When it comes time to qualify for a business loan, your credit score is one of the top factors that lenders consider. We answer several frequently asked questions (FAQ) about your credit score for a business loan below.
Is There a Minimum Credit Score for a Business Loan?
Technically, there is no minimum credit score for a small business loan. Every lender has its own requirements.
That said, there are some general rules of thumb in the industry. In practice, a personal score of 620 is widely recognized as the minimum. More than likely you will need a score of 720 or above for good business loan terms.
What is Considered a Good Credit Score to Get a Business Loan?
A good personal score to get a business loan is 720 and above. A good business credit score is 80 or above.
Keep in mind the various business credit bureaus have different scoring systems. Every lender chooses its own standards, so there may be variations in scoring levels. However, the Small Business Credit Survey by the U.S. Federal Reserve Banks lays out the general rule for the small business lending industry:
- Low credit risk: 80–100 business credit score or 720+ personal credit score.
- Medium credit risk: 50–79 business credit score or a 620–719 personal credit score.
- High credit risk: 1–49 business credit score or less than 620 personal credit score.
Borrowers who are low credit risks get the most choices of loan products and the best terms. Borrowers who are high risk have few choices and will pay the most. Getting even a small loan for business could be tough for high risk borrowers.
Here’s a word from Credit Suite about the credit score you need for a business loan. You can check out after reading:
Can I Get a Business Loan with a 600 Credit Score?
Business owners often want to know: can I get a business loan with a 600 credit score? Or with some other number such as a 500 credit score?
The answer is, it’s going to be hard to get a business loan with a score of 600 or less.
What can you do? If your need for money isn’t urgent, try to improve your credit score enough to get out of the high risk category. That’s the best long-term option. If you need money right away, look into one of the “no credit check required” loans below. Also, see Small Business Loans with Bad Credit.
Credit Risk Levels Based on Scores
The table below provides a clear categorization of credit risk levels, differentiating between business and personal credit scores. Lenders often use these ranges to assess the creditworthiness of potential borrowers and determine the risk associated with offering a loan.
By understanding where you fall on this spectrum, you can better anticipate potential lending outcomes and terms.
| Credit Risk Level | Business Credit Score Range | Personal Credit Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 80-100 | 720+ |
| Medium | 50-79 | 620-719 |
| High | 1-49 | Less than 620 |
Business or Personal Score – Which Matters Most?
To get a loan for a business, most lenders will look at both your personal and business credit scores. However, a good personal credit score is key.
Remember, a personal credit score and a business credit score are completely different things. They use different scoring systems. Even the credit bureaus are different. Some, like Experian, report both types of scores. Dun & Bradstreet is strictly business credit reports. A FICO score is a personal score.
Depending on the type of funding you apply for, most lenders will want to check both scores upon your loan application.
Now, you might wonder why the lender has to check personal credit scores for a business loan.
It’s due to the fact that “owners’ personal finances remain deeply intertwined with the finances of their businesses,” according to the Small Business Credit Survey. Professor Scott Shane adds that personal credit affects a business loan because so many small businesses are sole proprietors.
Therefore, he says, “the business debts are not legally distinct from those of the owner.” He also notes that nationwide, more than half (56%) of small business loans will require the owner to give a personal guarantee for much the same reason.
In summary, the majority of business lenders will review both your personal credit report and your business credit report. However, personal credit scores are still crucial.
What Happens if My Credit Score is Low?
If your credit score is low, your small business loan application could be denied altogether. But loan denial is just one of the adverse consequences — there are others.
According to a study by Fundera, the benefits of good business credit can be measured in dollars and cents. Bad credit often results in the following:
- Smaller loan amounts. A good credit score can mean getting approval for up to 20 times more loan money than if you had a bad score!
- Higher interest rates and fees.
- Shorter repayment terms, in turn, requiring higher payments and squeezing cash flow. Per Fundera’s information, business owners with good credit got an average of about 16 years to repay their loans. People with poor credit got just 8 months.
To compare how interest rates and other terms make a difference, run scenarios on the business loan calculator.
Do I Need a Business Credit Score at All?
A business credit score is not necessary in all cases to get a small business loan.
Small business lenders are practical. A business bank understands that a startup with only a few years of operation may not have a solid business credit history. Sole proprietors might not have an established business credit history either, as they often conduct business under the owner’s name. In such instances, lenders will place significant emphasis on the owner’s personal credit score for a business loan.
However, having a business credit history/score increases your options.
Do Lenders Count the Credit Scores of Part Owners?
When it comes to business loans, lenders aren’t only concerned with the business’s creditworthiness but also the financial stability and responsibility of its significant stakeholders. Here’s how the credit scores of part owners play a role in loan decisions:
- 20% Equity Rule:
- Origin: This practice of considering the credit scores of part owners started with the Small Business Administration’s requirements for SBA loans.
