Business loans help to keep many companies afloat in tough times and provide additional financing for expansion and improvement. Lenders across the nation provide many types of loans to help meet this need, each of which varies according to your needs and the capabilities of the lender.
But just how do business loans work? And is this option a good choice for you? Let’s take a deep dive into this subject to learn more! By the time you’re done, you should have a pretty good idea not only of what types of loans are best for you but whether you should even apply for a loan at all.
How Do Business Loans Work?
Business loans follow a pretty similar arch to traditional loans. First, you need to apply for the loan (including preparing all of the essential paperwork. Then, it would be best if you worked with the lender to set up your repayment terms. Finally, after everything is properly sorted out, you can get your money and use it.
The repayment cycle is critical to understand because it can affect your business operation. Multiple repayment methods make this process easier to finish. Just as importantly, you need to pick a lender who understands you and who is willing to work with you to minimize confusion or frustration.
Applying for a Business Loan
When you’re trying to apply for a business loan, you need to start by making sure that you qualify. Your lender will walk you through these steps and make them easier to understand. But, just as importantly, they can check all of your documentation, work with your financial officers, and minimize your potential risk of errors. In this way, you can get the loan that you want at a reasonable price.
Check Your Credit Scores
Lenders typically examine your credit score before they provide you with a loan. They usually focus on business credit scores but may look at your personal credit score as well (see the FAQ to learn more). They start by using a credit reporting agency to see where your score sits. Most want a score of at least 700-800 before they approve a loan. The higher your credit score, the better your loan terms.
If possible, you may want to take the time to improve your credit score. This step should take place over about 6-12 months or longer to get the best results. Do things like pay your bills on time, pay off high debt, and take other steps to boost your score. If possible, you should try to pay off all your debts before getting a loan. Doing so dramatically increases your chances of getting a better credit score.
Pay Attention to the Requirements
Research the different requirements that each lender demands before you apply. Doing so cuts back on your risk of applying for a loan that is not right for you. It also decreases your risk of errors and much more. Just a few steps that you likely need to take include how you should:
- Keep Your Credit Score Above the Mid 600s – While you might qualify for a loan at 640, your rates and terms will not be significant. So do what you can to improve your credit result
- Provide Proper Documentations – Showcase the various legal and financial documents necessary, including a voided business check, bank statements, profit and loss statements, and tax returns
- Develop a Business Plan – Your business plan must be an in-depth examination of how you plan on using the loan money to become more profitable. Detail is critical here!
- Include Various Important Data – Bring your bank account statements, personal financial information, a business balance sheet, and anything else your loan requires.
- Provide Collateral – If you're taking out an SBA-backed loan, you must give a collateral and a personal guarantee worth at least 20% of your business. Not all business loans require this step
After you’ve gathered all of this information, you can use it to help focus your loan process. For example, before moving onto the next section (where we’ll discuss business loan types), we went to touch on how to create a business plan. Though we can’t write about this step in detail, we can give you an idea of what you’ll need to include, helping to focus your loan application process.
Creating a Business Plan
Making up a business plan when applying for a loan is often a challenging process. We could write a whole article on these steps alone! As a result, we’re only going to lightly touch on what you need to do to produce one of these plans. You’ll typically need a handful of different elements, including:
- Brief business description
- Product or service description
- Market analysis about your business
- The names of your management team
- Marketing and sales strategies
- Financial plans and possible futures
Once you have gathered all of this information, you can usually apply for one of the many business loan types available for your company. These will vary based on many different factors. Make sure to read through the next section carefully to get the best results when taking out a loan.
The Many Types of Business Loans
When you’re choosing a business loan, you usually have four different available options. Choosing one that makes sense for your needs requires you to research your options and take the time to ensure that they meet your needs. They include:
Term Business Loan – This type is probably the most common you're likely to find. A term business loan is a good choice if you need money right away and want to upgrade your company. They set up a set time for repayment (usually between 5-10 years, at the most), during which you need to make payments to keep the loan from defaulting. These payments vary based on your credit and capital
Short-Term Business Loan– A short-term business loan may be a good alternative if you're in a challenging situation and need immediate cash. They are usually available for low-credit companies but must be repaid between 30-90 days. Most have high-interest rates and should only be considered if you do not qualify for a term business loan or other types of less-costly financing.
Invoice Financing– Did you just finish a project or provide a service but haven't been paid? This situation is frustrating and can become troublesome if you need cash. Invoice financing uses the payment on this project as the collateral for your loan. Most common for contractors who need to cover quick expenses, this option usually requires an immediate payment turnaround
SBA Loans– The Small Business Association (SBA) underwrites lender loans to help guarantee the loan up to a certain percentage. This option is an excellent way to get fair interest rates and minimize your payments. However, you only receive them if you qualify as a small business. Larger companies do not get these loans because they usually more easily qualify for term loans instead
Equipment Financing– Are you looking to pay for expensive equipment and need a loan? This option is probably your best choice. Explicitly designed for buying and installing equipment, you must show the lender how you plan to use the equipment and how it will improve your finances and success. Repayment loans usually last many years: you lose the equipment if you default, though
Payment Options
When paying back your loan, you usually have a handful of different options available. First, your lender will choose an interest rate and then develop a plan that works for you and them. The idea here is to create a good balance between paying your loan off quickly and giving them a good profit on the loan. The three most common payment plans available for business loans include:
Installment Payments
Typically, this option lets you pay back your loan in several carefully planned installments. Longer loans typically have monthly payments with a more considerable lump sum. However, shorter loans may have weekly or even daily payments. Carefully choose the option that makes sense to ensure that you don't end up in a tough repayment cycle that affects your business.
