

What Are The Credit Options For New Business Startups With No Credit?

It is challenging for new businesses to get business financing due to the fact that new businesses are risky, and there is no income to pay back the loan. Business credit cards (and sometimes SBA loans) are the main two types of loans that may be available to startups, but both require good credit. A new business with no credit may need to turn to personal savings, friends and family, and perhaps crowdfunding.

Do Micro Loans For Business Require A Credit Check?

Most lenders offering microloans check personal credit, but they may be flexible in terms of credit scores if the owner can demonstrate they have overcome past credit problems. Business owners who have recently paid bills late or who have a lot of debt are unlikely to qualify.

Will a no-credit-check loan help build my credit score?

Any loan or financing that reports to business credit agencies can help build your credit. Not all do, so you may need to seek out tradelines that help build business credit

Are there grants available for business owners with bad credit?

While small business grants can be competitive, it is rare for them to require good credit or to even check credit. Learn how to find a small business grant

Can I use personal assets as collateral for a business loan?

Some lenders will ask for a personal guarantee, which means you agree to be responsible for repaying the loan if your business cannot. A few lenders will allow you to pledge personal collateral, such as a home equity loan, for the business. 

However, that doesn’t mean the lender won’t check credit or require good credit. Lenders don’t want to have to resort to foreclosing on collateral to get paid back, so they’ll want to make sure they are taking an acceptable amount of risk. 

Can I get a business loan with a 500 credit score?

A personal credit score of 500 is considered bad credit. There are some lenders that give out business loans to applicants with low credit scores, but your options will be limited. A working capital loan is one funding option whose lenders may be willing to work with borrowers with bad credit. Otherwise, you’ll want to look for business funding that relies on your annual revenue in your application rather than your personal credit score.

Are there “no doc” business loans

The term “no doc” loans refers to loan products that don’t require very minimal. Loan approval may be based on factors like documented business revenue or collateral (in the case of real estate loans). 

True no doc loans are few and far between. Low doc loans are more common. These loans have a more streamlined approval process, and funding is often quick: within two business days or less.

Be very wary of loan offers for no doc business loan. At a minimum, the lender has to verify the borrower’s identity, and most lenders (including online lenders) will verify business status, business revenue and may run a credit check. 

Be especially careful if a lender is promising a bad credit business loan, and then asks for an upfront fee. Advance fee loans scams are common, and prey upon people who have trouble getting financing. 

Here’s how to spot a business loan scam.

This article was originally written on November 16, 2018 and updated on June 20, 2024.

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5 responses to “4 Business Loans You Can Get With Absolutely No Credit Check

  1. I’m happy to see there are a few organizations out there that offer financial assistance; however, what about those start-ups that have not yet begun to bring in revenue?

  2. TNJ Roofing and Handyman services is a small Buisness in which we want to get going again and get our life’s back! We were doing so great before this pandemic yet after lockdown it was like we had no customers to turn to we need advertisement again which we could do if we had a loan yet we can’t find one! We need abt 10000 to get back up where we need to be which isn’t a lot of money yet so impossible to get! We need to buy new equipment and materials advertising to get started up with no sliding back we do roofing and handyman construction work of many kinds if we could find the help we even have a car we’d put up for doing so we have that much faith that we can get our Buisness steadily going again! Thanks and may God bless u! Our government really hurt us and it’s sad that they care if they’d bring us money back to help we could do it without asking! Yet rent utilities and Buisness campaigns alone can be costly with the government acting out like children! God bless all u who are helping ppl to get their lives back!