Financing that fits how your business actually runs.
Answer three questions about your business to see which kinds of financing usually fit a business like yours. Then send one profile if you want lenders that offer them to contact you.
Answer all three to see which kinds of financing usually fit.
| Financing | Typical amount | Time to funds | What lenders look at |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) loan | Up to $5 million | Often 30–90 days | Cash flow to repay, credit, tax returns and collateral where available. Most lenders want two or more years in business. All owners must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals (SBA rule since March 2026). |
| Equipment financing | $5,000 to $5 million, secured by the equipment | Often 1–2 weeks | The equipment quote, credit and time in business. Some lenders work with newer businesses. |
| Business line of credit | $10,000 to $250,000 | Often 1–2 weeks | Six or more months of bank statements, monthly revenue and credit. |
| Term loan | $25,000 to $500,000 | Often 1–4 weeks | A year or more in business, steady revenue and credit. |
| Working-capital advance | $5,000 to $250,000, repaid from daily or weekly sales | Often a few days | Card sales or bank deposits; credit matters less. Usually the most expensive option, so compare the total payback. |
Ranges vary by lender and by your business's finances, and are not offers. “Good fit” follows simple rules about time in business, revenue and purpose. A lender makes its own decision.
What to have ready
Most lenders ask for the same handful of documents. Having them together shortens the back-and-forth.
- Business bank statements
- The last three to six months. Nearly every lender asks for these first.
- Tax returns
- Two years of business and personal returns, mainly for SBA and term loans. Some lenders ask for more.
- Profit and loss statement and balance sheet
- Year to date is usually enough. Your bookkeeping software can export both.
- Formation documents and EIN
- Articles of organization or incorporation, plus your IRS EIN letter.
- Business licenses
- Your state or city operating license, and any trade or health permits your work needs.
- ID for each owner with 20% or more
- A driver's license or passport. Lenders verify everyone with a significant stake.
- Equipment quote
- For equipment financing: the vendor's quote or purchase agreement.
- Debt schedule
- A list of current business loans and advances, with balances and payments.
Request options
One short business profile. Here is what happens to it.
- 1
Send your business profile
Tell us about the business, how much you need and what it's for.
- 2
We may share it with lenders or financing partners that offer business loans matching your answers
Sending the form doesn't involve a credit check.
- 3
If a lender contacts you, compare its terms and total cost before you sign
Any lender makes its own decision and may check your credit if you apply with them.
Questions owners ask
Straight answers about qualifying, timing and cost.
Is BizLoan.now a lender?
No. BizLoan.now helps you compare kinds of financing and send one business profile. We don't make loans, set rates or decide who is approved. Any lender makes its own decision.
Does sending the form check my credit?
Sending this form doesn't involve a credit check. A lender may check your credit if you apply with them.
How are you paid?
Sending a profile is free. We may be paid by lenders or partners we share profiles with.
Do I need two years in business?
Not for every kind of financing. Most SBA lenders and many bank term-loan lenders want two or more years. Equipment financing and working-capital advances are often available to newer businesses, though they tend to cost more.
Who can get an SBA loan?
A for-profit U.S. small business that can show it can repay and can't get similar credit elsewhere on reasonable terms. Since March 1, 2026, every owner must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. Lenders add their own requirements. See how SBA 7(a) loans work.
Is a working-capital advance a loan?
Often not. Most are structured as a purchase of your future sales, priced with a factor rate rather than interest, and repaid by daily or weekly debits. They usually cost far more than a loan. Read how working-capital advances work before you sign one.
How long does funding take?
It depends on the product and the lender. Advances can fund in a few days. Equipment financing and lines of credit often take one to two weeks. SBA loans often take 30 to 90 days because of the extra paperwork.
What's the difference between a line of credit and a term loan?
A term loan pays out a lump sum that you repay on a fixed schedule, which suits a one-time purchase or expansion. A line of credit lets you draw what you need up to a limit and pay interest only on what you've drawn, which suits uneven cash flow.
Do I need collateral?
Equipment financing uses the equipment itself as collateral. SBA lenders generally take available business assets on larger loans and require personal guarantees from owners of 20% or more. Many lines of credit are unsecured but still ask for a personal guarantee. Advance providers commonly file a lien on your receivables or business assets and ask for a personal guarantee too, even when an offer says no collateral is needed.