- Current Scenario: The 20% equity rule, which means taking into account the credit scores of individuals owning at least 20% of the company, has now been integrated into conventional underwriting standards.
- Who Is Affected?:
- Business Partners: In a partnership setting, partners with a significant stake (i.e., at least 20%) will have their credit score considered.
- Corporations and LLCs: Any individual holding at least 20% equity in a corporation or an LLC falls under this scrutiny.
- Potential Challenges:
- Multiple Low Scores: If a business has more than one part owner and multiple stakeholders have low personal credit scores, the combined impact can significantly decrease the likelihood of loan approval.
- Loan Terms: Even if the loan is approved, unfavorable credit scores can influence loan terms, possibly resulting in higher interest rates or more stringent requirements.
- Strategic Considerations:
- Equity Distribution: Businesses planning to apply for loans might consider the distribution of equity among stakeholders. If a potential stakeholder with a low credit score holds just under 20% equity, it could strategically benefit the company during the loan application process.
- Personal Credit Management: Part owners, especially those nearing or above the 20% equity threshold, should proactively manage and improve their personal credit scores to benefit the business’s borrowing potential.
In essence, lenders adopt a holistic approach when underwriting business loans, considering the business’s financial health and that of its major stakeholders. Part owners should be aware of the weight their personal credit scores carry, particularly if they have a significant stake in the company.
Can I Get A Business Loan Without a Credit Check?
Yes, obtaining a business loan without a credit check is indeed possible. However, your options for financing will be restricted to a few alternatives, including invoice financing, factoring, cash advances, and some microloans. Additionally, crowdfunding and private loans from friends and family are viable options.
Make sure to understand the pros and cons of no-credit-check options:
- Positive — Some financing types, such as cash advances, can be super fast. You get money within hours or a day or two.
- Negative — No-credit-check loans can be expensive with high fees. Interest rates and APR (annual percentage rate) are higher than traditional loans. For cash advances, you lose control. Example: payments may be automatically deducted from your bank account at inopportune times, triggering financial consequences like bounced checks.
What are Examples of Loans Requiring No Credit Check?
One example of a no-credit-check loan is PayPal Working Capital. Small businesses that use a PayPal business account to process at least $15,000 in annual payments can apply for working capital loans. Right on its website PayPal states:
No credit check. Your loan is based on your PayPal sales, so no credit check is required, and it doesn’t affect your credit score.
Square Capital is another popular example that does not require a credit check. Square Capital is open to businesses using the Square payment processing device. The way it works is that Square knows your history of payments received, and can estimate how much you will receive in the future.
Your loan amount is based on your volume. Repayment will be automatically deducted from future sales, according to the Square website.
A third example of a no-credit-check option is Stripe Capital for businesses using the Stripe online payments system.
There are many others. Check for online lenders that provide cash advances without a credit check.
Should I Use Personal Credit for Business Purposes?
No, not long term. Instead of business loans, some small business owners turn to consumer credit, such as home equity loans and personal credit cards. Getting consumer credit is often easier if your business lacks an established credit history. However, relying solely on personal credit sources is not a good long term strategy. Here’s why.
When you rely solely on personal credit cards or consumer loans in business situations, you may find yourself maxed out at the worst possible time. That’s because your business and your family have to share a single credit limit. Let’s review an example of how this limits you.
- Imagine you have a personal credit card and a home equity line with a total credit limit of $50,000. You choose to utilize this entire amount of available credit to finance your business expansion. However, this decision leaves you without any credit for personal needs. As a result, if your truck breaks down, you won’t have any credit available to cover emergency repair expenses, as your entire credit limit is committed to the business.
- But let’s suppose you also obtain a business loan of $60,000. That would give you a higher total credit limit overall. You would have a total of $110,000 ($50,000 personal + $60,000 business).
Do you see how having more total credit available would allow you to expand your business — without limiting funds you might need for family expenses? That’s why your long term plan should be to build business credit.
Will a Lender Ignore Poor Credit if I Offer Personal Collateral?
No. Some small business owners incorrectly assume their credit scores will not matter if they offer up personal collateral such as a motorcycle or RV. It’s important to remember that a traditional lender does not want property. The lender is in the loan business. The lender wants you to repay the money.
Back in my days in banking, we considered it a final last resort to repossess assets. That’s because there are many expenses involved in repossessing vehicles or levying against other assets like equipment.
Then, the lender still has to turn around and find a buyer for the assets. All the while, the collateral is depreciating in value. Months or years later the lender may recover just pennies on the dollar from liquidating collateral — and still be left with an unpaid deficiency.
That’s why most lenders check with the credit bureaus. They want to ensure borrowers have a good record of paying their debts. But don’t be confused.
Yes, a lender may likely require a personal guarantee and business collateral such as a UCC filing on accounts receivables as repayment leverage. But the lender gets to this point only after first conducting a credit check.