Revolving Credit Payments
Some lenders may provide a revolving credit loan, in which you get access to a set amount of money that you can repay regularly. But, again, think of credit cards: they are constantly available to you at the amount left on your card. So, if you have a loan limit of $15,000 and have used $8,000 of it, you have $7,000 available, depending on interest rates and payments.
Cash Flow Payments
This payment option lets your lender take money directly out of your business income. For example, they may get merchant cash advances or invoice financing, both of which take money out of either your daily sales or your invoices. If you don't have much working capital, this option is a good choice but continually make sales throughout your repayment cycle.
Talk to your lender to see what kind of repayment plan they’d like to pursue. Usually, you’re going to get offered a variation on installment payments. These provide you with a high degree of predictability, which is nice when paying back your loan. You’ll always know exactly what you’ll pay. Revolving credit plans are very rare for business loans but may be helpful if you want quick cash.
FAQ About Business Loans
You can use a business loan in whatever way it is approved. Most of the time, you'll use it to either expand your operation or stay afloat during tough financial times. Carefully choose your purpose when deciding on a business loan. Most lenders will require you to highlight how you plan on using it (as outlined above) and want a reasonable explanation of how each dollar will be spent.
Most of the time, your personal credit score is irrelevant to your business loan. However, your business has a credit score that lenders use to decide on your terms. That said, your credit score may affect your loan if you are a one-person operation. In this situation, you represent the business, and your score may be used. It may also be used if your company is very small and only has a handful of employees. But, again, talk to your lender to understand more about your expectations here.
Defaulting on any loan will cause your credit score to plummet immediately. The lender can then work with collection agencies and others to attempt to get their money back from you. You'll likely be asked to pay back the money in full, though some lenders may be willing to settle on a one-time, lower payment. However, you may find yourself in a challenging legal situation if you do not pay in full.
You typically don't need a down payment to get a loan but usually do need to show a proof of business income or sales. Most lenders will demand a typical minimum of around $10,000 gross per month before providing you with a loan. Small business loans may be available that require far less gross income, though this will vary based on your lender and your financial situation.
No, not as long as they back out within the stated time frame. Real estate contracts typically clarify a set period during which the buyer can change their mind for any reason.
If your business needs a shot of cash, and you can't find anybody willing to invest, a business loan may be a good idea. First, however, you need to make sure that you're capable of paying back the loan. Default, as we've mentioned, is not a good thing. And your repayment cycle may vary in length and severity, depending on the terms of the loan. So be careful when choosing a lending option and your terms.
If you're interested in a business loan, you need to find a lender who you can trust. The best step here is to spend time researching lending terms, interest rates, and the reputation of each lender. It would be best if you also took the time to understand your business needs and your ability to repay a loan. The lending terms must be favorable to you or at least understanding of your current financial situation.
Ways We Can Help You
If you’re struggling to find a loan that makes sense for your need, we are here to help! Goalry streamlines your search process by helping you sort through the many options on the market today. Go to the Goalry app, sign up for a member key and seek out the business loan that works for you. We connect to a broad range of lenders and will make this process easier for you to understand.
Our application lets you create personalized searches to weed out the lenders that won’t make sense for you. This process includes choosing someone with fair interest rates, reasonable repayment cycles, and the loan types that you need. You can also sort through these lenders based on reputation and review, minimizing your risk of choosing someone who may not be appropriate for you.
By working with Goalry, you should find it easier to identify a business loan that works for your needs. Understand that we are not a lender here. We cannot provide you with money or set you up with more substantial financial stability. Instead, we are a tool that you can use to find the lenders who suit your needs and who will take the time to ensure you get the most value out of your loans.
In Conclusion
Now that we’ve answered the question “how do business loans work?” you’re probably just about ready to jump in and find a loan that makes sense for you. You can work with us at Goalry to start your lending journey or take the time to do the research yourself based on the information presented here.
Whatever route you take, it is vital to keep the best needs of your company in mind at all times. Understand the various elements that you must understand here, and balance your needs with those of your customers. Doing so will ensure that you find a loan that works for your financial needs. Only a little work is usually necessary to get the results that you want.
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Eric Benac is a freelance marketing professional with more than 10 years of experience. He stumbled upon the financial market during this time and fell in love with its many unique facets. He particularly enjoys writing content that helps working class people save money and improve their quality of life. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, working on his latest sci-fi opus, composing and performing music, and being outdoors whenever possible. Currently, he has two books of music criticism to his name and lives in Lansing, Michigan.