The 6 Different Types of Business Loans

Sarah PritzkerBySarah PritzkerMar. 05, 2019
The types of business loans
If you’re starting a new business, want to expand an existing one, or simply need to deal with some cash flow issues, you might want to take out a business loan. There are many different types of business loans available from some of the best lenders, with some online loan platforms offering multiple types of loans.

The 6 main types of business loans are SBA loans, business lines of credit, invoice factoring or financing, business term loans, equipment financing, or a merchant cash advance option. Learn about the pros and cons of each type of business loan and we’ll provide our recommended lender for each type of loan.

1. SBA Loans

The USA’s Small Business Administration partially backs loans that range from $5,000 up to $5 million to help out small businesses, although the loans are actually provided by online lenders and commercial banks. The government backing makes APR rates lower since lenders have greater confidence that they’ll get their money back. SBA loans can be used for almost any business purpose and have low APR rates and long repayment terms, but the application process is long and time-consuming.

There are a few different types of SBA loan. Microloans lend up to $50,000 to new businesses while SBA 7(a) loans cover a number of business purposes and CDC/504 loans are best for purchasing major assets like large equipment or real estate.

Lowest interest rates between 5% and 13%
Application process can take between 3 weeks and several months
Long monthly repayment terms - up to 6 years for a microloan, 25 years for an SBA 7(a) loan, and 20 years for a 504 loan
Strong credit history required
No long time in business to qualify

Recommended lender: Lending Tree 

LendingTree is a marketplace of lenders for all types of SBA loans. It offers a simplified online application process and can get your funding through in as little as 7 days. You can get up to $1 million in financing, and repayment terms are 3 months to 55 years (Read more in the full LendingTree business loans review).

2. Business Term Loan

With a traditional business loan, you can borrow a lump sum of money between $1,000 and $500,000 and repay it over the next several years. Repayment terms are usually between 1and 5 years, although there are lenders that offer both longer and shorter terms. Average interest rates are between 7% and 30%. Business term loans can be used for any purpose and don't require collateral. They are based on your business’ credit score, average yearly or monthly revenue, and overall financial health.

Can be used for any business purpose
Many term loans carry early repayment charges
Repayments are predictable
Poor credit ratings may require collateral or a ‘blanket lien’ placed on your enterprise
You can borrow larger amounts

Loans can be approved within a couple of days

Recommended lender: Lendio

Lendio offers business loans of up to $2 million with APR rates up to 30% and repayment terms that stretch to 25 years. Businesses with as little as six months' trading history can qualify, and there is no minimum credit rating. The application process is easy and quick, and you can get your funding within 2 days (Read more in the full Lendio review). 

3. Business Line of Credit

A business line of credit is comparable to a credit card, but it's open to businesses with lower credit ratings. You'll be approved for a maximum amount of credit which you can draw on whenever you need. Once you've repaid the money you can withdraw more, only paying interest on the money you borrow. Time to funding is short, with many businesses getting approval within a day. Average APR rates are 7% to 25%, and repayment terms are usually between 6 months and 1 year, but exact terms vary depending on your business’ revenue and credit score.

Flexible funding - available for emergencies
High penalties for missed payments
Fast approval times
May need to provide collateral
Lower APR rates and high maximum borrowing amounts

Suitable for businesses with less than perfect credit

Recommended lender: Kabbage

Kabbage offers business lines of credit from $2,000 to $150,000 with a fast application process that usually answers within minutes. Once you're approved, you can access your credit line instantly. Loan repayment terms are 6 or 12 months at a flat monthly fee of between 1% and 10% (Read more in the full Kabbage review).

4. Invoice Factoring

With invoice factoring, or invoice financing, you sell your unpaid invoices in exchange for an advance of between 60-90%. The company collects the invoice amount from your client before paying you the remaining percentage, minus its fees. Some companies advance the entire amount and then charge a flat weekly fee while you repay the loan.

Others take a percentage of the invoice every week until your client pays up. If you repay a full advance, terms are usually 1 6 months with a fee of up to 12%, while when fees are taken, they are around 3% plus an extra 1% for every week until the customer pays their debt. It’s easy to qualify for invoice financing since your invoice is the collateral on the loan, so your credit rating and business history aren’t so important.

Fast approval time of just a few hours
Early repayment charges can be high
Easy eligibility without minimum credit scores or trading history

Solves cash flow issues from tardy clients

Recommended lender: Fundbox

Fundbox advances you 100% of your unpaid invoices, leaving you to communicate with your client directly for payment in full. Repayment terms are 12 or 24 weeks with a flat weekly fee of 4.66% to 10% of your loan amount. There's no penalty for early repayment, and maximum loan amount is $100,000 (Read more in the full Fundbox review).

5. Merchant Cash Advance

Merchant cash advances give you a lump sum in exchange for a set percentage of your daily credit card transactions. Instead of regular APR rates, multiply your loan amount by a factor rate, typically 1.14 to 1.48, to discover the total amount you owe. The equivalent in APR begins at 15% but can go into triple digits. Similarly, there isn’t a fixed loan repayment term; you keep paying until you’ve paid off the total amount.

The time that takes depends on what percentage of your transactions you pay and how much you made each day. Average repayment terms last 8 or 9 months, but can be as low as 4 months or as long as 18. Merchant cash advances are suitable for businesses with poor credit and/or short trading histories that might not qualify for other business loans. Approval is fast – within a day or 2– and maximum loan amounts reach $250,000.

Suitable for businesses with poor credit scores and short trading history
Interest rates are very high
Fast approval times

Lump sum amounts when you need it

Recommended lender: Torro

Torro's application and approval process is fast, with funding coming through within as little as 48 hours. Torro requires no collateral and offers loans of up to $575,000 for both startup and existing businesses (Read more in the full Torro review).

6. Equipment Financing

Although regular business loans can be used to purchase equipment, a dedicated equipment financing loan uses the items you buy as collateral against the loan. This lowers the average APR rates to 8% to 30% and makes the loan open to businesses with poor credit ratings. You can use your equipment even while you are paying off the loan. Loan amounts depend on the value of the equipment, up to 100% of the cost of the item, and funding usually takes a couple of days to come through. Loan terms can be as long as the equipment is still usable but are typically around 5 years.

Businesses with less than perfect credit
As equipment depreciates you could end up paying more than it’s worth
Equipment serves as collateral for the loan
Your equipment could be obsolete by the time you finish paying for it
Funding takes days to come through

Recommended lender: BlueVine

BlueVine serves equipment financing for businesses with 6+ months in business and a minimum credit score of 650. Application is typically reviewed and approved within 24 hours, with rates as low as 6.9% (Read more in the full BlueVine review).


Choosing the right type of business loan for your company’s needs can be the difference between success or failure. Now, you have all the information you need about the pros and cons of the various types of business loans. Whether you’re seeking to buy new equipment, solve your cash flow issues, or fund a new business venture, you can be sure to pick one of the best business loans for financial success.

Sarah PritzkerBySarah PritzkerJun. 17, 2019
Sarah Pritzker has years of experience and a keen interest in researching and reviewing the vast world of online consumer financial products. She enjoys helping readers make sound financial decisions.