Acquiring loans as a startup is no easy task. There are so many loan options available that it is easy to take out the wrong loan and get stuck with the wrong rates. Rates aside, there are many loan options which are not suitable for certain startups, as well as alternative kinds of finance which might easily be a better fit. Below are 7 of the best financial solutions for a startup, depending on the unique circumstances of the company.
- The Term Loan – The term loan is the most well-known financing option. There are short, medium, and long-term loans available and each will have specific terms and conditions depending on who you go to for the loan. The SBA (7)(a) is one of the most common kinds of startup loans available to small businesses in the USA. But despite its generous rates, the application process is incredibly difficult to complete.
- The Business Line of Credit – The business line of credit is one of the most useful kinds of loan options available to startups. This is because the loan can be drawn upon as needed, and you only pay interest on what you take out. Additionally, the funds can be in the account very rapidly. For these reasons, it is one of the most flexible kinds of loans.
- The Equipment Finance Loan – Equipment financing (sometimes called asset financing) is where you take out a loan for the purposes of buying equipment for your new business, such as computers for an IT company or machinery for a construction company. It often works similarly to a term-loan, except you are using the funds specifically to buy company equipment as opposed to more generic needs such as wages or utilities.
- The Business Credit Card – A business credit card is similar in many ways to a business line of credit. They are flexible and no collateral is required for their use. The qualifying criteria is also quite low and frequent use and repayment of credit card purchases is one of the best ways to increase your credit score. This is because credit card repayments are reported to business credit bureau agencies, not just personal credit agencies.
- Invoice Financing – Invoice financing is a form of financing where invoices are taken by a third party. It is not technically a loan, though the invoice collection companies will often advance about 75% of the cash within as little as 24 hours. The companies will take between 2 – 8 % of the total invoice as a fee. This is very useful in situations where revenue is needed and it takes a long time to collect on invoices.
- Venture Capitalism – It is always possible to attain financing through venture capitalism. This is generally better for startups who have a unique and novel business idea and really want to get started as soon as possible. But these startup owners need to understand that they are going to be giving away a significant slice of their businesses.
- ROBS – Rollover for business startups (ROBS) is an alternative way to get funding for a startup. It allows startup owners to invest funds from a 401K or individual retirement account into a startup. This allows people to avoid the standard early withdrawal penalties. According to multiple studies, businesses that use ROBS enjoy more success compared to startups that use traditional financing. However, ROBS can be quite complicated to carry out and you definitely need to consult an expert in order to see if its a fit for your business.
Best Loan Providers For Startups
Identifying the kind of loan that works the best for you is only the first step. Different loan providers offer different terms and conditions, and you will need to get in touch with a variety of loan providers to determine which one is right for you. Below are 4 of the best online loan providers in the market.
OnDeck
Like many online loan providers, OnDeck provides a hassle-free application process. The application process takes less than 10 minutes and the funds can be transferred into your bank account in as little as 24 hours. The customer service support team at Ondeck is a little ahead of the rest, with specialists who are polite, responsive, and friendly to all applicants. They are thoroughly professional. Ondeck offers term loans up to $500,000 with rates that go as low as 9.99% (though the lowest rates may not always be available). The terms are between 3-36 months. It also provides business lines of credit up to $100,000.
The only disadvantage with Ondeck is that the requirements are a little higher in comparison to other online loan facilitators, though they are still far less stringent compared to banks. Still, some startups may not be able to meet them. The requirements are:
- At least one year in business
- $100,000 in gross annual revenue
- A personal credit score of at least 600
Kabbage
Kabbage is another excellent option when it comes to startup financing. The requirements for Kabbage are quite easy to satisfy for nearly all startups. For the purposes of attaining a loan, Kabbage only requires:
- 12 months in business
- $50,000 in annual revenue
The majority of startups should be able to meet these criteria. Even for startups that do not meet the $50,000 in annual revenue, $4,200 per month over the last 3 months is enough for the purposes of qualification. Kabbage is also excellent for startups looking for a business line of credit. A $250,000 line of credit can be applied for in as little as 10 minutes, with a term length of 6,12, or 18 months. This line of credit also comes with a business credit card for ease of use.
Kabbage only offers the line of credit, and this is what it specializes in. But the dashboard, application, and attached credit card make is one of the smoothest, most flexible, and most intuitive lines of credit out there. It makes it easy for startups to track and manage their capital. The funds can transferred to a bank account within 1-3 days or to a connected PayPal account within minutes.
Lending Club
As a peer to peer lending marketplace, Lending Club is much different from online loan providers such as Ondeck and Kabbage. Borrowers are evaluated based on their credit score and annual revenue, while investors also have to meet requirements. Loan applicants are assigned a score depending on how good their credit history is. The better the score, the lower the rate.
All Lending Club loans are term loans, and they can be taken out for a variety of different uses, such as working capital or equipment purchasing. The loan application process can be completed in under 10 minutes and the funds can be in your account within 1 – 3 days depending on your bank. Lending Club do not advertised their loan qualifying criteria. However, a minimum credit score of 600 is typically required. No collateral is required for loans less than $100,000, which is an added advantage.
Fundbox
- $50,000 in annual revenue
- 3 months activity in accounting software
There are no credit score requirements and the maximum loan amount is up to $100,000. This makes it perfect for new startups who need access to small sums of money to get going initially. Fundbox is also one of the few loan providers that offer invoice financing. Startups in the trade industry, professional services, manufacturers, and distributors are ones that can benefit from invoice financing, where invoices can take a long time to come in.
The only disadvantages with Fundbox are that the rates can be a little higher in comparison to other online lenders and that the accounting software must be compatible with the platform (QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Harvest, Xero Clio, Sage One, Kashoo, Jobber or InvoiceASAP). However, fees decrease the more that the Fundbox platform is used. Like most online providers, signup is quick and easy.