Now, what if you own personal assets but have poor credit? You could:
- Sell the items. Put an ad on Craigslist, in local classifieds or in specialty classifieds such as ATVTrader.com.
- Pawn the items at a local pawn shop. No credit check is required.
- Check finance companies for loans. Warning: finance companies charge high fees and offer short-term loans in amounts under $20,000. There are some decent finance companies but also bad ones. The Federal Trade Commission strongly advises against predatory financing like car title loans.
How Can Businesses Build a Strong Credit History for Loan Eligibility?
Implementing credit-building strategies is essential. Use business credit cards wisely, diversify credit lines, and maintain a low debt-to-income ratio to demonstrate sound financial management.
What Are the Alternative Financing Options for Businesses with Lower Credit Scores?
Explore non-traditional lenders who might focus more on business cash flow and operational history, offering more flexible criteria compared to conventional banks.
How Can Government-Backed Loans Assist Businesses with Credit Issues?
Programs like those from the Small Business Administration can offer more accessible loans with favorable terms, even for businesses with less-than-ideal credit.
What Financial Planning Strategies Should Businesses Adopt Before Applying for Loans?
Consulting financial advisors or credit counselors can provide tailored strategies to improve credit scores and guide effective loan application preparation. Following the steps below is also recommended.
Assessing Financial Health and Addressing Red Flags
Before applying for a loan, it’s crucial for businesses to conduct a thorough assessment of their financial health. This includes reviewing profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Identifying and addressing any red flags, such as inconsistent revenues or high debt levels, can improve the likelihood of loan approval.
Creating a Detailed Business Plan
Lenders often require a comprehensive business plan that outlines the company’s strategy, market analysis, management team, and financial projections. A well-crafted business plan demonstrates the business’s potential for growth and profitability, which can reassure lenders about the business’s ability to repay the loan.
Establishing Strong Business Credit
Building a robust business credit history is essential. This can be achieved by timely payments of business bills, using a business credit card responsibly, and ensuring that creditors report to business credit bureaus. A solid business credit score can significantly enhance loan eligibility.
Having a Clear Understanding of Loan Purpose and Amount
Businesses should have a clear understanding of why they need the loan and how much they need to borrow. This helps in selecting the right type of loan and amount, thereby avoiding over-borrowing and ensuring the loan serves its intended purpose effectively.
Preparing and Organizing Financial Documentation
Gathering and organizing all essential financial documentation is crucial. This includes tax returns, bank statements, financial statements, and any other documents that lenders may require. Having these documents prepared in advance makes the loan application process more efficient.
Analyzing Debt-to-Income Ratio
The debt-to-income ratio is a critical factor that lenders consider. Businesses should calculate this ratio by dividing total monthly debt payments by gross monthly income. A lower ratio indicates a stronger ability to manage and repay additional debt, making the business more appealing to lenders.
Exploring Various Lending Options
It’s important for businesses to research and compare different lending options available in the market. Traditional bank loans, SBA loans, lines of credit, and alternative lenders each offer different terms and requirements. Understanding these can help businesses find the most suitable lending solution.
Contingency Planning
Having a contingency plan in place is prudent. Businesses should consider various scenarios, such as what happens if the loan application is rejected or if the loan amount granted is lower than expected. This foresight prepares the business to quickly pivot and explore alternative financing options or adjust business strategies accordingly.
Consulting with Financial Experts
Seeking advice from financial advisors, accountants, or loan consultants can provide valuable insights into the loan application process. These professionals can offer guidance on financial planning, improving credit scores, and choosing the right loan product based on the business’s unique financial situation and goals.
The Road to Loan Readiness
Successful loan applications are often the result of meticulous financial planning and preparation. By adopting these strategies, businesses can position themselves as creditworthy and reliable borrowers, thereby increasing their chances of securing the needed funds to fuel their growth and operational objectives.
How Should Businesses Prepare for a Loan Application to Increase Approval Chances?
Organize financial statements, create a compelling business plan, and understand varied lender requirements to enhance the likelihood of loan approval.
Why Is Regular Credit Monitoring Vital for Businesses?
Frequent monitoring helps in promptly addressing credit issues, enabling corrective actions to maintain or boost credit health.
Why Is a Comprehensive Approach Essential for Business Loan Success?
Why Should Businesses Look Beyond Just Credit Scores When Seeking Loans? While credit scores are vital, lenders also consider overall financial health. Accurate financial records, stable revenues, and a clear business vision enhance loan eligibility, complementing a strong credit score.
In summary, understanding and improving credit scores is a multifaceted task involving consistent monitoring, strategic financial planning, and exploring diverse funding sources. These efforts, coupled with holistic financial management, not only boost loan eligibility but also contribute to the broader success and sustainability of your business.
As you can see from these FAQs, your credit history — personal and business — makes a significant difference. Whether for an SBA loan, equipment financing or other business loans, credit scores matter.
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